Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
Eligibility for Nomination Criteria
In addition to having an occupation on the current Central West Skilled Occupation List applicants must meet the criteria in one of the following three eligibility streams for nomination under the Program:
- Stream 1 – Living and working in regional NSW
- Stream 2 – Recently completed study in regional NSW
- Stream 3 – Living and working outside of a designated regional postcode of NSW
Applicants who do not meet the criteria in one of these three streams may be refused unless otherwise agreed with NSW Treasury.
‘Closely related occupations’ are defined as those having the same ANZSCO unit group, i.e. sharing the same first four digits.
‘Designated regional areas’ are determined by Home Affairs. Please see their website for a list of regional NSW postcodes.
Please ensure that you read the information below carefully and meet the requirements before lodging an application.
Living and working in regional NSW
- have a nominated occupation that is included on the Central West Occupation List;
- been living in a designated regional area in NSW for at least the previous 12 months; and
- have been working in their nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation, in a designated regional area in NSW, for at least the previous 12 months.
Recently completed study in regional NSW
- have a nominated occupation that is included on the Central West Occupation List;
- have completed study or education with an education provider, where:
- the study was completed within the previous 24 months;
- the education provider is located in a designated regional area in NSW;
- the study meets the Australian study requirement (as determined by the Department of Home Affairs); and
- the qualification obtained from such study has been assessed as closely related to the Applicant’s nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority; and
- have lived in a designated regional area in NSW while completing the Applicant’s study.
Living and working outside of regional NSW
a. have a job offer in regional NSW;
b. have at least five years skilled employment experience if the Applicant resides outside of Australia; or
c. have family ties in regional NSW.
Job offer in regional NSW
The Applicant must:
- have a nominated occupation that is included on the Central West Occupation List;
- have an offer for ongoing employment that is:
- in the Applicant’s nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation; and
- for a minimum term of 12 months and 35 hours of work per week;
- have an offer for ongoing employment from an employer that is:
- located in a designated regional area in NSW; and
- registered in Australia.
At least five years skilled employment experience (offshore Applicants)
The Applicant must:
- have a nominated occupation that is included on the Central West Occupation List; and
- have at least five years of skilled employment in such nominated occupation, or a closely related occupation.
Family ties in regional NSW
The Applicant must:
- have a nominated occupation that is included on the Central West Occupation List; and
- have an immediate family member in a designated regional area in NSW who satisfies all of the criteria below:
- a grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother or sister of the Applicant (including by virtue of a step or adoptive relationship);
- at least 18 years of age;
- either an Australian Permanent Resident, an Australian Citizen or a NSW nominated provisional visa holder (489);
- currently residing in a designated regional area in NSW; and
- has been residing in a designated regional area in NSW for at least the previous 24 months,
- and the Applicant must ensure that such family member has completed a statutory declaration to confirm that they satisfy each of the above chain migration requirements.
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