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Category: Australia Immigration News

Subclass 491 visa – Unlock PR opportunities in Australia

If you’re all about planning to make Australia your dream destination and pursue your career, you can do it by applying for the Subclass 491 visa. The Skilled Work Regional visa, or Subclass 491 visa, is for skilled workers who desire to live and work in regional Australia. Before we jump right into applying for it right away, here’s a little information that you should know.

What is a Subclass 491 visa?

The Subclass 491 visa, also called the provisional visa, allows you to stay within a designated Australian regional area. Skilled workers from all over the world can submit an application for the subclass 491 visa for the purpose of being able to live and work in a specific regional area of Australia, which is a temporary residency permit. 

What is a Subclass 491 visa

This visa is valid for 5 years. If you want to meet the eligibility requirements of this visa, the Australian state or territory government agency must nominate you, or your relatives who live in the designated regional area should sponsor you. You should submit your expression of interest through Skillselect. After 5 years, you will be eligible to apply for permanent residence.  

What are the benefits of a subclass 491 visa?

There are various benefits that you will receive when applying for the Subclass 491. Some of them are:

🔹You can pursue higher education.
🔹Your spouse will have a chance to apply as a primary applicant.
🔹You can enroll in the Australian government health scheme.
🔹You will have the privilege of earning and living in Australia.
🔹Your family members can also become permanent residents as subsequent entrants under the sponsorship.

Can I get a PR through the subclass 491 visa?

After three years of holding a subclass 491, you will be eligible to apply for a permanent residence visa. Qualified workers and their families can reside, work, and study in regional Australia with the 491 visas, a skilled work regional (provisional) visa for a period of five years until then.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria for 491 visa

Before applying for this visa, you should know if you meet the eligibility criteria. To apply for this visa, you should:

🔹Be under the age of 45.
🔹Submit an expression of interest.
🔹Be good and proficient in English.
🔹Meet the health and character eligibility requirements as required.
🔹Receive an invitation to apply, and your points test should be satisfactory.
🔹Have your occupation listed on the skills occupations list of the state.
🔹Possess suitable skills for assessment. You should receive the skills assessment three years before the invitation date. If your skills are assessed based on your qualifications when you’re holding a student visa, the course you pursued should have been registered under CRICOS.

How do I apply?

how to apply for a Subclass 491 visa?

Not sure how to apply for a Subclass 491 visa? Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying for the Subclass 491 visa:

🔹Check if your profession is on the skilled occupation list.
🔹Receive your skill set evaluation through that particular Australian organization.
🔹You should score at least 65 points to be invited to apply.
🔹Submit your expression of interest through Skillselect.
🔹Apply for candidacy after your expression of interest is accepted, and submit the supporting documents in 60 days.
🔹Your application will be submitted to Immiaccount, and you will have to pay the fees as required.
🔹After you submit your application, you will receive an email login. Login to ImmiAccount to check your application’s status.

Wrap-Up

Australia has made the Subclass 491 visa application process open to both local and overseas applicants. South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and New South Wales have already sent out pre-invites, placing a high priority on occupations falling under infrastructure, ICT, healthcare, education, agriculture, engineering, and trade.  Invitation rounds take place throughout the financial year without being pre-planned. 

Worried about the visa process? We got you covered! We, CanApprove, have always been an instigation for aspirants to fly to their dream country. CanApprove contains a team of experts who guide you through the whole process, from filling out your application to settling right in Australia. If you want to know more about migrating to Australia, talk to our immigration experts right away! We’d love to hear from you! 

FAQs

  • Is 70 points enough for a 491 visa?

A minimum of 65 points is needed in order to apply for an Australian 491 visa.

  • Can I get a job with a 491 visa?

You and your family are allowed to stay and work in Australia for five years with the Subclass 491 visa. Enter and exit the nation as long as your visa is still valid.

  • How long does an Australian subclass 491 visa take?

It takes about 6 months for 75% of all visa applications for the subclass 491 visa (state-nominated stream) and 8 months for 90% of applications to process.

TOEFL-PBT no longer accepted for Subclass 500 (Student) visa

The Department of Home Affairs, Australia has removed the ‘Test of English as a Foreign Language Paper-Based test’ (TOEFL-PBT) as an accepted evidence to establish an applicant’s English language proficiency Subclass 500 (Student) visa. The change was made through a legislative instrument released on 5 June 2018.

Earlier, TOEFL-PBT used to be accepted as an evidence for the English language proficiency of Subclass 500 (Student) visa applicants. But on October 14, 2017, an external agency revised TOEFL-PBT as a result of which, the test no longer includes a measurement of speaking. Testing the English language speaking skills of an applicant is essential to ensure that he/she can communicate effectively face-to-face with other people once they reach Australia. This is the reason why TOEFL-PBT was removed as an evidence to establish the English language proficiency of a Subclass 500 (Student) visa applicant.

However, transitional arrangements have been made for the students who have already completed. Exemptions have been made for the Subclass 500 (Student) visa applicants who have:

  • Completed the TOEFL-PBT before 14 October 2017
  • achieved the specified TOFEL-PBT test score within:

-Two years immediately before the date of the visa application, if the evidence is provided along with the application

-Two years immediately before a decision to grant or refuse the visa application is made, if evidence is not provided at the time of visa application

  • If the applicant completed the TOEFL-PBT on or after 14 October 2017 but before the commencement of this instrument
  • If the applicantachieved the specified TOFEL-PBT test score within:

-Two years immediately before the date of the visa application if the evidence of the test is provided at the time of application

-Two years immediately before a decision to grant or refuse the visa application is made, if evidence of the test is not provided at the time the visa application is made

All other English language requirements remain the same. The new instrument also specifies the required levels of English language proficiency to meet the criteria for the Subclass 500 (Student) visa. These include the recognized English language tests, the required English language test scores and the time periods in which an English test must be taken.

Interested in studying in Australia? Contact us for expert guidance