491 Visa for Skilled Workers

491 visa is a temporary, regionally sponsored visa. Its main difference is that the visa holder can reside only in regional Australia. 491 visa subclass allows migrating to all Australia's regions except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

You can apply as an independent applicant, or be nominated

- by a State or Territory government, or

- by a family member residing in a designated regional area

Please note that each region has its list of professions, requirements, and list of additional documents.

During this 3 year period, not be permitted to apply for the following visas:

- Distinguished Talent (124 and 858),
- Business Talent (132),
- Employer Nomination (186),
- Business Innovation & Investment (188), Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190), and Partner (Temporary) (820).

Professional consultants at Headways Immigration know all the nuances and can help you get the desired 491 visa in the shortest possible time.

491 Visa Staying Conditions

This visa is temporary and is issued for five years. There is no possibility to extend 491 visa subclass, but if you meet certain conditions, you can even become a resident in future. For a successful outcome, you must comply with the following requirements:

- live and work and study for three years in the regional area.

Travel Benefits

There are no restrictions regarding traveling when choosing a 491 visa. Thus, even if you get a 491 visa in South Australia, for instance, you can visit any place in the whole country.

Other Factors

Processing of applications takes from 2.5 to 20 months. Usually, our clients get it within the first six months.

How to Apply for 491 Visa

The main question is how to get the necessary number of points? An applicant for a 491 visa must meet many demands.

You can either apply as an independent applicant, or be nominated by a State or Territory government, or by a family member residing in a designated regional area,

The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, be usually resident in a desigted regional area, be aged at least 18, be usually resident in a ‘designated regional area’.

Also the Sponsor mus be related to the main applicant or the partner of the main applicant as a Parent, Child or stepchild , brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, adoptive brother or adoptive sister,Uncle, aunt, step-uncle, step-aunt, adoptive uncle or adoptive aunt, Nephew, niece, step-nephew, step-niece, adoptive nephew or adoptive niece, Grandparent or First cousin

Also sponsor each member of the family of the main applicant who is also applying for must have at least ‘competent English’, nominate a prescribed skilled ocupation, which is consistent with that specified in the invitation to apply, have received a suitable skills assessment for their occupation and meet the nomination criteria of the sponsoring State/Territory ie. Occupations on the State/Territory skilled occupations list

Let's look at what and how many points are awarded for finding out how to get the cherished 65 or more scores.

491 Visa Subclass Requirements

Age.

18-24 y.o. - 25 points;

25-32 y.o. - 30 ponts;

33-39 y.o. - 25 ponts;

40-44 y.o. - 15 ponts.

Education.

college - 10 points;

university - 15 points;

PhD - 20 points;

+ 2 points for studying in Australia.

English test(IELTS, TOEFL, OTE, Cambridge Academy).

7 score - 10 points;

8 and more - 20 points.

Professional experience.

3 years - 5 points;

5 years - 10 points;

8 years - 15 points.

Migration with Family Members

Australia supports the immigration of specialists together with their families very much. Thus, if the applicant's husband/wife also has a specialty required by the Australian state in the SkillSelect system, the main applicant for 491 visa receives additional 5 points.

Get Professional Help

Depending on the identity of the applicant and some circumstances, the required list of documents for 491 visa subclass may vary. At Headways Immigration, we help our clients with detailed planning of the immigration process, collecting and preparing documents, passing SkillSelect tests, and filing a visa application.

If you are good at what you do, you have a great chance of getting permanent residency in Australia. Our specialists will tell you all about professional immigration.