SkillSelect – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) 491 Visa

The Australian Government’s new 491 visa enables successful applicants to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia from November 16, 2019. It is designed for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. For migration purposes most locations of Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) are classed as designated regional areas. Perth and the Gold Coast are classed as regional areas.

If you’d like to apply for this visa, speak to one of our registered migration agents who will ensure that the process is completed correctly and eliminate any confusion. Call us today on (+61) 07 5592 0755. We also offer free initial consultation through our online visa assessment or in-person appointments.

Workers who are granted the 491 visa will be able to stay in Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted, be eligible to travel to and from Australia as many times as they like during that time, and the best part is they’ll be able to apply for permanent Australian residence from November 16, 2022.

As with all visa applications there are certain requirements that must be met. For the 491 visa these are:

be nominated to apply by an Australian state or territory government agency, or an eligible relative must sponsor you
have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
be invited to apply by the Australian Government
satisfy the points test
be a suitable age

Skilled Work Regional Visa

Requirements of the SkillSelect

The Invited Pathway

The Subsequent Entry Pathway

Include Family

Permanent Residence

Entitlements of the SkillSelect

Requirements of the SkillSelect – Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)

There are two pathways to obtain this visa:

The Invited Pathway

the initial visa application whereby you are nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by an eligible family relative and invited to apply.

The Subsequent Entry Pathway

for member of the family unit of a person who holds a certain temporary regional visa to join them.

The Invited Pathway

Applicants for this visa must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online in order to be invited to apply. Once you have been invited to apply, you must be able to satisfy the basic visa requirements to qualify for a visa in the General Skilled Migration program.

You must:

Be nominated or sponsored – you must be either nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or indicate that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative. Submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the visa to get an estimate of your points score. If you score enough points, state and territory government agencies can see your EOI and might nominate you for the visa. If you indicate in your EOI that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative the Department may invite you to apply for a visa in an invitation round.
Have a relevant occupation – you must have an occupation that is on a relevant skilled occupation list.
Have a suitable skills assessment – for your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at time of invitation. You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application. Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed.
Be invited to apply – you can only apply for this visa if the Australian Government invites you to. We can help you submit an expression of interest (EOI) in SkillSelect to let them know you would like to apply for the visa.
Satisfy the points test – the subclass 491 is a points-tested visa. When we submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa. If they do invite you to apply for the visa, your invitation will state the number of points that you must score when they assess your application for grant of the visa (this score may be higher than 65 points, depending on your claims in the EOI). This is Australia can help you submit your application and ensure that all evidence supporting your claims are included.
Be a suitable age – you must be aged under 45 to be invited to apply for the 491 visa. You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after you are invited to apply. If you turn 45 after you submit your EOI but before you are invited, you will not receive an invite. Our migration team will assess your eligibility.

There are other health, English language, character and additional requirements that may apply to your application. We’ll make sure this is all covered for you.

The applicant (or their spouse) must be related to their eligible relative sponsor in the following way:

Non-dependent child – including a natural, adoptive or step-child;
Parent – including adoptive or step-parent;
Brother or sister – including adoptive or step-siblings;
Niece or nephew – including adoptive or step-niece or nephew; or
Aunt or uncle – including adoptive or step-aunt or uncle;
Grandparent or first cousin.

Include family

You can:

include them when you lodge your visa application
add a dependent child after you lodge, but before we decide on your application.

Family members who apply for the visa must meet the health and character requirements.

If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, you must share the reason why (for example: they already hold Australian citizenship or are a permanent resident).

A member of This is Australia’s migration team will go over this with you.

SkillSelect Points Test

Points are awarded on the basis of the factors listed in the following table. All factors are assessed as they are at the time you are invited to apply for this visa.

Overview

Points criteria are assessed at the time of invitation

Age	Points
at least 18 but less than 25 years	25
at least 25 but less than 33 years	30
at least 33 but less than 40 years	25
at least 40 but less than 45 years	15

English	Points
Competent English	0
Proficient English	10
Superior English	20

Overseas skilled employment – (outside Australia)	Points
Less than 3 years	0
At least 3 but less than 5 years	5
At least 5 but less than 8 years	10
At least 8 years	15

Australian skilled employment – (in Australia)	Points
Less than 1 year	0
At least 1 but less than 3 years	5
At least 3 but less than 5 years	10
At least 5 but less than 8 years	15
At least 8 years	20
More information You can only claim points for employment if the employment was in your nominated skilled occupation or a closely related skilled occupation; and you were employed for the relevant periods set out in the table, in the 10 years before you are invited to apply. For any Australian employment you must have held a substantive visa or a Bridging A or Bridging B visa and complied with the conditions of that visa to be eligible for points. Employed means engaged in an occupation for remuneration for at least 20 hours a week. Closely-related occupations must be: in the same ANZSCO Unit Group or consistent with a career advancement pathway or recognised by an assessing authority that it is closely related to your nominated occupation, as part of your skills assessment Under the points test there is a cap on the number of points that can be awarded for employment experience. The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 20, this means that even if you score more than 20 combined points for your employment experience only 20 points will be awarded.

Educational qualifications	Points
A Doctorate from an Australian educational institution or a Doctorate from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard.	20
At least a Bachelor degree from an Australian educational institution or at least a Bachelor qualification, from another educational institution, that is of a recognised standard.	15
A diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution.	10
Attained a qualification or award recognised by the relevant assessing authority for your nominated skilled occupation as being suitable for that occupation.	10
More information For points based migration you will receive points for your highest qualification only. Recognition of your qualifications The authority undertaking your skills assessment may determine if your qualifications are comparable to the relevant Australian qualification. Assessing authorities are listed against your occupation in the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations. You must have obtained this recognition at the time you are invited to apply for a visa. If you hold an overseas qualification at bachelor level or above and your skills assessing authority did not offer an opinion on that qualification, then we can assist you as part of our visa services, to get your overseas qualification assessed. Doctoral requirements (PhD) You can only be awarded points for a doctoral degree if you have completed a qualification at the relevant level, that is, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). You cannot claim these points for the award of other qualifications that give you the right to use to the title of Doctor (that is, general practitioner, dentist, vet).

