The 491 Visa WA – The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

The 491 Visa WA allows points-tested skilled migrants and their families to live, study and work in regional Western Australia for 5 years with a pathway to permanent residency. This is a visa for people who have skills in high demand in the Australian labour market. This visa is one of the many pathways available to get to Australia, however, it is not a quick or easy option as there are various requirements that must be met.

The Department of Home Affairs – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

offers a pathway to permanent residency for those who are willing to move to regional Australia. Applicants must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative. Applicants must also meet the visa’s basic criteria, which include having a nominated occupation on the relevant skilled migration occupation list and passing the points test.

In order to be nominated for a Western Australian visa, you need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) on the SkillSelect website and indicate that you are interested in applying for a subclass 491. Once you have submitted your EOI, if you are invited by the Department, you will be able to apply for the visa.

To be eligible for the Western Australia state nomination, you need to score at least 65 points on the points test and have a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation from an approved assessing authority. You will also need to be aged under 45 at the time of inviting you to apply for a subclass 491 visa, and have a nominating employer or sponsor who is prepared to take on your occupation at their business in Western Australia.

If you are nominated for the visa, you will be able to work for your sponsor in any industry or organisation in Australia and may move between regional areas in Australia. This is a provisional visa, meaning that it will expire after 5 years and you will be required to comply with visa condition 8579, which states that you must reside in a regional area for at least 3 of the five years.

Getting expert advice from Go Global Immigration Advisors is crucial to the success of your application for a 491 Visa WA. We provide a one-stop service to our clients, from profile evaluation, documentation, and visa drafting, to post-visa services. Contact us today for a consultation (fee applies) to find out if this visa is the right option for you.

There are 2 available state nomination streams for the 491 visa, the general stream and the graduate stream. Applicants who are nominated under the general stream will receive an invitation to apply from the Department of Home Affairs, while those invited through the graduate stream must have their application assessed by a regional certifying body. The state sponsorship application process can be very complicated, and it is best to consult an experienced immigration consultant to make sure that your application is prepared correctly and meets all the requirements.