The NSW Government has announced that between Monday, 15th June 2020 to Tuesday, 23rd June 2020, applicants will be able to directly apply for nomination under the subclass 491 visa.
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa commenced on 19 November 2019 whereby it allows skilled workers who hold a skill/occupation listed on the relevant skilled occupations list to work and live in Australia in a regional area for a period of 5 years.
It further opens a pathway to permanent residency if the visa holder can demonstrate that he/she has lived and worked in a designated regional area for at least 3 years from grant of the visa.
This visa subclass requires a State/Territory to nominate an applicant based on the need for the nominated occupation in the region. Generally, NSW does not allow for direct applications to be made for State nomination for skilled visas. Rather, an applicant is required to complete an Expression of Interest to the Department of Home Affairs and select NSW as the preferred state. The applicant is then entered into a pool of candidates for NSW to review. The higher your points, the more likely you are to receive an invitation to apply.
Subclass 491 Visa – What Has Changed?
The NSW government has announced that between Monday, 15th June 2020 to Tuesday, 23rd June 2020, applicants will be able to directly apply for nomination under the subclass 491 visa.
For an application to be considered, applicants will need to meet the following criteria:
- All DHA requirements for this particular visa (i.e. English language requirements, positive skills assessment, meet the points test, etc.); and
- Have an occupation on the NSW Stream 1 Regional Skilled Occupations List; and
- Have been living in a designated regional area in NSW for the last 12 months; and
- Have been working in a designated regional area in NSW for the last 12 months; and
- Have been working in their nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, for the last 12 months.
Applications that do not meet ALL of the above criteria will be declined and the processing fee is non-refundable. For information on the NSW Skilled Occupations List, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/visas-and-migration
For information on NSW designated regional areas, please visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list/regional-postcodes
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more information on this visa and to see if you qualify, please contact us by
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If you wish to arrange a virtual consultation with us to discuss your matter, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Immigration & Global Mobility experts below:
Lelyan Elias – Lawyer & Senior Migration Agent (MARN 1278291)
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