NSW 491 Visa

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Overview

NSW Skilled Work Regional visa – Subclass 491 is a temporary visa. It is for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. This visa allows you to live and work in the NSW Regional for five years after the visa is granted. This visa provides you with 15 additional points to help you reach the test pass mark of 65 points from the Department of Home Affairs. Further specifics on this are available under ‘Eligibility.’

You may be able to apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, after you have lived in regional for at 3 years onSkilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) and obtained a minimum taxable income that meets the minimum threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs for at least 3 years (currently set at AU$53,900).

Regional Development Australia (RDA) will accept and assess applications for NSW Regional, and determine eligible occupations for their respective regions; however, nomination criteria is consistent across all regions as per RDA. These criteria are outlined below. Information about how to apply will be made available soon.

Currently, RDA offices will focus on nominating applicants who are undertaking skilled work in critical sectors. These applicants are a priority for the Government in supporting economic recovery following the impacts of COVID-19.

NSW 491 Visa Skilled Work Regional visa -subclass 491 – Nomination criteria

You must meet the all criteria in one of the following three streams to be eligible for NSW nomination:

1. Living and working in regional NSW;
2. recently completed study in regional NSW; or
3. living and working outside of regional NSW.

1. Living and working in regional NSW

To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must:

• hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list;
• have been living in a designated regional area of NSW for at least the previous 12 months; and
• have been working in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, in a designated regional area of NSW, for at least the previous 12 months.

2. Recently completed a study in regional NSW

To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must:

• hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list;
• have completed study or education with an education provider, where:
  • the study was completed within the previous 24 months;
  • the education provider is located in a designated regional area in NSW;
  • the study meets the Australian study requirement (as determined by Home Affairs from time to time); and
  • the qualification obtained from this study has been assessed as closely related to your nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority; and
• have lived in a designated regional area of NSW while completing your study.

3. Living and working outside of regional NSW

To be eligible for NSW nomination under this stream you must meet all the criteria for at least one of the following categories:

1. a. Job offer in regional NSW

To be eligible for NSW nomination under this category you must:

• hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list;
• have an offer for ongoing employment that is:
  • in your nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation; and
  • for a minimum term of 12 months and 35 hours of work per week;
• have an offer for ongoing employment from an employer that is:
  • located in a designated regional area in NSW; and
  • registered in Australia.

        b. At least five years of skilled employment experience (offshore Applicants)

If you reside outside of Australia, you must:

• hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list; and
• have at least five years of skilled employment in such nominated occupation or a closely related occupation.

     c. Family ties in regional NSW

To be eligible for NSW nomination under this category you must:

• hold a valid skills assessment for an occupation that appears on your nominated region’s occupation list; and
• have an immediate family member in a designated regional area in NSW who satisfies all of the criteria below:
  • is either your grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother, or sister (including by virtue of a step or adoptive relationship);
  • at least 18 years of age;
  • either an Australian Permanent Resident, an Australian Citizen, or an NSW nominated provisional visa holder (489);
  • currently residing in a designated regional area in NSW; and
  • has been residing in a designated regional area in NSW for at least the previous 24 months,
  • and you must ensure that your family member has completed a statutory declaration to confirm that they satisfy each of the above chain migration requirements.

Participating regions

• Central Coast
• Central West
• Far South Coast
• Far West
• Hunter
• Illawarra
• Mid North Coast
• Northern Inland
• Northern Rivers
• Orana
• Riverina
• Southern Inland(including Murray region)
• Sydney*

*Designated regional postcodes within the RDA Sydney area can be found on the Home Affairs website.

NOTE: Please be advised that the above information is brief information only. There are regular changes in Eligibility and Requirement. Thus, please contact a registered migration to talk about your individual circumstance and lodge your visa. MILES INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY is authorized to give immigration assistance.

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