Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa

This (subclass 491) visa is a provisional General Skilled Migration pathway that requires holders to live, work and study in a regional area of Australia for a period of 5 years. It is possible to include family members in your application. Once certain residence requirements have been met, holders can apply for a permanent visa.

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In order to qualify for a subclass 491 visa, applicants need the following:

• be aged between 18 and 44 inclusive
• have competent English and their family members over 18 having at least functional English
• obtain a positive skills assessment on the relevant Skilled Occupation list
• meet the pass mark of 65 points
• lodge a Expression of Interest and be invited to apply
• be nominated by a State or Territory or have sponsorship from a family member
• meet health and character requirements

This visa is subject to the condition requiring all visa holders to live, work and reside in regional Australia.

It is possible to apply for a permanent subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after living and working in a regional area for at least 3 years.

What you Can Do

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​stay in Australia for 5 years
• live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid​
• apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted​

Applicant Requirements

• be nominated to apply by a 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
• satisfy the points test