"This temporary visa is designed for applicants whose skills, experience, and abilities are in high demand within Australia’s regional territories or specific states."

Program Overview

This visa permits you to live and work in Australia’s regional territories for up to four years. To qualify, you must select an occupation from the relevant list and obtain sponsorship from the specific state or territory you apply through.

The Skilled-Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is designed for skilled workers and their families, allowing them to live, work, and study in designated regional areas of Australia for four years. Applicants must commit to living in the specified region for at least two years and working there for a minimum of one year. This visa is an excellent option for those who do not meet the 65-point threshold on the Australian Immigration Points Test.

There are two pathways for this visa:

- Invited Pathway

You might be eligible to apply for this visa if invited and you are either:

- Extended Stay Pathway

You might be eligible to apply for this visa:

Eligibility

Benefits of the Program

This visa allows you and your family to:

Program Points

The applicants have to satisfy the basic requirements to migrate under the skilled Independent visa.

Sponsored by a Regional Government

The applicant's nominated occupation must be included on the specific state’s skilled occupation list, and they must meet all eligibility requirements set by that state. Additionally, the applicant must agree to live and work in the nominating state for the first two years of their stay in a designated regional area of Australia.

If nominated for the Subclass 491 visa by a regional government, you are required to have lived in a regional or low population growth metropolitan area for at least two years. These designated areas are defined by specific postcodes and vary by state.

Sponsored by a relative

To apply, the applicant must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor who is either an Australian citizen or a permanent resident.

The sponsor must be a close relative of the applicant or the applicant’s spouse. Acceptable relationships include: brother, sister, parent, non-dependent child, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, or first cousin.

The sponsor must reside in a designated area of Australia at the time of application and must demonstrate their intention to continue living there until a decision is made on the visa.

The sponsor is also required to sign a sponsorship undertaking, confirming their commitment to support the applicant financially and socially for two years to help ensure a smooth settlement in Australia.