Understanding The Regional 491 visa
If you are looking to move to Australia and live in a regional area, the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa is the perfect option for you! This provisional visa allows you to live, study and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years. In this blog post, we will outline everything you need to know about the 491 visa: from who it’s for to costs, and more!
What is the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa
The Skilled Work Regional 491 visa allows you and your family to live, study and work in regional areas of Australia for up to five years. After three years, and as long as you are eligible, you will be able to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) through the Skilled Regional Visa subclass 191.
Unlike employer-sponsored visas, you will need to be nominated by either an Australian state or territory government, or by an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area.
Calculating your point score
The 491 Visa, like the 189 and 190 visas, is a points-tested visa which means you’ll need a minimum of 65 points. You are invited to apply for this visa based on your occupation and point score. Therefore, the higher your point score, the higher your chances of being invited to apply versus other applicants.
If you apply for a Skilled Work Regional 491 Visa, you’ll receive an extra 15 bonus points that aren’t available on the 189 or 190 Visas. This can help people who were unable to meet the necessary 65 points or get invited through the 189 or 190 Visas.
Want to see how many points you would score? Check out our article which lists each section and how points are allocated, so you can calculate your own score.Â
Occupation available for the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa
Not only do you have to pass the points test, but your occupation must also be listed on the relevant Skilled Occupation List for the 491 visa, and then on one of the state or territory occupation lists.
Each Australian State and territory will publish a list of occupations that they struggle to find skilled workers for, in their region. Not only will the occupation list vary for each state or territory but each state or territory may have additional requirements you must meet such as higher point scores, being located in Australia, or a certain level of experience. It’s therefore recommended to check the occupation lists and requirements for each state or territory before submitting your Expression of interest (EOI).
Check to make sure your occupation is listed for the 491 visa and then check each state’s and territory’s occupation list.
How to Check state/territory's current occupation lists and requirements?
We understand how complex and confusing Australian immigration can be, so we want to make life as easy as possible for you. We’ve linked each state or territory’s 491 visa page below so you can check their current list of occupations and requirements. It’s worth checking these pages regularly as they often update their occupation lists and requirements.
You must be invited to apply for the 491 Visa
For the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillsSelect and then wait to be invited to apply by an Australian state or territory.
Your point score will be calculated when you submit your EOI. Australian state and territory government agencies will be able to see your EOI and point score to determine whether they want to invite you to apply. They generally have a set number of visas allocated to them, so limit the number of invitations sent out each month or period. As a result, they allocate their invites to occupations they have a skill shortage for and then EOIs for those occupations with the highest point scores.
Dependent family members may be included in your 491 Visa application at the time of lodgement or after approval. This visa can be applied for while you are onshore in Australia or while you are offshore.
For the 491 visa, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillsSelect and then wait to be invited to apply by an Australian state or territory.
Your point score will be calculated when you submit your EOI. Australian state and territory government agencies will be able to see your EOI and point score to determine whether they want to invite you to apply. They generally have a set number of visas allocated to them, so limit the number of invitations sent out each month or period. As a result, they allocate their invites to occupations they have a skill shortage for and then EOIs for those occupations with the highest point scores.
Dependent family members may be included in your 491 Visa application at the time of lodgement or after approval. This visa can be applied for while you are onshore in Australia or while you are offshore.
What the 491 visa allows you to do
Like with any Australian visa, it’s critical you understand what you are allowed to do once the visa is granted.
The 491 visa allows you to:
- Live and work in a regional area within your nominated state or territory for 5 years
- Study
- Work for any regional employer within your nominated state or territory
- Bring your partner and family
- Transition to Permanent Residency (PR) – if eligibleÂ
The 491 visa requirements
Do you like the sound of the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa thus far? If you do, fantastic; but, as with all Australian visas, you must ensure that you meet all of the visa requirements.
