Skilled Independent Visas

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa is a provisional General Skilled Migration visa which requires holders to live, work, and study in a regional area of Australia. Once certain residence requirements have been met, holders can apply for a permanent Regional visa (subclass 191).

The Subclass 191 visa provides an independent pathway to permanent residency for certain visa holders who have only lived, worked, or studied in parts of Australia that are “designated regional areas”.

 

The subclass 191 visa is the permanent residency pathway for the following two visas.

• Subclass 494 skilled employer-sponsored regional (provisional) visa
• Subclass 491 skilled work regional (provisional) visa

The Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189 Visa) is a points-based permanent residency visa for skilled migrants. This Skilled Visa does not require the sponsorship of an Australian employer and is assessed solely on the skills of a visa applicant.

This is a points-tested permanent visa for skilled professionals but requires a nomination by an Australian State or Territory government. You can be living and working in or outside Australia and be eligible to apply for this visa.

Nomination by a State or Territory Government

Each State and Territory Government has its different list of occupations in demand and reserves the right to update the lists at its own discretion at any stage. Each state also has their specific eligibility criteria, which must be met at the time of state nomination request lodgement. For instance; study requirement, number of years of work experience, minimum qualifications, age score or other requirements.