Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa – Subclass 491

To apply for this visa, you must lodge an expression of interest to SkillSelect and meet a minimum of 65 points in a point test, and be invited to make a visa application. Points are awarded based on:

• You must be under 45 years old.
• Proficiency in the English language.
• Overseas and Australian work experience.
• Australian and/or regional study.
• Qualifications and specialist skills.
• Worked in Australia for a year.
• Your partner’s skills.
• Having a sponsor or nominator.
• Have an occupation listed in a designated regional area on the relevant skilled occupation list.
• Passed a suitable skills assessment in your nominated occupation in the three years prior to receiving an invitation.
• Meet the health and character requirements of the Department of Home Affairs.
• Be sponsored by an eligible family member or receive a Territory or State nomination from the government.

Once you receive an invitation, you must lodge your visa application within 60 days or it will lapse. It is important to have all the documentation for you and your family members ready so you can lodge your nomination application quickly after receiving an invitation.

Applicants using the family sponsored path can only nominate an occupation on the medium-long term skills shortage list. Your sponsor should live in a designated regional area and be:

• Aged 18 or older.
• An Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
• A relative that is eligible to be a sponsor, including grandparents, parents, children, aunt or uncle, nephew or niece, or a sibling.