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:
- have had your Registration of Interest (ROI) selected,
- 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 in skilled employment at the time of nomination. If you are offshore, this requirement does not apply,
- be under 45 years of age,
- be committed to living in Victoria,
- have Competent English,
- 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
If you are onshore and invited to complete an application, you will need to provide the following documents to show meet the requirements:
- passport,
- English language test,
- Skills Assessment,
- residence evidence,
- employment contract,
- payslips (most recent four weeks),
- superannuation statement,
- position description.
Offshore applicants
If you are offshore, you are eligible to submit a Registration of Interest in any eligible occupation. We are currently prioritising health, social worker and teaching occupations, however we encourage applicants in other occupations to submit a Registration of Interest as you may be considered.
Offshore applicants will need to provide the following documents:
- passport,
- English language test,
- Skills Assessment.
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 Victoria for at least two years.
- Commit to living and working in regional Victoria for the duration of your visa.
Safe Haven Enterprise visa holders (subclass 790)
Safe Haven Enterprise visa (SHEV) holders are encouraged to apply. SHEV applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be prioritised for subclass 491 visa nomination.
You will be asked to provide evidence that you currently hold a Safe Haven Enterprise visa, including your visa grant notification letter and VEVO extract from the Department of Home Affairs.