1. Stay in Australia for 5 years.
2. Live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia.
3. Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid.
4. Apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.
5. Work in any occupation.

After receiving an invitation to apply for a skilled visa, you have 60 days (about 2 months) to submit your application, or the invitation expires. As a result, it is crucial that you have the necessary papers ready to submit as soon as you receive the invitation.

Nomination by a State or Territory Government

A list of the professions in demand in each State and Territory is made public. There can be certain standards for job experience, proficiency in the English language, or specialised talents that are different from those set by the Department of Immigration. Checking the State/Territory requirements is crucial before beginning an application.

Sponsorship from an Eligible Family Member

Only jobs listed on the MLTSSL are eligible for nomination by applicants through the family sponsored pathway.

1. 18 years old or older.
2. An eligible New Zealand citizen, an Australian citizen, or an Australian permanent resident.
3. An eligible relative is someone who is a parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparent, nephew, or first cousin.

Where can I be when I apply?

When you apply for a Subclass 491 Visa, you may be in Australia or abroad. You would need to possess either a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B, or C visa to lodge from within Australia (i.e., onshore). You would automatically be granted a bridging visa, allowing you to stay in Australia while your visa application was being processed, after submitting an onshore application.

You can include the following types of family members in your application:

1. Spouse or de facto partner (including a spouse or partner of the same sex).
2. Dependent children.

If for some reason they cannot be included at the time of lodgement, partners and dependent children may be added to an application after it has been submitted.

Duration and Conditions

The visa is transitory in nature and allows applicants to stay in Australia for up to five years after it has been granted. In addition to having full employment rights, visa holders will have access to Medicare. All visa holders of the Subclass 491 visa must reside, work, and attend school in a regional area of Australia. In order to qualify for a visa through the State/Territory nominated stream, applicants must live in the State or Territory that nominated them. Your family must enter Australia for the first time before your police and health clearances expire if you are outside of Australia when the visa is granted.

Conversion to Permanent Residency

After residing and working in a regional area for at least three years, it is possible to apply for a permanent Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. The applicant must demonstrate that they have lived in a regional area of Australia for the past three years and meet specific income standards. The 189, 190, or 820 Partner visas, as well as other permanent visas, cannot be applied for until the applicant has had the 494 for the required three years.

The Regional Areas of Australia are shown below, according to postcode.
The following visa types are relevant for immigrants who desire to apply for or already possess them:

1. Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Provisional visa.
2. Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional Visa.
3. Subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage visa.
4. Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Regional) visa.
5. Subclass 485 Graduate Temporary (Post-Study) visa (longer validity period).
6. Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa (points for regional study).
7. Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa (points for regional study).

Existing Subclass 489 visa holders are required to stay within the designated regional areas in effect at the time of visa issuance.