Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491) is designed for skilled individuals nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia. Here's an overview of this visa:
– **Designated Regional Area**:
Applicants and their family members must live, work, and study in a designated regional area, and the nomination must not be withdrawn to obtain the visa.
– **Pathways to Permanent Residence**:
Eligible applicants can apply for permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa, but certain restrictions apply until the Subclass 491 visa is held for 3 years.
– **Duration**: Holders of this visa can stay in Australia for 5 years from the date of grant.
– **Location**: This visa allows you to live, work, and study in designated regional areas of Australia.
– **Travel**: You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
– **Path to Permanent Residence**: Eligible visa holders can apply for permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191) after holding the Subclass 491 visa for 3 years.
– **Main Applicant**:
The cost for the main applicant is AUD4,640. Additional charges apply for family members included in the application.
– **Additional Charges**:
An extra charge applies to applicants 18 years or older with less than functional English. The second installment charge for family members is AUD4,890. Additional costs for health checks, police certificates, and biometrics may also apply.
– The visa comes with specific conditions that applicants and their family members must adhere to. These conditions include restrictions on marriage, notification of passport or contact details changes, and requirements to live, study, and work in designated regional areas.
– Visa processing times vary, with 25% of applications taking around 6 months, 50% around 11 months, and 75% around 16 months. Actual processing times depend on factors such as application completeness and response times to requests for additional information.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
– Be invited to apply, typically through SkillSelect.
– Be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative.
– Be under 45 years of age.
– Have a suitable skills assessment.
– Score at least 65 points or more.
– Have at least Competent English.
– Meet the skills requirement by having an occupation on the eligible skilled occupations list.
– Not have had a visa canceled or a previous application refused.
Frequently Asked Questions
– No, this is a temporary visa, and it cannot be extended.
– Family members can be included when submitting the visa application. You can also add a dependent child after the initial submission but before the visa decision.
– Family members must meet the visa’s age requirements if included in the application.
– No, certain permanent visas cannot be applied for until you’ve held the Subclass 491 visa for 3 years.
– You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after receiving the invitation.
– Contact the specific state or territory agency for their nomination criteria and process.
– Yes, an eligible relative can sponsor you, provided they meet specific criteria.
– A suitable skills assessment is required, and it must be obtained within the 3 years before the date of your invitation.
– Yes, you can travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
– Previous visa cancellations or refusals may affect your eligibility for this visa. Each case is assessed individually.
Currently, there are no frequently asked questions available for the Aged Dependent Relative Visa (Subclass 114).