The much-anticipated provisional Regional Skilled visas are open for business although not all states have released their occupation lists nor are open for receiving 491 nominations.
Whilst there is an increase in occupations, there has also been an announcement to increase the cap by an additional 2,000 places for the program year ending 30 June 2020, taking it to 25,000 places for the skilled regional visa.
There are five different occupation lists for the Skilled Regional Visas, so be vigilant that you are paying close attention to which is the correct occupation list for you.
There will be priority processing given to all regional visa applications.
Designated Regional areas are defined by their postcodes and there are different occupation lists for each of the 491 and 494 visa subclasses and visa streams.
Work rights are automatically applied to onshore applicants granted a Bridging Visa A.
Medicare access is provided to Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visa holders and not available until the visa is granted.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Subclass 494 Visa
There are two steams: employer sponsored and labour agreement stream.
There are now 650 occupations under the Subclass 494 visa which are listed under the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) & Regional Occupation List (ROL).
To qualify for this visa, you will require to be sponsored by an employer located in a regional area, a positive skills assessment, three years of work experience, competent English and be offered a salary that meets the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR).
The AMSR and the nominee’s guaranteed monetary earnings must be equal to or greater than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) which is currently $53,900.
This is a provisional visa, replacing the Regional Sponsored Migration (187) visa that leads to a pathway to permanent residency once you’ve worked and lived in a regional area for a minimum of three years.
What you can do with this visa:
- Stay in Australia for 5 years
- Live, work and study in a designated regional area
You will need:
- To be nominated by an employer to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- Have a minimum of three years’ relevant full-time work experience in your nominated occupation
- Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- Have a suitable skills assessment, unless exempt
- Meet English language criteria
- Be Under 45 years, unless exempt
Exemptions:
- Exemption from age requirement
Applicants are not required to have been under 45 for the purposes of Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visas in the Employer Sponsored stream in any of the following circumstances:
(a) the applicants are academic applicants;
(b) the applicants are regional medical practitioner applicants;
(c) the applicants are science applicants;
(d) the applicants are Subclass 444/Subclass 461 workers;
(e) the applicants are Subclass 457/Subclass 482 workers.
- Exemption from skills and employment history requirements
For the purposes of Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visas in the Employer Sponsored stream in either of the following circumstances:(a) the applicants are academic applicants;
(b) the applicants are Subclass 444/461 workers.
Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 Visa
This is a points-tested provisional visa that provides for skilled workers to live and work in a regional area of Australia for up to five years. Sponsorship is required either by a state or territory government or by an Australian relative residing permanently in a designated regional area.
There are two streams: state and territory nominated (STN) and family sponsored.
There are 504 occupations available under Subclass 491 but there are different occupation lists for the two different streams.
For State Territory Nominated (STN) – MLTSSL, STSOL and the ROL
For Family Sponsored stream – MLTSSL only
The same as the Subclass 190, requires an applicant to receive an invitation through an Expression of Interest.
The Subclass 491 visa has replaced the Skilled Regional Provisional Subclass 489 visa.
Like the Subclass 494 visa, there will be an opportunity to apply for permanent residence if the 491 visa holder has been living and working in a regional area for a minimum of three years.
What you can do with this visa:
- Stay in Australia for 5 years
- Live, work and study in a designated regional area
You will need:
- To be nominated to apply by a state or territory government, or an eligible Australian relative
- Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- Have a suitable skills assessment
- Meet the points test (65 points or more)
- Be Under 45 years of Age
- Submit an Expression of Interest
- Have Competent English
- Meet Health & Character
Sponsorship & Nomination Eligibility
Be Nominated or Sponsored: You must be either nominated by an Australian state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible relative.
All state and territory government agencies have their own criteria for deciding who they will nominate.
Sponsorship by an Eligible Relative
Your sponsor must:
- 18 years or older
- Resident in a Designated Regional Area of Australia
- Be an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or an Eligible New Zealand Citizen
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
Update on State Occupation Lists
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- It is defined as a regional area for the purpose of Subclass 491 visa
- Whilst an Expression of Interest can be submitted nominating the ACT as a preferred state to migrate to; the Canberra Matrix for Subclass 491 nomination can only be submitted from 01 January 2020
NSW
- NSW is not currently open for Subclass 491 nominations
Northern Territory
- Will re-open on Monday 9th December 2019
- Application fees of AUD$3000 + GST will apply
Queensland
Planning to open the entire skilled program in the coming weeks including for both Subclass 491 and Subclass 190.
The following occupations are removed from the QLD occupation list, including many IT & accounting occupations.
Onshore and Offshore -IT
-
- ICT Business Analyst ANZSCO 261111
- Systems Analyst ANZSCO 261112
- Developer Programmer ANZSCO 261312
- Software Engineer ANZSCO 261313
- Software and Applications Programmers nec ANZSCO 261399
- ICT Security Specialist ANZSCO 262112
- Computer Network and Systems Engineer ANZSCO 263111
- Analyst Programmer ANZSCO 261311
Onshore –Accounting
-
- Accountant (General) ANZSCO 221111
- Management Accountant ANZSCO 221112
- Taxation Accountant ANZSCO 221113
- External Auditor ANZSCO 221213
- Internal Auditor ANZSCO 221214
Offshore -Engineering
-
- Civil Engineer ANZSCO 233211
- Mechanical Engineer ANZSCO 233512
- Electrical Engineer ANZSCO 233311
- Engineering Technologist ANZSCO 233914
South Australia
- Announced temporary closure of Subclass 190 visa
- Re-opening for Subclass 190 & opening for Subclass 491 from the first week of December 2019
Tasmania
- Tasmania is OPEN for state nomination under Subclass 491 visa stream
- Tasmania provides flexible arrangements for candidates already working and living in Tasmania or a recent graduate from a Tasmanian education institution
Victoria
- OPEN for state nomination under Subclass 491 visa stream
- Must have a current Employment Offer from a Victorian employer in a designated regional area
Western Australia
- Western Australia announced candidates can submit an EOI from 16 November 2019
- Western Australia will start issuing invitations for state nomination under Subclass 491 from 21 November 2019
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa Subclass 191
This visa is a permanent visa for people who have lived, worked and studied in a designated regional area Australia whilst the holder of a Subclass 491 or 494 visa for a minimum of three years.
Opens from 16 November 2022.
You must:
- hold an eligible visa
- have lived and worked in a regional postcode area for at least 3 years
- both primary and secondary applicants have complied with the conditions of the eligible visa you hold or have held
- Taxable income for each of the three years, be no less than the amount specified by the Minister – currently set at $53,900
Conclusion
The advantage will be for those who are in an occupation that didn’t previously provide a pathway to permanent residency although the key to a successful invitation will be having the relevant work experience and good English language ability to secure employment.
Together with the incentive of permanent residency, the regional visa holders will have access to Medicare and a lower cost of living for families.
The key is being able to understand the different occupation lists and whether you can meet the criteria for gaining a successful skills assessment.
We recommend seeking advice from a registered migration agent before seeking to lodge an Expression of Interest.
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