To be granted a 491 visa, you must make sure you meet all of the points below:
- Be under the age of 45 at the time of being invited to apply for the visa
- Your chosen occupation must be on the relevant Skilled Occupation List and on one of the state or territory occupation lists
- Have a positive and valid Skills Assessment in your nominated occupation*
- Be nominated by an Australian state or territory government
- Lodge an EOI and be invited to apply for the visa
- Qualify for the points test (currently 65 points)
- Demonstrate a Competent
- Level of English or higher
- Meet the health and character requirements
Places in Australia that are classed as Regional
As one of the key requirements for the 491 visa is that you must be living and working in a designated regional area within your nominating state or territory, it’s important you know where is classified as regional.
For immigration purposes, everywhere in Australia is classified as regional apart from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. You can check which postcodes and areas are classified as regional through our blogÂ
Learn more about where is regional in Australia and search specific postcodes here.Â
Main costs involved
The cost is a major consideration for most people when deciding the best visa option for them. The following are the main fees associated with applying for a 491 visa:
Other costs you may want to factor in might include flights, skills assessment, English tests, police certificates and translation services if required.
Like the sound of the 491 visa? Let Visa Jobs help!
The 491 visa is a popular option for many skilled migrant workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. As this visa is state-sponsored, unlike the TSS visa, you don’t have to find an employer to sponsor you, which gives you more freedom when a job. What’s more, it provides a pathway to Permanent Residency after three years which is most people’s goal.
If you are interested in the 491 visa or have questions, contact Visa Jobs. We work with a number of reputable Registered Migration Agents who can guide you through the entire process from document gathering and completing the skills assessment, to lodging your EOI and visa application.
Learn more about Australian visas
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Who Needs a Skills Assessment for the 482...
If you plan on applying for the employer-sponsored TSS/482 visa, then you will want to check if you will be…
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Understanding The Australian Training Visa – 407 Visa
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What is the Regional Occupation List (ROL) for...
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Disclaimer
All of the information provided has been gathered and written based on general information that is available at the Department of Home Affairs website.
This information is not legal advice and should be used for general information purposes only.Â
We strongly recommend you engage a Registered Migration Agent who can complete a full assessment and advise you accordingly. If you would like to be connected with a Registered Migration Agent, please contact us and we will find an agent to help you. Â
Need our help?
Regardless what visa you plan on applying for or what you need help with, we are here to guide you through the process.
We offer a number of services and what we can’t directly help you with, we have formed partnerships with various companies that will be able to help you.
Get in contact with us today to find out more or ask any questions you may have.
-
Who Needs a Skills Assessment...
Continue ReadingIf you plan on applying for the employer-sponsored TSS/482 visa, then you will want to check if you will be required to complete a mandatory skills assessment for the 482 visa.
Unlike other Australian visas such as the 491, 189, 190, and 494 visas, where skills assessments are mandatory for everyone, for the 482 visa there are only a small number of occupations and nationalities that must complete the assessment.
Let’s take a closer look at who needs to complete a skills assessment for the 482 visa.
Do you need to complete a skills assessment for the 482 visa?
The below table lists the only occupations for the 482 visa that requires a skills assessment as part of the visa requirements. Even if your occupation is listed below, it doesn’t mean you have to complete the assessment. For each of the occupations listed, it is only specific nationalities or passport holders that must complete the assessment, they are listed below as well.
Who is exempt from taking a skills assessment for the 482 visa
To be exempt from taking the skills assessment for the 482 visa, any one of the below points would need to apply:
- Your occupation is not listed
- Your occupation is listed but you hold a different passport that is listed
- Your occupation is listed, you hold a passport listed but also hold another passport not listed (in this case, you would need to apply for the visa using the passport not listed)
- You have gained the required level of qualification for your occupation by studying in Australia*
*There are a number of education bodies outside of Australia that will issue Australian qualifications once completed, only related Australian qualifications gained by physically studying in Australia can be used for the exemption.
How to complete a skills assessment for the 482 visa
If you as part of the 482 visa requirements you’ll need to complete a skills assessment and do not meet any of the exemptions, then you have two options when completing it.
The first is to complete it on your own. There are a number of documents that must be submitted to the assessing body in stage 1 of the process. These documents and what information must be included, will vary depending on the occupation and assessing body. Once gathered you will then need to complete all of the application documents, submit your gathered documents, and then wait for the outcome. If successful, you would then need to complete a Technical and potentially a Practical Interview before getting your final assessment outcome.
