Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

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

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (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 an occupation which is in high demand in Australia’s labour market. This visa is administered by the Department of Home Affairs.

Victoria welcomes nomination applications from people who meet the below eligibility criteria.

To receive a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) nomination from Victoria, you will need to meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:

Age

You must be below age 45.

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.

Occupation

To apply for Victorian nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa, your occupation must be listed on the Commonwealth’s skilled occupation lists. The skilled occupations lists reflect genuine skills needs in Australia and enable businesses to access the skills they need to grow if skilled Australian workers are not available.

To check if your occupation is eligible for the subclass 491 visa, please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website.

Finances

Financial resource requirements are in place to ensure you can support yourself and your family on arrival in Victoria.

Offer of employment

All applicants who wish to apply for Victorian nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa must provide evidence of a current offer of employment in a position located in a designated regional area of Victoria (as defined by the Department of Home Affairs).

To demonstrate you have a current employment offer, you are required to provide:

• A Confirmation of Employment Statement
• A signed contract / letter of offer which includes your employer’s Australian Business Number (ABN) and contact details;
• An official position description from your employer outlining your main tasks and duties.

The employment offer must be in your nominated occupation and must be for full time work for a period of at least 12 months. We will accept offers of non-ongoing employment. Full time work is defined as 38 hours per week.

You must provide sufficient information and evidence to demonstrate that:

1. There is a genuine need for the position within the business; and
2. The business is active/ operating for at least two years in a designated regional area of Victoria and is committed to employing you.

Should our office not be satisfied with the genuine nature of the job offer, or that the offer of employment was not obtained through a merit-based recruitment process, we may request further documentation to support the application. This may include discussing the offer of employment with your employer.

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.

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, see the Department of Home Affairs website.

Declaration

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

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) (subclass 491). Please see the Department of Home Affairs website for more information.

How to apply for Victorian Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa nomination

Step 1: Lodge your Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Department of Home Affairs through SkillSelect

SkillSelect is the Australian Government’s online system that enables skilled workers interested in migrating to Australia to record their details to be considered for a skilled visa through an EOI. Visit the Department of Home Affairs’ SkillSelect to find out more information.

You must lodge your Expression of Interest before applying for Victorian nomination, as you will require your EOI number to submit your application form.

Step 2: Prepare your documents

When you lodge your online application, you must provide:

• a detailed resume or CV
• a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) Declaration Form
• a skills assessment
• English language test results or if exempt a copy of your passport bio page
• an offer of employment located in a designated regional area of Victoria (including documentation / evidence of a genuine job offer, outlined above evidence of licensing/registration (if applicable)

If you are asked for further documentation relating to your application, you will need to provide it within 14 calendar days to enable our assessment team to consider it. Otherwise, your application may be refused.

Step 3: Lodge your nomination application through the Live in Melbourne website

You can lodge your application for Victoria nomination (see register button below) and submit all supporting documents through our online application system.

If you experience technical difficulties, please email webmaster@liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au

Fees and Charges

There is no application fee for Victorian visa nomination.

Family members and dependents

Include any dependents in the visa nomination application that you intend to include in your visa application.

Step 4: Lodge your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs

Once you have received your Victorian Government nomination, you are then able to lodge your visa application. You may wish to complete any required health examinations or character assessments prior to lodging the visa application. The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for issuing and administering all Australian visas.  Contact the Department of Home Affairs directly or visit their website for information about lodging your visa application, visa requirements, obligations and processing times.

When you lodge your visa application with the Department of Home Affairs, please notify the Victorian Government by emailing smp.applications@liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au

Step 5: Notify us of your visa outcome

As part of your visa nomination commitment, you must notify us of your visa outcome by emailing smp.applications@liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au

Processing time:

The average processing time for the Victorian Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa nomination is currently 12 weeks.  This may vary depending on the occupation and in some instances, it may take longer to assess applications.  You (or your migration agent) will be notified of the outcome of your nomination application by email.

Please note that decisions may take longer if applications are submitted without adequate documentation.

Every application for Victoria visa nomination is assessed individually with a focus on your ability to address a number of assessment criteria, including:

• Your ability to meet the minimum eligibility criteria;
• The demand for your skills and expertise in a designated regional area of Victoria;
• Whether the job offer you provide is for a position located in a designated regional area of Victoria;
• The suitability and transferability of your qualifications, skills and experience – including any specialist capabilities – to Victoria’s labour market; and
• Your ability and commitment to establishing yourself and any dependents in a designated regional area of Victoria, with a view to long term settlement in that area.

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 and Arrival

You must notify us by email of:

• The outcome of your visa application
• Your arrival in Australia (if you are an offshore applicant)
• 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 you enter Australia on the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) or if you are already onshore, when your visa is granted by the Department of Home Affairs.

Complete up to seven email surveys

There are up to seven short surveys what you must complete over the first three-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 six 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.