Covering up the regional area’s shortage of professionals, Australia is finally implementing two new work visas with a confirmed permanent residency path.
On 18 November, the immigration ministry has finally started accepting applications for the regional work visa program.
The main feature of this new regional visa is allowing single applicants to claim 10 points.
The Australian government has introduced two regional visas for skilled migrants. The visas are Skilled Work Regional visa, with subclass 491 and Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional visa with subclass 494. These visas will replace the visa’s subclass 489 and 187 respectively.
“The set-aside quota for these two subclasses is 25,000 seats for each year”. The regional areas include all areas of Australia except Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney.
These visa owners will be available for working and residing in appointed regional areas until they get approvement for the permanent residency permit.
Mr. Singh said that “Thanks to this type of visa, the skilled workers will have the chance to work and resident in regional areas in Australia for 5 years”
After 3 years of residing, they will be able to apply for a permanent visa and work in appointed Australian areas.
“This type of temporary residency visa is designed for various skilled workers to work, live and study in some Australian designated regional areas together with the families, for up to five years”.
How the permanent residency will be awarded?
With 3 years of staying and fulfilling the work requirements in regional Australian areas, the visa holders will be able to file 191 visas that will lead them to permanent residency.
They need to achieve a minimum taxable income of $53900 per year for 3 years. From the16th of November 2022, the PR path will be available thanks to visa ‘subclass 191’.
Visa subclass 491 features
There are important key features for Skilled Work Regional visa or subclass 491 to know before applying such as:
- 14000 places each year to be allocated
- over 500 occupations in the shortage occupation list
- 45 years of age limit to apply
- this kind of visa holders will be able to move from one region to another but cannot move to big cities.
Visa subclass 491 requirements
- You must be under 45 years of age.
- The minimum requirement for the English language is competent (such as 6 band scores of each in IELTS).
- An offer of employment from a regional Australian employer.
- You must provide a valid skills assessment in relation to the occupation for which you are seeking the nomination.
- Some territories also ask for finances to show such as onshore A$20,000 applicants and offshore $30,000 applicants.
- A tertiary or region of Australia must nominate you to apply for a work visa.
“The applicant will be available to require a territory nomination or sponsorship from a qualified family member, who is a resident in regional Australian areas”.
The differences between previous subclass 489 and the new subclass 491:
- The subclass 491 visa holders will have to wait up to 3 years to get permanent residency, while subclass 489 visa holders had just 2 years.
- The new subclass covers more regional areas.
- The applicants who are not married will get bonus points and they can use more points for the sponsors and qualified English speaking partners.
Points based system for visa award?
The proposed regulation system is point-based for the visa award. This will work as follows:
- The applicants can get 15 points if they’re nominated by territory or sate, and if they’re sponsored by an Australian residing family member. For the previous visa subclass, the applicants could get only 10 points.
- The applicants can get 10 points if they’re single (not married), and if they have a skilled partner or a spouse. Previously, there were no points for unmarried applicants.
- 10 points for certain STEM qualifications.
- 5 points will be awarded by the applicants for a partner with fluent English (competent level 6.0 band score in General IELTS), where previously there were no points.
Visa subclass 494 requirements
The regional employers of Australia can recruit international professional workers for their businesses. Only those employers can sponsor you who have an agreement with the Australian government.
- You must be under 45 years of age.
- An approved employer must nominate you to apply for this stream.
- The occupation for which you are applying must be from the occupation list.
- You must also hold a skill assessment report.
- The minimum requirement for the English language is competent (such as 6 band scores of each in IELTS).
Visa fees
The application fee for this type of visa is $4045, where the partner fee amount is $2025.
I am going to Australia i am visa apply
Sir I am construction worker and draving also in 7years Suadia Arabia jeddah so what is requirement for the eligible to working these new locations and how to applying.
I am a gnm nurse. Age 39 yrs.
Which country I am eligible
to work, to get pr and to stay with family.
I need visa.i have UAE driving licence and three years experience.