The Skilled Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 489 visa replaced both the offshore Skilled - Regional Sponsored Subclass 475 visa and the onshore Subclass 487 visa in 2012-2013.

Now, the Subclass 489 visa, also known as the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa is also closed in Nov 2019 and has been replaced by 491.

What is the Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa ( Subclass 491)?

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a temporary visa that has been created for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. This visa is valid for five years and helps the applicants to stay for up to five years the applicants can work, and study in designated regional areas. The Regional Australia encompasses various popular areas except Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Newcastle, Wollongong, and the NSW Central Coast.

What are the Benefits of the 491 Visa?

With the benefits of the 491 visa, the applicant can:

• The applicant can stay in Australia with 491 Visa for five years.
• They can Live, work, and study in a designated regional area.
• Travel to and from Australia multiple times while the visa is valid.
• Valid passport with at least three months validity and one blank page• Apply for permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) if eligible.
• Work in any occupation and for any employer in line with the visa conditions.

What are the Eligibility requirements for the Subclass 491 Visa?

To be eligible for the 491 visa, The applicant needs to fulfil the following requirements:

• They should be invited to apply.
• They should have been nominated by a state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative.
• They need to have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.
• Must have obtained a successful skills assessment for your occupation.
• To qualify, you must score at least 65 points on the points test, which assesses factors such as age, English proficiency, work experience, and education.
• The applicant needs to have a minimum score at least 65 points on the points test.
• The applicant should be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation.
• They should have a competent level of English.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Not owe any debt to the Australian government.

What is the application process for the Skilled Workers Regional Provisional visa?

To fill in the application under subclass 491 the candidate should meet the following requirements -

• • Submit an EOI through SkillSelect with all the details of your skills and qualifications and the system will calculate your points based on your claims.
• • If you are nominated or sponsored then you will receive an invitation to apply for the visa.
• • The applicant will have 60 days to provide all necessary documents which will include identity, skills assessment, English proficiency, and character certificates.
• • Ensure your application is complete to avoid delays.
• • After you have achieved the application then You will receive a notification upon receipt of your application.
• • If in Australia, you can travel overseas but must ensure your visa permits re-entry. You might need a Bridging Visa B.
• • If outside Australia, only travel to Australia once the visa is granted.

What is the Processing Time and Costs for the Australian Subclass 491?

The Processing time for the Australian Subclass 491 depends on the Completeness of the application, time taken to verify supporting information, response time to requests for additional information and external checks for health, character, and national security. There is no fee for submitting an EOI in SkillSelect but there may be costs associated with state nominations, English language tests, health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.

Can the Visa 491 be Extended?

The 491 visa is not extendable. If you wish to stay longer than five years, you must apply for a new visa.
The 491 visa offers a pathway to permanent residency and the opportunity to build a life in regional Australia, provided all conditions and requirements are met.