What is 491 visa Australia?

491 visa Subclassis a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa in Australia. It is a subclass of the General Skilled Migration (GSM) category and is mainly designed to encourage skilled workers to live, work & settle in the nominating regional areas of Australia. The Subclass 491 visa replaced the previous Subclass 489 visa.

The 491 visa Australia is valid for 5 years, and after completion of 3 years, you can be eligible to apply for an Australia PR visa.

Benefits of 491 Visa Australia
The 491 visa offers several advantages to individuals who are granted the visa:

1)Regional Opportunity:
The Subclass 491 visa allows you to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia. These areas often have lower population densities.

2)Pathway to Permanent Residency:
The 491 visa holder can apply for Australia PR through the Skilled Regional (Permanent) visa subclass 191 after working and living in a regional area for a specified period (3 years).

3)Priority Processing:
The 491 visa applications are getting priority in processing, which means Faster processing time & shorter waiting period compared to some other visa categories.

4)Travel Flexibility:
Subclass 491 allows multiple entries and exits from Australia during its validity period, providing flexibility for travel and visits to other countries.

5)Access to Medicare:
The Subclass 491 Visa holders are eligible to enrol in Australia's public healthcare system, known as Medicare, which provides access to medical services and subsidized medications.

6) Subsidised education:
The 491 visa Australia holders & their family members can pursue studies in Australia as Domestic students and may be eligible for scholarships offered specifically to regional students.

The 491 visa requirements refer to the eligibility criteria to apply for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Individuals who meet 491 visa requirements can apply for this visa, To apply for the 491 visas to Australia, applicants must also meet the following requirements,

1) Occupation in demand:
Your occupation must be listed or in demand in the relevant skilled occupation list in Australia. Nearly 77 occupations are eligible to apply for 491 visas in Australia. Check if your occupation is listed in the Regional Occupation List Australia to apply for a 491 visa.

2) Age:
You must be under a certain age limit, usually below 45 years old at the time of invitation.

3) Points Test:
To be eligible for an Australia 491 visa, you must score at least 65 points on the points test. However, you will get an additional 15 points once you get nominated by a designated regional area of Australia. Calculate your Australia PR points by using the Australia PR Points calculator.

4) Skills Assessment:
You must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation (ANZSCO code)

5) English Language Proficiency:
You must demonstrate your English language proficiency by achieving the required score on an approved English language test, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum English language score required is 6 bands or an equivalent  PTE score. However, requirements may vary from occupation to occupation.

6) Be nominated or sponsored:
Be nominated by Australian designated regional areas or sponsored by an eligible family member who lives in a designated regional area of Australia.

7) Health & character requirements:
You must meet health and character requirements.

There may be additional requirements for a 491 visa in Australia, depending on your specific circumstances. It's important to carefully review the eligibility criteria and seek professional advice, if necessary, before applying for the visa.

The cost of the Subclass 491 visa for primary applicants is AUD 4,640. It may vary depending on several factors, such as the applicant's age, the number of dependents included in the application, and the location of the sponsoring region.

Additionally, there are also fees associated with subclass 491, including medical exams, PCC, and English language proficiency exam fees. Please find the details below.

Please find the current 491 visa Australia cost

Please note Department of Home Affairs Australia (DHA) has the right to revise the visa subclass 491 cost at any point in time.

The processing time for subclass 491 visa can vary depending on various factors such as

1) the quality of your application,
2)the complexity of your case, and
3)the number of applications being processed by DHA at the time of your application.
4) The current processing time for subclass 491 visa is estimated to be between 5 months

However, it's important to note that 491 visa Australia processing time is subject to change without prior notification, and it's recommended you check 491 visa Australia processing time with our Australia PR visa consultant at 750-383-2132 or 928 928 9006.

For the most up-to-date information, you can fill out our Australia PR free assessment form.

To apply for a 491 visa in Australia from India, follow the below steps:

1) Check Eligibility:
Please make sure that you are meeting the eligibility criteria for the 491 visa, including ANZSCO Code requirements, age limits, points test, English language proficiency, and other relevant criteria.

2)Skill assessment:
You need to undergo a skills assessment with a relevant assessing authority. The assessing authority will depend on the occupation to which you are applying. The skills assessment will evaluate your qualifications, skills, and work experience to ensure they meet the standards required for your nominated occupation.

3) Gather your documents:
Collect all the necessary supporting documents to support your 491 visa application, including proof of employment, skills assessment, and English language proficiency etc.

4)Expression of Interest (EOI):
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Skill Select system, which will assess your points score and rank you against other candidates.

5)Apply for Nomination:
Once you are in the pool, your profile will be accessible by DHA Australia and regional nomination bodies if a designated regional area nominates you. It is mandatory for the applicant and all family members to live, work and study in only certain areas of Australia.

6)Invitation to Apply:
If you receive an invitation to apply for the visa, you must submit a formal application and provide supporting documents, such as educational and employment certificates, police clearance, and health examination. If your application is approved, you will be granted a provisional visa, which allows you to live and work in a regional area of Australia for up to 5 years.

After you have lived in the regional area for at least 3 years and worked for at least 1 year, you may be eligible to apply for a permanent residency visa.

It is important to note that the visa process and requirements may change over time, so it is advisable to check the latest information from the Department of Home Affairs website or consult with a registered migration agent.

The Australia visa subclass 491 is a point-based visa, and the minimum points required to be eligible for visa subclass 491 is 65/130. The points calculator for the 491 visas is an assessment tool used to determine your eligibility based on various factors such as age, qualification, work experience, English language proficiency, partner skills, state/ regional nomination, etc.

Please find the 491 visa points table below.

Do you want to calculate your points for the visa subclass 491, you can use our most accurate Australia PR points calculator toolhere.