New Skilled Regional Visas (Subclass 491 and 494)

Date: 15/11/2019
The Government has recently announced the new regional visas to attract more migrants to live and work in low populated areas.

Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 491 replaces the Subclass 489 visa from 16 November 2019 and will offer both State/Territory and Family sponsored pathways. Subclass 491 is a point-tested visa.
Key eligibility requirements:

  • nominated by either a State or Territory; or sponsored by an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area; and
  • be invited to apply for the visa, following submission of an EOI
  • Must have at least competent English
  • Under 45 years of age
  • Minimum 65 points (including 15 for the sponsorship)

Key features of the 491 visa:

  • 5 years duration
  • Visa holders may live in any regional area
  • Cannot apply for any other skilled PR or 820 partner visa for 3 years
  • Eligible for Medicare

Visa conditions on 491 visa:

  • All visa holders (family members) must live, work or study in regional area only
  • Any reportable change must be updated to DHA within 14 days
  • Must provide evidence or attend interview with DHA, if requested

Failure to non-compliance may lead to visa cancellation or loss of pathway to a PR visa.

Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
Subclass 494 visa replaces the RSMS (Subclass 187) visa which used to be a permanent visa and is more like a regional version of Subclass 482 visa, with few differences.
Subclass 494 visa requires a regional employer (an approved sponsor) to nominate applicants for this visa.
Key eligibility requirements:

  • Nominated by a regional employer (an approved sponsor)
  • Nominated occupation must be on the relevant list
  • Minimum 3 years’ work experience in nominated occupation
  • Positive skills assessment at the time of application
  • Under 45 years of age
  • Competent English

Some features of the 494 visa:

  • 5 years duration
  • Eligible for Medicare
  • PR pathway via Subclass 191

Visa conditions on 494 visa:

  • All visa holders (family members) must live, work or study in regional area only
  • Any reportable change must be updated to DHA within 14 days
  • Must provide evidence or attend interview with DHA, if requested
  • Must work for the nominating employer and in the nominated occupation (same as Subclass 482)

Government has also increased the total number of regional visas to be granted to 25,000 (from 23,000 previously)

 
Subclass 191 – Pathway to Permanent Residency for 491 and 494 visa holders

491 and 494 visa holders will be eligible for the Permanent Residency via Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after earning a minimum taxable annual income of $53,900 for 3 years while working and living in a regional area.
They must also comply with other visa conditions as imposed on their 491 or 494 visas.
Subclass 191 will commence from 16 November 2022 (3 years from the start of 491 and 494 visas) and won’t be point-tested.

 

GSM points test amended

From 16 November 2019, the amended GSM points test will give additional points to Skilled visa applicants:

  • 15 points for applicants nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by a family member residing in regional Australia
  • 10 points for having certain STEM qualifications
  • 10 points for applicants who do not have a spouse or de facto partner
  • 10 points for having a skilled spouse or de facto partner
  • 5 points for applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who has Competent English

Learn more about the benefits of regional areas here.
Interested to know more? Click here to book a free call with one of our friendly consultants. You may also fill out the Online Assessment Form for a free assessment to know your eligibility for a visa to Australia.

Medicare for Regional Visa Holders

Great news for those who are planning to apply for Subclass 491 or 494 visas!

Subclass 491 and 494 visa holders will be eligible for Medicare to cover their stay period.

Compared to current visas like Subclass 489 or 482, where most visa holders had to have private health insurance, 491 and 494 visa holders will have Medicare to cover most of the expenses covered, saving thousands of dollars.

 

INTERESTED IN A REGIONAL VISA?

Click here to book a free call with one of our friendly consultants. You may also fill out the Online Assessment Form for a free assessment to know your eligibility for a visa to Australia.

Read more about benefits of living, studying and working in regional areas here.

6 Benefits of Living and Studying in Regional Areas

There are several incentives offered to those who chose regional areas to live, study and work. Here are the top 6 benefits!

 

Longer 485 visas

From November, students who study in regional areas and completing Higher Education courses (Bachelors, Masters etc) will be eligible for a longer Subclass 485 (Post Study Work) visa.

Students in Perth, Gold Coast and other major regional areas, including Canberra, Sunshine Coast, Hobart, Geelong, Adelaide, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra will be eligible for an additional year on their 485 visas. This means that a student completing a Bachelor course in these areas would be eligible for a 3-year 485 visa. A student completing a PhD would be eligible for a 5-year 485 visa (previously 4 years duration).

The second Temporary Graduate visa will require ongoing residence in a regional area.

The definition of regional Australia for this purpose will be the same as the definition for skilled migration – all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

As students need to graduate from a regional campus and then spend at least two years residing in a regional area to qualify, the additional Temporary Graduate visa will be available to the first eligible cohort of graduates from 2021.

Students from all other regional areas, including Darwin (NT) would be eligible for an additional 2 YEARS on their Subclass 485 Graduate (Post Study Work) visa.

 

5 Points for PR

Students who complete a minimum of 2-year course (meeting the Australian study requirement) in any of the regional areas, including Perth and Gold Coast, will be eligible for 5 points for Regional Study.
To obtain 5 additional points you must have at least 1 degree, diploma or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that satisfies the Australian study requirement obtained while living and studying in a regional area.
To be eligible for the award of points, your educational qualification:

  • must meet the Australian study requirement
  • must have been obtained while you lived in, and studied at a campus in, one or more of the areas listed as regional Australia or a low population-growth metropolitan area
  • not include study undertaken by distance education

 

Access to Medicare

Subclass 491 and 494 visa holders will be eligible for Medicare, therefore saving thousands of dollars for medical expenses.

 
Priority Processing

Regional visas will get priority over other skilled visas and therefore, faster processing when compared to other visa types.

 
Onshore Bridging Visa A (BVA) work rights

Work rights will automatically be attached to BVAs granted to onshore applicants for either of the new regional visas.

 
Regional Occupation List

Regional visa applicants will have wider access to more occupations on the Regional Occupation List (ROL) as compared to other skilled occupation lists.
Have you heard about the Destination Australia scholarship for students in Regional Australia? Read about it here.
———————-
Interested to know more? Click here to book a free call with one of our friendly consultants. You may also fill out the Online Assessment Form for a free assessment to know your eligibility for a visa to Australia.