Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa allows points-tested skilled workers and their families to live, study and work in designated regional areas for a period of 5 years.

The subclass 491 is a provisional points-tested visa to assist regional Australia to access the people and skills it needs to grow and thrive. This visa is for people who wish to settle in regional Australia who have skills that are in high demand in Australia's labour market. This visa is administered by the Department of Home Affairs.

Learn more about changes to the 2020-21 Skilled Migration program.

To be selected to apply for a visa nomination under the subclass 491, you will need to make or update an EOI via SkillSelect and then submit a Registration of Interest for Victorian State Visa Nomination on the Live in Melbourne website. Further information about the requirements and steps to register your interest is available on the Registration of Interest for Victorian State Visa Nomination page.

You must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government before applying for this visa.

Eligibility

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 Live in Melbourne.

To receive Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) 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).

All applicants must have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least six in each band score or equivalent. Alternative English language tests are accepted. Applicants 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 6 months.

You will be required to provide evidence of your residency with your application form. For example, you may wish to provide:

a current bill
a bill or documentation evidencing your residency from 6 months ago

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 health or medical research which supports Victoria’s economic recovery and health response for at least the past 6 months. Your occupation must 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
your most recent payslip
evidence of superannuation
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; and
be located in a designated regional area of Victoria.

Skills assessment

A skills assessment must match the occupation you have nominated. 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 are already living and working in regional Victoria.

Genuine intention to Live, Work and study in a designated regional area in Victoria

You and your dependents must demonstrate that you are committed to living, working and/or studying in a designated regional area for the length of the visa period.

Declaration

You and your Migration Agent (if applicable) must read and sign the Victorian Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa nomination declaration form in order to be considered for Victorian visa nomination.

Detailed resume or curriculum vitae (CV)

Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is a critical document used to assess your suitability for Victorian visa nomination. It must provide evidence of skills and work experience and a detailed, chronological list of all relevant employment.

You should take the time to ensure your CV is professionally presented and details your skills, work readiness and work experience. You should explain any gaps in employment.

Your CV should be no more than four pages long and must include:

Detailed description of relevant tasks and responsibilities performed within all employment
Dates of employment (including month and year), and
Dates of education and training.

See our sample CV for a guide on preparing your CV.

Department of Home Affairs requirements

Successfully gaining Victorian visa nomination does not guarantee that you will be granted an Australian visa. You must also meet the Department of Home Affairs eligibility requirements for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Please see the Department of Home Affairs website for more information.

Apply

Check you meet the Department of Home Affairs Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) requirements
Make or update an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) on SkillSelect and indicate your interest for Victorian nomination. You do not need to notify Victoria that you have made an EOI.
Submit a Registration of Interest for Victorian State Visa Nomination on the Live in Melbourne website by 21 September 2020.
Check your email regularly (including your junk mail folder) to see if you have been selected by Victoria. Only those applicants meeting the eligibility requirements will be considered for selection. If selected, an email invitation to apply for Victorian visa nomination will be sent to your email address used for your Registration of Interest.
Submit an online application as soon as possible. Note that you must be able to demonstrate that you still meet the claims that were in your EOI and Registration of Interest when you were selected. We recommend that you have all your supporting documents ready before you make your EOI in SkillSelect as this date cannot be extended.
If you are nominated by Victoria, you will receive a SkillSelect invitation to apply for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
Submit a visa application to the Department of Home Affairs within 60 days of being nominated by Victoria.

Selection considerations

The Victorian Government will review and select candidates who have submitted a Registration of Interest for Victorian State Visa Nomination. Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria to be considered for selection.

Please note: Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.

If you are not selected by the Victorian Government, you will not receive an email.

If you are subject to a section 48 bar on your visa and must go offshore to submit a visa application, we are unable to extend your Victorian nomination beyond the 60 days. Please consider this when applying for Victorian visa nomination.

Nomination obligations

Continue to meet your Department of Home Affairs requirements

You must agree to continue to meet your Department of Home Affairs visa conditions while you are in Australia.

Notification of Visa Grant

You must notify us by email of:

The outcome of your visa application
When you are granted a permanent visa from the Department of Home Affairs
When your contact information changes (including but not limited to phone number, email addresses, residential address and migration agent information).

Live, Work and Study in a designated regional area in Victoria for the period of the visa

A primary obligation of the Victorian visa nomination process is that you and all of your dependents live, work and study in a designated regional area in Victoria, as defined by the Department of Home Affairs, for the period of the visa. This period begins when your visa is granted by the Department of Home Affairs.

Complete up to 7 email surveys

There are up to 7 short surveys what you must complete over the first 3 year period of arrival or visa activation. These surveys will be emailed to you. You will receive your first survey when you arrive in Australia or when your Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is activated. You will then receive one survey every 6 months.

The responses and feedback in the survey are used to evaluate and improve the Victorian Government’s Skilled and Business Migration Program.

Find out more

More information on the visa eligibility requirements and visa application process is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.

A new and improved way to apply

We have made it easier for you to register, submit and track the progress of your application.

Our visa application forms are now mobile and tablet friendly with improved layout and helpful text fields.

Register now