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Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491)
The 491 family sponsored visa is for skilled people wishing to live and work in regional Australia.
To apply for a 491 family sponsored visa, you must score at least 65 points. Moreover, you need a close family member living in regional Australia to offer sponsorship.
Applying for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491)
You must first submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. This can be done in or outside of Australia.
If you have secured sponsorship from an eligible relative and meet the basic requirements for this visa, you will then receive an Invitation to Apply.
Eligibility:
- receive an invitation to apply;
- be under 45 years of age when you are invited to apply
- nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List
- have a positive skills assessment
- achieve competent English
- have sponsorship from an eligible relative
- score at least 65 on the Points Test
- meet the health and character requirements.
The 491 Family Sponsored Visa Application Process
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) is based on a 3 stage application process:
Stage 1
The first stage of the application process involves completing a skills assessment with the relevant government body. Your skills assessment enables the Department of Home Affairs to judge if you have the required level of skill in your chosen occupation to work in Australia.
Stage 2
After you have received a positive skills assessment, you will need to submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. This can be done in or outside Australia. You also need to be sponsored by an eligible relative. The relative would be no further distant than a first cousin and living in a designated area of Australia.
Stage 3
Once you have been issued an Invitation to Apply, you can submit your final, complete application to be approved by the Australian Government. Priority processing arrangements apply to this visa, determining the order in which the department considers applications regardless of when they have been lodged.
Moving from a provisional visa to a permanent visa
A successful applicant is given a 5 years multiple entry visa to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia. Most locations of Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) are classed as designated areas for migration purposes.
Through a 2 stage visa process, Skilled Nominated (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa holders must live and work in a designated regional area of Australia. Basic eligibility icludes:
- Living in regional Australia for at least three years; and
- Being employed (including self employed) for at least 3 years in regional Australia; and
- Show earnings of at least AUD$ 53,900 for past 3 years in regional Australia ;
Applicants can apply for the following permanent residence visa:
Skilled – Regional (subclass 191)
Processing Time
90% of applications are processed within 6-22 months.
Processing times can vary depending on the quality of your application. Moreover, the number of people applying and visas available can also cause delays.
Australian Government Visa Fees
- AUD$ 4,640.00 Main visa applicant
- AUD$ 2,320.00 Partner included in application
- AUD$ 1,160.00 Per child under 18 included in the application
Visa Go Australia Fees
Total fee to process a Skilled Sponsored (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) is £2,400.00.
Our fee is paid in 3 stages as we complete the work on your visa application.
- Initial deposit – £800.00
- Skills assessment lodgement – £800.00
- EOI lodgement – £800.00
Visa Go Australia Processing Service
Visa Go Australia offer a comprehensive processing service to all their clients. A designated experienced Case Processor is allocated to undertake the necessary steps in preparing and lodging each application. They are available to advise and support clients throughout the whole process and their knowledge and expertise is supported by a Registered Migration Agent (MARA 0211214).
Sue made our whole process stress free.
We honesty could not have done it all with out knowledge and support.
I have already been recommending visa go to friends who are looking to start the process.
Thank you so much again!!!
Sue was a dream to deal with and thoroughly checked over all of our documents ensuring that everything was of the exacting standards of the Australian Government. We could not have completed process without Sue. Thank you once again for all of your help.
Sue was amazing throughout, keeping us updated each step of the way, and providing detailed guidance at the start of each stage, which enabled us to start preparing and collating everything needed for the next part when the time came. Sue’s replies to the many emails that I've sent her way over the course of this process, were always prompt and patient, and nothing ever seemed to much trouble. Sue’s experience and understanding of the processes, timelines and the strict format in which things had to be done, meant that she was able to advise us and provide guidelines, which meant that when we submitted each stage, we were not having to worry about delays due to incomplete applications.
18 months on from that initial meeting - we have now been living and working in Australia for 8 months, and have recently changed onto a permanent visa.
We are extremely glad that we chose to work with Visa Go, and want to say a massive thank you to Sue, Darren and the team for all of their support and assistance throughout.
Darren always took the time to answer any questions and help me through the process.
Within weeks he had my partner visa submitted and now I have my permanent residency!
I couldn’t thank Darren and the team enough 👍
My case officer, Sue, has been very professional and knowledgeable throughout the process providing great customer service, from providing the documents required to promptly replying to all queries.
So, to Darren, Kimberley and Sue, thank you all for your support to achieve my Visa.
Our visa process took 11 months (as expected for the visa we applied for) and Sue kept us on track and up to date all the time, extremely organised and always happy to help and provide us with her support.
I highly recommend Visa Go Australia, we couldn't imagine trying to go through this process without Sues help and guidance. Samantha Mills
Can't thank Darren and Kimberley enough.
Calam, Charlie and Rory
Thank so much for all your help!
Jonas & Cynthia
I would highly recommend anyone applying for a visa to do it through them.
They made sure we had all the information at every step of they way and nothing was ever a problem if I called or emailed.
Thank you so much to all of the team!
Denny, Victoria and Caitlyn