In accordance with the new Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa, qualified skilled workers and their families will be entitled to live, work, and study in specific regional Australia for a period of five years. After three years, those who have a visa may apply for a permanent residence visa.

You must meet the following requirements:

Be sponsored by an eligible relative, or
Be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency.
Have a job on a relevant skilled occupation list,
Be invited to apply.
Possess the necessary skills assessment for the position.
Pass the points exam.

What are the other eligibility criteria for applying for a subclass 491 visa?

You must fulfill the requirements listed below to be qualified for a 491 visa:

Must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Must have an acceptable English proficiency level
You must be under 45 years old and
Must not have any criminal records and physical condition in order to submit an EOI nomination.
You must also respond to the nomination invitation email.

What are the documents required for visa subclass 491?

You need to provide all the supporting documents for the information provided in your EOI:

Passport
Police Clearance Certificate
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Language Competency Test Result
Birth certificate
Medical reports addressing the condition of the applicant (if needed)
Skill Assessment Report
Partner skills (if applicable)
Work experience in Australia (if applicable)
Declaration by your sponsor and permanent residency proof of the sponsor (in case of sponsorship or invite from the relative)
Proof of being an eligible relative

How do I submit a Regional Skilled Visa Subclass 491 application?

There are several phases involved in applying for a subclass 491 visa, starting with determining whether your profession is on the Skilled Occupation List, gathering your documentation, having your skill level evaluated, and then filing for your visa.

Let’s work our way through everything step by step:

Step 1: (Check if your occupation is on the skilled occupation list): Verify that your chosen occupation is included in the Skilled Occupation List that the Australian Government publishes each year.
Step 2: (Skill Assessment): Ask the relevant Australian organizations to evaluate your skill set.
Step 3: (Points system): When applying for visas, the Australian government uses a points system. To receive an invitation, you must achieve a minimum score of 65 on these tests.
Step 4: (Submit Expression of Interest (EOI)): Use SkillSelect to submit your application by sending an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Department of Home Affairs. These 65 points are thoroughly evaluated by SkillSelect, following which you can begin applying.
Step 5: (Submission of supporting documentation): Following the acceptance of your EOI, the Department of Home Affairs requests that you apply for candidacy. Within 60 days, you must submit the necessary documentation along with the fee. It is advisable to compile your supporting documentation in advance.
Step 6: (Verifying the application’s status): You will receive an email after your application has been received; log into your ImmiAccount to see how it is progressing.
Step 7: (Get approval): You should anticipate receiving an email with your visa grant number, the start date of your visa, and the terms and conditions when your visa has been approved. You can now depart for Australia by air.