Skilled Visa (Subclass 491)
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Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa – Subclass 491
Your Pathway to Permanent Residency through Regional Nomination The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) allows skilled workers and their families to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years, with a pathway to Permanent Residency through the Subclass 191 visa.
Overview
This visa is designed for skilled individuals who are nominated b y a State or Territory Government, or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area. Applicants must have a positive skills assessment, be invited through SkillSelect, and score at least 65 points under the points test.
New South Wales (NSW)
Candidates may be nominated under three pathways:
Pathway 1 – For candidates currently employed with a regional NSW employer.
Pathway 2 – Invited by Investment NSW.
Pathway 3 – Recent graduates from a Regional NSW institution.
Pathway 1 Criteria Employed with a Regional NSW Employer:
Have an eligible occupation on the relevant Skilled List (MLTSSL, STSOL, or ROL).
Be currently working in a designated regional area of NSW for the past 6 months in the nominated or closely related occupation.
Must be employed by a regional NSW-based employer and earning at least the TSMIT/CSIT rate.
Pathway 2 Criteria Invited by Investment NSW:
Have an eligible occupation on the NSW Regional Skills List.
Must be working in NSW in the nominated occupation or residing in NSW or offshore continuously for at least 3 months.
Pathway 3 Criteria Regional NSW Graduate:
Completed a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regional NSW institution within the past 2 years.
Study must be related to the nominated occupation and qualify for ‘Study in Regional Australia points.
Be working in NSW or residing in NSW or offshore continuously for at least 3 months
Victoria (VIC)
Candidates applying for Subclass 491 nomination must:
Have a valid Skills Assessment in an occupation on the relevant Skilled List (MLTSSL,
STSOL, or ROL).
Offshore applicants with skills in Health, Social Services, and Education are prioritised.
Submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) and have it selected.
Meet one of the following: living overseas or living and working in regional Victoria.
Have at least Competent English.
Employment does not need to be related to the nominated occupation and has no minimum
hours.
Queensland (QLD)
Queensland offers nomination under the following Subclass 491 streams:
Skilled Workers Living in Queensland – Must have lived and worked in regional QLD for at least 6 months, in an occupation on the QLD Onshore Skills List, earning at least the minimum wage, and have 65+ points.
Skilled Workers Outside Australia – Must have an occupation on the QLD Offshore Skills List, 1 year of skilled employment, and be currently employed in the same or closely related occupation.
Building & Construction Workers – Must have lived and worked in QLD for the last 3 months in an eligible construction occupation, with 65+ points and Competent English.
Queensland University Graduates – Must have completed 100% of a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in QLD after 1 July 2021 and lived/worked in QLD for at least 6 months in any Skill Level 1 occupation. All candidates must commit to living and working in regional QLD for at least 3 years from visa grant.
South Australia (SA)
Candidates may be nominated under four streams:
Skilled Employment in South Australia
South Australian Graduates
Outer Regional Skilled Employment
Offshore
Skilled Employment in South Australia: Must live and work in SA for the past 12 months, employed at least 30 hrs/week in a relevant occupation.
SA Graduates: Must have completed a qualification in SA, lived and studied in SA for at least 1 year, and been employed for at least 6 months.
Outer Regional Skilled Employment: Must live and work in Outer Regional SA for the past 9 months, employed 30 hrs/week in a related occupation.
Offshore: Must reside offshore, have an occupation on SA’s Skilled List, and have at least 3 years of skilled work experience in the last 5 years.
Western Australia (WA)
WA offers two nomination streams for the Subclass 491 visa:
General Stream – Applicants must have an occupation on the WA Skilled Migration Occupation List (WASMOL), meet Competent English, and have 1 year of work experience.
Graduate Stream – Must have completed a Cert III or higher qualification at a WA institution after at least 2 years of full-time study, and have an eligible occupation on the Graduate Occupation List (GOL).
Tasmania (TAS)
Tasmania offers four nomination pathways for Subclass 491:
Tasmanian Skilled Employment Pathway (TSE) – Must have worked in Tasmania for at least 9 months, earning $57,000+/year, in a role of 20+ hrs/week.
Tasmanian Skilled Graduate Pathway (TSG) – Must have completed at least 40 weeks of fulltime CRICOS-registered study (AQF 5+) in Tasmania and lived there for 1 year.
Tasmanian Established Resident Pathway (TER) – Must have lived in Tasmania for the past 2 years and been working for at least 6 months, earning $57,000+/year.
Tasmanian Business Operator Pathway (TBO) – Must own and operate a Tasmanian business for at least 12 months, with profits and genuine operations.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
The ACT offers the following nomination categories for Subclass 491:
Onshore Applicants: Must have an occupation on the ACT Nominated Occupation List or hold a 457/482 visa sponsored by an ACT employer for at least 6 months or be a majority owner of an ACT business. Must have lived in Canberra for at least 3 months and worked for 13 weeks.
Offshore Applicants – Must have an occupation on the ACT Nominated Occupation List, 1 year of post-graduate experience, Competent English, and sufficient settlement funds.
Doctorate Streamlined Nomination – Must have completed a professional or research doctoral degree at an ACT university within the past 2 years and have lived in Canberra for at least 12 months.
Northern Territory (NT)
NT nomination is offered under three streams:
NT Graduates Must have completed at least 2 years of full-time study in the NT and shown efforts to secure employment in the NT.
NT Residents Must currently live and work in the NT in the nominated occupation.
Offshore Applicants Must have at least 2 years of post-qualification work experience, a genuine commitment to settle in the NT, and meet one of the following sub-streams:
NT Priority Occupation Stream – Occupation on NT Offshore Migration Occupations List.
NT Job Offer Stream – Must hold a job offer from an NT employer active for 12+ months.
NT Family Stream – Must have an eligible relative living in the NT for at least 12 months.
Other Requirements
All applicants must:
Be under 45 years old at the time of invitation.
Hold a positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation.
Have Competent English (IELTS 6.0 or PTE 50 each band).
Score at least 65 points in the points test.
Meet health and character requirements.
Book a Consultation
Visa 1 Migration’s Registered Migration Agents guide you through each step from Skills Assessment and EOI submission to State Nomination and Visa Lodgement.
To discuss your eligibility and nomination options for the Subclass 491 visa, book your consultation with a Visa 1 Migration specialist today via the Contact Us page.
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