The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) allows skilled migrants to live, study and work in designated regional areas for a period of 5 years, with a pathway to permanent residency. You must receive nomination from Victoria before you can apply for this visa.
Before you read on, check that this is the right visa for you: Department of Home Affairs - Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
See supporting information for more information on the subclass 491 visa.
After 3 years, subclass 491 visa holders may be eligible to apply for the subclass 191 visa which provides permanent residency. Further information is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Who can apply?
To be eligible to apply for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) nomination, you must:
- be committed to living in regional Victoria,
- have had your Registration of Interest (ROI) selected,
- be under 45 years of age,
- have Competent English,
- have a valid skills assessment in an occupation on the eligible skilled occupation list for this visa,
- if you are onshore, you must be living and working in regional Victoria at the time of nomination. Please note, some outer suburbs of Melbourne are included in the regional zones by the Department of Home Affairs. You can find information on the designated regional areas of Victoria,
- be committed to living and working in regional Victoria,
- have achieved at least 65 points on the Australian Government’s points test for your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect.
How to apply?
The visa process consists of four steps:
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs using SkillSelect.
- Using the EOI number received from SkillSelect, you will submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for Victorian nomination via the Live in Melbourne portal.
- If you are invited, you will submit a nomination application in the Live in Melbourne portal.
- If your nomination application is successful, you will submit a visa application for your selected visa with the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs.
Onshore applicants
- You must be currently living and working in regional Victoria.
- You can claim annual earnings in your Registration of Interest from your skilled employment in regional Victoria.
- If you are not working, or working in non-skilled employment, you are not eligible to apply for nomination.
Offshore applicants
- You must be committed to living in regional Victoria.
- You will need to have a valid Skills Assessment and meet the requirements listed below.
- We are currently prioritising offshore candidates for 491 visas with skills in healthcare, social services and education.
Once you are nominated
- We will notify you of our decision by email.
- Submit your visa application to the Department of Home Affairs within 60 days. We cannot nominate you again if your visa application is not submitted in this time.
- Keep your contact details up to date so we can provide you information on important services.
- Complete regular surveys we will send you about your experience with us and your settlement in Victoria.
- Commit to living and working in regional Victoria for the duration of your visa.