July 16, 2022
This visa is a temporary visa for 5 years and allows the holder to live, work and study in Australia. This is a regional visa, which means, upon grant of this visa people will be required to live in a designated regional area of Australia. The Government has given a list of post codes for designated regional areas of Australia. There is a pathway to permanent residency after having lived and worked in a designated regional area for 3 years. There is a income threshold they have to earn for three years.
Subclass 491 visa can be nominated by a state or sponsored by an eligible relative. I will discuss only state nominated in the article.
The subclass 491 is a points-tested visa
Anyone thinking to apply for this visa needs to check if their occupation is on the list of occupations of the State, they are looking to apply for nomination from. If their occupation is on the list, then they need to check the criteria for the state nomination. State bodies may have different way of applying for the nomination. Some state allows the applicant to apply for the State nomination if they believe they meet their nomination criteria and others state have invitation only process.
To lodge EOI, you need to have:
- You have a positive Skill assessment assessed by the relevant skill assessing authority for your occupation.
- You must have Competent English.
- You must be aged under 45 to be invited to apply for the visa.
- You must have minimum 65 points on your EOI. Please note that you will get 15 points from State if you get nominated.
Every state has different criteria for subclass 491. You must meet the criteria of the state and choose the state in your EOI.
Depending on the process of the state you may be able apply for State nomination directly or you may have to wait to get invitation from the State to apply for state nomination. Once your nomination is approved by the State, you will get an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs to lodge the visa application under subclass 491. Upon invitation form the Department of Home Affairs, you lodge visa application and wait for the decision.
When you lodge your application, you must provide evidence supporting your claims in EOI.
The whole process may look bit complicated, and you may want to use a registered migration agent.
Please feel free to contact our office on +61286785756 to book an appointment with Hope Immigration Services’ registered migration agents.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained within this article is to provide advice of a general nature only and is not to be taken as individual advice for your personal circumstances. Information provided is subject to change at any time, and before proceeding with an application you should seek professional personalised advice about your circumstances.
We cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Because Australian immigration law and regulations change regularly, it is best to contact us before making any decisions. Alternatively, up to date information can be checked on the website of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
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