The second option is to get professional help completing the Skills Assessment. There are a number of agents who offer this service, guiding you through every stage of the process. The advantage of using an agent is that they know exactly what to do, which generally saves you time, effort, and stress! As you would imagine, using an agent means extra costs to you.
To find out more about the skills assessment process, costs, and documents required, search all of the authorised Skills Assessment companies for your occupation and visit their website for more information.Â
Need our help completing the skills assessment for the 482 visa?
If after reading this article you have determined that you need to complete a skills assessment in order to meet the 482 visa requirements, then we would suggest starting this as soon as possible.
Depending on which country you are in, completing the skills assessment for the 482 visa can take up to six months! If you would like professional help completing the skills assessment for the 482 visa, please get in contact with us today and we can start the process.
Learn more about Australian visas
Disclaimer
All of the information provided has been gathered and written based on general information that is available at the Department of Home Affairs website.
This information is not legal advice and should be used for general information purposes only.Â
We strongly recommend you engage a Registered Migration Agent who can complete a full assessment and advise you accordingly. If you would like to be connected with a Registered Migration Agent, please contact us and we will find an agent to help you.
Need help completing a Skills Assessment?
If you are required to complete a skills assessment for the 482 visa and would like professional help, get in contact with us today. Our team will explain the process and then help guide you through it reducing time, effort and stress.
-
Understanding The Australian Training Visa...
Continue ReadingIf you are looking to move to Australia and live in a regional area, the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa is the perfect option for you! This provisional visa allows you to live, study and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years. In this blog post, we will outline everything you need to know about the 491 visa: from who it’s for to costs, and more!
What is the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa
The Skilled Work Regional 491 visa allows you and your family to live, study and work in regional areas of Australia for up to five years. After three years, and as long as you are eligible, you will be able to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) through the Skilled Regional Visa subclass 191.
Unlike employer-sponsored visas, you will need to be nominated by either an Australian state or territory government, or by an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area.
Calculating your point score
The 491 Visa, like the 189 and 190 visas, is a points-tested visa which means you’ll need a minimum of 65 points. You are invited to apply for this visa based on your occupation and point score. Therefore, the higher your point score, the higher your chances of being invited to apply versus other applicants.
If you apply for a Skilled Work Regional 491 Visa, you’ll receive an extra 15 bonus points that aren’t available on the 189 or 190 Visas. This can help people who were unable to meet the necessary 65 points or get invited through the 189 or 190 Visas.
Want to see how many points you would score? Check out our article which lists each section and how points are allocated, so you can calculate your own score.Â
Occupation available for the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa
Not only do you have to pass the points test, but your occupation must also be listed on the relevant Skilled Occupation List for the 491 visa, and then on one of the state or territory occupation lists.
Each Australian State and territory will publish a list of occupations that they struggle to find skilled workers for, in their region. Not only will the occupation list vary for each state or territory but each state or territory may have additional requirements you must meet such as higher point scores, being located in Australia, or a certain level of experience. It’s therefore recommended to check the occupation lists and requirements for each state or territory before submitting your Expression of interest (EOI).
Check to make sure your occupation is listed for the 491 visa and then check each state’s and territory’s occupation list.
How to Check state/territory's current occupation lists and requirements?
We understand how complex and confusing Australian immigration can be, so we want to make life as easy as possible for you. We’ve linked each state or territory’s 491 visa page below so you can check their current list of occupations and requirements. It’s worth checking these pages regularly as they often update their occupation lists and requirements.
You must be invited to apply for the 491 Visa
For the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillsSelect and then wait to be invited to apply by an Australian state or territory.
Your point score will be calculated when you submit your EOI. Australian state and territory government agencies will be able to see your EOI and point score to determine whether they want to invite you to apply. They generally have a set number of visas allocated to them, so limit the number of invitations sent out each month or period. As a result, they allocate their invites to occupations they have a skill shortage for and then EOIs for those occupations with the highest point scores.
