Family Sponsored Skilled Work Regional Visa – Subclass 491

The Family Sponsored Skilled Work Regional Visa Subclass 491 is a provisional visa for intending applicants who are interested in living and working in a designated regional area in Australia and have an eligible family member who can sponsor them.

stay in Australia for 5 years

live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia

travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid

apply for permanent residence, if eligible, through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) – which commences on 16 November 2022.

IMPORTANT. You and all members of your family unit who are also holders of the visa, will need to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia. Your nomination must not be withdrawn, or you will not be granted the visa.

you must be under 45 years of age

you must have a skilled occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list

you must be able to demonstrate ‘Competent English’

you must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority in relation to your nominated occupation

you must obtain the minimum score on the Points Test at the time of invitation to apply for the visa

you must be nominated by an eligible relative living in a designated area

you must meet health and character requirements.

Sponsorship by an eligible relative

Your sponsor must be:

18 years old or older

usually resident in a designated area of Australia

be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen

be your or your partner’s eligible relative

An eligible relative can be:

a parent

a child or step-child

a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister

an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle

a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece

a grandparent, or

a first cousin

The Department of Home Affairs must approve your sponsorship before you can be granted a visa.