Visa subclass 491- Skilled Work Regional ( Provisional) is a temporary visa with a pathway to a permanent visa through visa subclass 191. Applicants can apply for this visa through state/territory nomination or Family sponsorship.

For visa subclass 491 ( state/territory nomination), applicants must select a skilled occupation available under the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, Short-Term Skilled Occupation List, or Regional Occupation List.

The first step is for applicants to submit an Expression of Interest and apply for state or territory government nomination. If Nomination is approved, applicants must wait for a formal invitation to apply from the Department of Home Affairs before proceeding. Each state and territory has specific nomination criteria and lists of in-demand occupations.

Note: Some states/territories may require the applicants to wait to be invited to apply for the Nomination before submitting the nomination application.

For visa subclass 491 ( Family sponsor), applicants must have a skilled occupation in the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List and be sponsored by a person who is related to the applicant or the applicant's spouse or de facto partner provided that the spouse or de facto partner is also an applicant for visa subclass 491. The sponsoring person considered to be related to the applicant or the applicant’s de facto spouse/ spouse can be a parent, child or step-child, or brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister; or an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle; or a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece; or a grandparent; or a first cousin. Other criteria applicable to the sponsor include the sponsor must be at least 18, an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand citizen, and the sponsor resides in a designated regional area. The link below shows the postcodes considered Designated Regional Area for visa subclass 491.

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2022L00231

Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest and wait to be invited to apply for the visa by the Department of Home Affairs.