Dependent family members may be included in your 491 Visa application at the time of lodgement or after approval. This visa can be applied for while you are onshore in Australia or while you are offshore.
For the 491 visa, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillsSelect and then wait to be invited to apply by an Australian state or territory.
Your point score will be calculated when you submit your EOI. Australian state and territory government agencies will be able to see your EOI and point score to determine whether they want to invite you to apply. They generally have a set number of visas allocated to them, so limit the number of invitations sent out each month or period. As a result, they allocate their invites to occupations they have a skill shortage for and then EOIs for those occupations with the highest point scores.
Dependent family members may be included in your 491 Visa application at the time of lodgement or after approval. This visa can be applied for while you are onshore in Australia or while you are offshore.
What the 491 visa allows you to do
Like with any Australian visa, it’s critical you understand what you are allowed to do once the visa is granted.
The 491 visa allows you to:
- Live and work in a regional area within your nominated state or territory for 5 years
- Study
- Work for any regional employer within your nominated state or territory
- Bring your partner and family
- Transition to Permanent Residency (PR) – if eligibleÂ
The 491 visa requirements
Do you like the sound of the Skilled Work Regional 491 visa thus far? If you do, fantastic; but, as with all Australian visas, you must ensure that you meet all of the visa requirements.
To be granted a 491 visa, you must make sure you meet all of the points below:
- Be under the age of 45 at the time of being invited to apply for the visa
- Your chosen occupation must be on the relevant Skilled Occupation List and on one of the state or territory occupation lists
- Have a positive and valid Skills Assessment in your nominated occupation*
- Be nominated by an Australian state or territory government
- Lodge an EOI and be invited to apply for the visa
- Qualify for the points test (currently 65 points)
- Demonstrate a Competent
- Level of English or higher
- Meet the health and character requirements
Places in Australia that are classed as Regional
As one of the key requirements for the 491 visa is that you must be living and working in a designated regional area within your nominating state or territory, it’s important you know where is classified as regional.
For immigration purposes, everywhere in Australia is classified as regional apart from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. You can check which postcodes and areas are classified as regional through our blogÂ
Learn more about where is regional in Australia and search specific postcodes here.Â
Main costs involved
The cost is a major consideration for most people when deciding the best visa option for them. The following are the main fees associated with applying for a 491 visa:
Other costs you may want to factor in might include flights, skills assessment, English tests, police certificates and translation services if required.
Like the sound of the 491 visa? Let Visa Jobs help!
The 491 visa is a popular option for many skilled migrant workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. As this visa is state-sponsored, unlike the TSS visa, you don’t have to find an employer to sponsor you, which gives you more freedom when a job. What’s more, it provides a pathway to Permanent Residency after three years which is most people’s goal.
If you are interested in the 491 visa or have questions, contact Visa Jobs. We work with a number of reputable Registered Migration Agents who can guide you through the entire process from document gathering and completing the skills assessment, to lodging your EOI and visa application.
Learn more about Australian visas
-
Who Needs a Skills Assessment for the 482...
If you plan on applying for the employer-sponsored TSS/482 visa, then you will want to check if you will be…
-
Understanding The Australian Training Visa – 407 Visa
If you are interested in applying for the Australian Training Visa subclass 407, it’s worth understanding which occupations can be…
-
What is the Regional Occupation List (ROL) for...
For the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (TSS Visa) subclass 482, there are three different occupation lists. Available occupations will be…
Disclaimer
All of the information provided has been gathered and written based on general information that is available at the Department of Home Affairs website.
This information is not legal advice and should be used for general information purposes only.Â
We strongly recommend you engage a Registered Migration Agent who can complete a full assessment and advise you accordingly. If you would like to be connected with a Registered Migration Agent, please contact us and we will find an agent to help you. Â
Need our help?
Regardless what visa you plan on applying for or what you need help with, we are here to guide you through the process.
We offer a number of services and what we can’t directly help you with, we have formed partnerships with various companies that will be able to help you.
Get in contact with us today to find out more or ask any questions you may have.
