Getting the Skilled  Work Regional Provisional Visa in Australia : Subclass 481 

The Subclass 489 Skilled Regional Visa, once a pathway for skilled workers and migrants to temporarily reside and work in Australia, has been replaced by the Subclass 491 visa (Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa Subclass 491) since November 16, 2019.

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa marks a significant opportunity for skilled workers and their families to establish themselves in designated regional areas of Australia. This visa, valid for five years, not only permits residence, employment, and study but also offers a pathway to permanent residency after three years.

How to be eligible for the Skilled  Work Regional Provisional Visa in Australia : Subclass 481 ?

To be eligible for the 491 visa, applicants should fulfil the following requirements - 

• The applicant must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area. 
• The visa is points-tested and replaces the previous 489 visa
• There is a maximum age limit of 45 years and a requirement for a positive skills assessment.
• Key conditions of the 491 visa include residing, working, and studying solely within regional areas, excluding major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and the Gold Coast. Visa holders have the flexibility to move between regional areas and can work in any occupation for any employer as long as it aligns with visa conditions.
• Moreover, holders of the 491 visa face restrictions on applying for other skilled migration visas unless they complete a minimum of three years in a designated regional area, except under exceptional circumstances. 
• Sponsor non-compliance can negatively impact visa holders, similar to the subclass 457 and 482 visa programs.

The permanent pathway from the 491 visa is the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, requiring a minimum of three years of holding the 491 or 494 visa, compliance with visa conditions, and no mandatory earnings threshold.
Transition arrangements are in place for applicants on the now-closed subclass 489 visa pathway to the Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 887). Additionally, changes to the skilled migration points test from November 16, 2019, benefit subclass 491 applicants and others by providing additional points for various criteria such as nomination by a regional authority, STEM qualifications, and partner points.

The 491 visa allocates 15,000 places annually and requires sponsorship by an eligible relative or state authority. It prioritizes applicants with skilled partners or those without partners, followed by applicants with partners demonstrating competent English or ineligible for skilled partner points.

What are the benefits of the  Subclass 491?

Benefits of the 491 visa include –

• priority processing
• incentives for long-term residence in regional areas,
• access to Medicare,
• more points available for applicants. 

Regional areas encompass various cities and regions across Australia, excluding major metropolitan hubs.
 
To conclude one can say the subclass 491 visa offers skilled workers and their families a pathway to residency and potentially permanent residency in designated regional areas of Australia. Its provisions aim to bolster regional development while providing opportunities for skilled migrants to contribute to and integrate into Australian communities.