Two New Visas Starting November 2019 – 491/494
This post reflects the legal landscape as of the date of publication. Laws may have changed since then. Please consult a legal professional for current information and personalised advice.
23,000 extra visas spots for regional Australia have been announced.
All of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and the Gold Coast are considered regional.
The new visas (with pathways to PR) are the
- Subclass 494 (regional employer sponsored visa)
- Subclass 491 (regional state sponsored points
visa)
Subclass 191 Permanent Residence visa after you have completed the requirements to transition to PR from either the 494 or 491, first applicants will be after (November 2022.
To transition to PR you need to live in regional Australia and have earned a minimum salary for 3 of the 5 years of your visa. Dollar amount not yet announced but likely at least $53,900 p.a. + super.
The points test will also be changing:
- (10
points) for having a skilled spouse or de facto partner; - (15
points) for applicants nominated by a State or Territory government or
sponsored by a family member residing in regional Australia; - (10
points) for having certain STEM qualifications (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics) - (10
points) for applicants who do not have a spouse or de facto partner; - (5
points) for applicants with a spouse or de facto partner who has competent
English at the time of invitation but are otherwise ineligible.
Important
- If
Subclass 494 visa holders cease their employment, they are provided with a
period of 90 days to find another employer sponsor and have their
nomination transferred over to the new employer.
- Any dependents on a 494 or 491 will still be considered
as member of the family unit for the 191 PR application similar to how the
482/457 are structured in this way.