Specialist education qualification	Points
A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least 2 academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:	10
Eligible fields Natural and physical sciences biological sciences chemical sciences earth sciences mathematical sciences natural and physical sciences other natural and physical sciences physics and astronomy Information technology computer science information systems information technology other information technology Engineering and related technologies aerospace engineering and technology civil engineering electrical and electronic engineering and technology engineering and related technologies geomatics engineering manufacturing engineering and technology maritime engineering and technology mechanical and industrial engineering and technology other engineering and related technologies process and resources engineering. To determine whether your qualification is eligible, see the CRICOS website.

Specialist education qualification

Points

A Masters degree by research or a Doctorate degree from an Australian educational institution that included at least 2 academic years study in a relevant field. The postgraduate degree by research (doctorate or masters) must be awarded from an Australian education institution after at least 2 academic years of study in the following science, technology, engineering, mathematics or specified information and communication technology (ICT) fields:

Eligible fields

Natural and physical sciences

biological sciences
chemical sciences
earth sciences
mathematical sciences
natural and physical sciences
other natural and physical sciences
physics and astronomy

Information technology

computer science
information systems
information technology
other information technology

Engineering and related technologies

aerospace engineering and technology
civil engineering
electrical and electronic engineering and technology
engineering and related technologies
geomatics engineering
manufacturing engineering and technology
maritime engineering and technology
mechanical and industrial engineering and technology
other engineering and related technologies
process and resources engineering.

To determine whether your qualification is eligible, see the CRICOS website.

Australian study requirement	Points
Meet the Australian study requirement. You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement.	5

Professional Year in Australia	Points
Completion of a Professional Year in Australia.	5
More information At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and: in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation completed over a period of at least 12 months completed in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply for a visa provided by one of these organisations: the Australian Computer Society CPA Australia Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand the Institute of Public Accountants (formerly the National Institute of Accountants) Engineers Australia.

Professional Year in Australia

Points

Completion of a Professional Year in Australia.

More information

At the time of invitation to apply, you had completed a Professional Year. To be eligible for the award of these points your Professional Year must have been in Accounting, ICT/Computing or Engineering, and:

in your nominated occupation or a closely related occupation
completed over a period of at least 12 months
completed in Australia in the four years before you are invited to apply for a visa
provided by one of these organisations:
- the Australian Computer Society
- CPA Australia
- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
- the Institute of Public Accountants (formerly the National Institute of Accountants)
- Engineers Australia.

Credentialed community language	Points
Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialed community language. To be credentialed in a community language and eligible for the award of points you must have been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or have a community language credential for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.	5

Credentialed community language

Points

Hold a recognised qualification in a credentialed community language. To be credentialed in a community language and eligible for the award of points you must have been accredited at the paraprofessional level or above, certified at the certified provisional level or above, or have a community language credential for interpreting or translating by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Study in regional Australia	Points
You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia. To be eligible for the award of points your educational qualification: must meet the Australian study requirement have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in, a designated regional area not include study undertaken by distance education	5

Study in regional Australia

Points

You must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia.

To be eligible for the award of points your educational qualification:

must meet the Australian study requirement
have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in, a designated regional area
not include study undertaken by distance education

Partner skills	Points
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they: were under 45 years old had competent English had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.	10
Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.	5
You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.	10

Partner skills

Points

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and meet age, English and skill criteria

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen. Additionally, you will need to provide evidence that when you were invited to apply for this visa that they:

were under 45 years old
had competent English
had nominated a skilled occupation that is on the same skilled occupation list as your nominated skilled occupation
had a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated skilled occupation, and the assessment wasn’t for a Subclass 485 visa.

Your spouse or de facto partner must also be an applicant for this visa and has competent English

For you to be eligible for the award of these points your partner must be an applicant for the same visa subclass and must not be an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen.

You are single or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

The Subsequent Entry Pathway

For members of the family unit of someone who already holds Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

You must:

be one of the members of the family unit, of a subclass 491 visa holder.
If you are in Australia when you lodge your application you must hold a substantive visa or a subclass 010 Bridging A visa, a subclass 020 Bridging B visa or a subclass 030 Bridging C visa..
have at least functional English, or pay a second instalment when we ask you to do so
meet health and character requirements.

Permanent residence

The 491 visa provides a pathway to apply for permanent residence in Australia. With Australian permanent residency you can stay in Australia permanently, work and study in Australia, enrol in Australia’s public healthcare system Medicare, sponsor your relatives to come to Australia, travel to and from Australia for 5 years, and if eligible you can apply for Australian citizenship.

To apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) you must have held an eligible visa (491 or 494) for at least 3 years, have had a taxable income at or above the income threshold ($53,900/year) for at least 3 years, and all applicants must have complied with the conditions of their visa.

Entitlements of the SkillSelect – Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)

The Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491) will grant you a temporary residency visa valid for 5 years.

You and your eligible family members will be entitled to:

Reside in Australia for up to 5 years;
Live, study and work in a designated regional area of Australia;
Travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want during the duration of the visa;
Apply for permanent residency through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)
Work in any occupation and for any employer in line with the work and residence conditions attached to your visa.
Be eligible for Medicare

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) replaced the 489 Visa and commenced on the 16th November 2019. It also requires a positive skills assessment.