Skilled Worker Visa

Subclass 491 Skilled Worker Visa

The Subclass 491 Skilled Worker Visa is a provisional visa that enables skilled workers and their families to live, pursue education, and work in specified areas of Australia. This visa is valid for 5 years.

The applicant must receive state nomination or sponsorship from an eligible family member who holds permanent residency in Australia.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for the Subclass 491 Skilled Worker Visa?

To become eligible for a 491 visa, you need to meet the following criteria:

• You need to get a nomination from the region or a relative.
• Need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
• Need to have competent English
• Need to have good health and character
• Need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
• Need to receive an EOI nomination invitation email in response
• Your age should be under 45 years.

How many points do you need to apply for the 491 visas?

Getting at least 65 points is the eligibility criterion for receiving invites to the application process. Scoring more points gives you an upper hand over other applicants.

What Documents Are Required for the Subclass 491 Skilled Worker Visa?

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

• Passport
• Police Clearance Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Language Competency Report

For applicants between the ages of 18 and 23, there is a requirement for the following documents:

• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Evidence for financial dependency
• Adoption papers (case-specific)

Applicants above the age of 23, but are still dependent on their parents because of some physical impairment or cognitive issues.

There is a requirement for the following:

• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Evidence for financial dependency
• Adoption papers (case-specific)
• Medical reports addressing the condition of the applicant

The following are the documents associated with your claims on EOI that you need to provide:

• Skill Assessment
• Language Assessment
• Australian skilled employment
• Education Qualification (as per Australian standards)
• Specialist education
• Study in regional Australia
• Partner skills
• Work experience in Australia

If you have a sponsor, then your sponsor needs to provide the following:

• Age proof (18 years and above)
• Declaration by your sponsor
• Proof of being an eligible relative
• Permanent residency proof

Total Cost of Applying for the Subclass 491 Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Work Regional visa subclass 491 has an application cost of AUD 4045 for the primary applicant. For each subsequent entrant from an eligible family, there is a separate cost. Let us now take a look at the prices involved in the application process:

Processing time for visa subclass 491?

There is no specific time for processing the visa 491 application. But the regional application processes are given more priority.

How to apply for the Skilled Worker Visa (subclass 491)?

Applying for a Subclass 491 visa involves several steps, including checking the Skilled Occupation List, gathering documents, completing a skills assessment, and submitting the visa application. Let’s go through the whole process one step at a time:

Step 1: Skilled Occupation List

Check whether your designated profession is in the Skilled Occupation List published every year by the Australian Government.

Step 2: Skills Assessment

You can evaluate your skill set by the respective Australian organizations.

Step 3: Points System

The Australian Government follows a points system for visa applications. The minimum score you need to get an invitation for these assessments is 65 points.

Step 4: Expression of Interest

Apply by writing an Expression of Interest (EOI) addressed to the Department of Home Affairs using Skill Select. Skill Select carefully assesses those 65 points, after which you can start applying.

Step 5: Supporting documents submission

The Department of Home Affairs asks you to apply for candidacy after your EOI is accepted. Please submit your supporting documents within 60 days. It’s better to collect your supporting documents beforehand. You need to submit these documents by applying on the Immi Account. You also need to pay the required fee within 60 days.

Step 6: Checking application status

After your application is received, you will receive an email. You can log in to your Immi Account to check the status of your application. Necessary: Every applicant must undergo medical examinations and biometric scans.

Step 7: Getting accepted

After your visa is approved, you will receive an email with your visa grant number, the start date of your visa, and the visa terms and conditions. If you need any help with the visa application or get stuck on any step, do not forget to contact us.

How long can you stay with a visa subclass 491?

You can stay in Australia for 5 years with a subclass 491 visa. There is no extension given to the Skilled Regional visa. However, after the 3rd year, if you would like to continue living there, you can start applying for a PR visa after fulfilling the necessary conditions for 3 years.

Related FAQs

What are the benefits of being a permanent resident of Australia?

Here’s a list of benefits you get after becoming an Australian citizen:

• A life-long opportunity of living and earning a livelihood in Australia.
• Pursue higher education in Australia.
• Enrol in the Australian Government health scheme.
• Your spouse also gets to apply as a primary applicant.
• Under the sponsorship, your family members or eligible relatives can also become permanent residents as subsequent entrants.

How to convert your subclass 491 visa into a PR visa subclass 191?

You can easily convert the visa 491 into a permanent residency visa in subclass 191 and become an Australian citizen if you:

• Need a valid visa in visa subclass 191
• Have resided in regional Australia for at least three years.
• Have a minimum of one year of full-time work experience in Australia.
• Meet the pre-levied requirements of character and health by the Australian Government.
• Have made arrangements or paid back your outstanding debts to the Australian Government.
• Have earned AUD 53900 or more per annum for three consecutive years.

Once you have completed all these requirements, you can apply to work regionally in Australia, live there with your family, and transition your provisional visa to a temporary visa.

What are some of the notable changes between subclass 489 and subclass 491?

Since the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) was introduced, both subclasses have undergone considerable change.

The Key Points of Difference are as Follows

Staying period

If your visa is under subclass 491, you will be able to stay for 5 years, whereas if your visa is under subclass 489, you will be able to stay for 4 years.

Permanent visa

For visa subclass 491, you have to apply for the subclass 191 PR visa. For visa subclass 489, you have to apply for the subclass 887 PR visa.

Processing Time

Visa subclass 489 usually has a processing time of 4-9 months. No standard processing time has been set yet for the visa subclass 491.

Allotted time for a permanent visa

If your visa is in subclass 491, you will get 3 years to apply for a permanent visa. If your permission is in subclass 489, you will get two years for the PR visa application.

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