Once you are selected to apply for a visa nomination for a Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 491), you can submit your visa nomination application through the Live in Melbourne website.
To receive a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa nomination from Victoria, you will need to meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:
Age
Be below age 45 to submit a nomination application for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa.
English language
You must have a Competent level of English (or equivalent).
Competent level is equivalent to a score of at least six (6) in each band score of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or equivalent results in accepted alternative tests. You can obtain the IELTS equivalent in any of the following Department of Home Affairs’ accepted language tests: OET, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE).
You must upload a scanned copy of your English language test result as part of the online nomination application. Please ensure that your English test result is valid for at least 12 weeks at the time of submitting a visa nomination application.
Please note: If you are a citizen of the USA, UK, Canada, Republic of Ireland or New Zealand you are not required to submit English language test results. You must submit a copy of your passport bio page.
Residency
You must have lived and worked in regional Victoria for at least the past 3 months.
You will be required to provide evidence of your residency with your application form. For example, you may wish to provide:
- a current real estate lease or bond agreement
- a bill or documentation evidencing your ongoing residence in regional Victoria over the past 3 months.
To check if your postcode is considered as regional for migration purposes, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Employment and occupation
You must be currently employed in regional Victoria in a highly skilled occupation in one of these sectors:
- health
- medical research
- life sciences
- agri-food
- digital.
Your role must either have been supporting Victoria’s economic recovery and/or health response for at least the past 3 months.
In the last 3 months, you must have been continuously employed in your nominated occupation or closely related occupation. We will consider employment in an occupation that is within the same ANZSCO Unit Group as your occupation. We will accept at least 20 hours per week as being 'employed' for the purposes of applicants evidencing they are currently employed and have been employed in Victoria for 3 months prior to their Registration of Interest application.
International student graduates and PhD applicants who meet the eligibility criteria are also encouraged to apply. Applicants with a track record of commercialising innovative ideas and bringing them to market will also be highly regarded.
Your occupation must also be on one of the Department of Home Affairs’ eligible lists for nomination applications.
You will need to provide evidence of this work experience by providing:
- a signed copy of your current employment contract
- the past 3 months payslips
- evidence of superannuation contributions from your employer for the past 3 months
- your current position description
- your current employer's details (including telephone number).
Please note, the business where you are working must be:
- active and operating in regional Victoria for at least two years
- located in a designated regional area of Victoria.
Skills assessment
You must provide a skills assessment that matches the occupation you have nominated on your visa nomination application and EOI. Please ensure that your skills assessment is valid for at least 12 weeks at the time of submitting a visa nomination application.
To find out where you can have your skills assessed, go to the skills assessment and assessing authorities section on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Finances
There are no financial requirements as all applicants must already be living and working in regional Victoria.
