Victoria welcomes nomination applications for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) which allows points-tested skilled workers and their families to live, study and work in designated regional areas of Australia for a period of 5 years.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a provisional points-tested visa to assist regional Australia to access the people and skills it needs to grow and thrive. This visa is for people who wish to settle in regional Australia who have an occupation which is in high demand in Australia’s labour market. This visa is administered by the Department of Home Affairs.
Eligibility:
Victoria welcomes nomination applications from people who meet the below eligibility criteria.
To receive a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) nomination from Victoria, you will need to meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:
Age: You must be below age 45.
English language: You must have a Competent level of English (or equivalent).
All applicants must have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least six in each band score or equivalent. Alternative English language tests are accepted. Applicants can obtain the IELTS equivalent in any of the following Department of Home Affairs’ accepted language tests: OET, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE).
You must upload a scanned copy of your English language test results as part of the online nomination application.
Please note: If you are a citizen of the USA, UK, Canada, Republic of Ireland or New Zealand you are not required to submit English language test results.
Occupation: To apply for Victorian nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa, your occupation must be listed on the Commonwealth’s skilled occupation lists. The skilled occupations lists reflect genuine skills needs in Australia and enable businesses to access the skills they need to grow if skilled Australian workers are not available.
To check if your occupation is eligible for the subclass 491 visa.
Finances: Financial resource requirements are in place to ensure you can support yourself and your family on arrival in Victoria.
| ONSHORE APPLICANTS | |
| Working in nominated occupation | A$20,000 |
| Not working in nominated occupation | See offshore requirements below |
| OFFSHORE APPLICANTS | |
| Number of dependents | Australian dollars (A$) |
| Individual applicant | $30,000 |
| 1 | $35,000 |
| 2 | $40,000 |
| 3 | $50,000 |
| 4 | $60,000 |
| 5 | $70,000 |
| 6 or more | $80,000 |
An offer of employment: All applicants who wish to apply for Victorian nomination for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa must provide evidence of a current offer of employment in a position located in a designated regional area of Victoria (as defined by the Department of Home Affairs).
To demonstrate you have a current employment offer, you are required to provide:
- A Confirmation of Employment Statement
- A signed contract / letter of offer which includes your employer’s Australian Business Number (ABN) and contact details
- An official position description from your employer outlining your main tasks and duties.
The employment offer must be in your nominated occupation and must be for full time work for a period of at least 12 months. We will accept offers of non-ongoing employment. Full time work is defined as 38 hours per week.
You must provide sufficient information and evidence to demonstrate that:
- There is a genuine need for the position within the business;
- The business is active/ operating for at least two years in a designated regional area of Victoria and is committed to employing you; and
- You have obtained the employment offer through a merit-based recruitment process.
Should our office not be satisfied with the genuine nature of the job offer we may request further documentation to support the application, including discussing the offer of employment with your employer.
Fees and Charges
There is no application fee for Victorian visa nomination.
Processing Time: The average processing time for the Victorian Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa nomination is currently 12 weeks. This may vary depending on the occupation and in some instances, it may take longer to assess applications. You (or your migration agent) will be notified of the outcome of your nomination application by email.
Please note that decisions may take longer if applications are submitted without adequate documentation.