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Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa – Main Applicant (subclass 491)

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa – Main Applicant

Stay

5 Years

Cost

From AUD4,640.00

Processing times

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

With this visa, you can

  • stay in Australia for 5 years
  • live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
  • apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted

See all conditions

Check your eligibility

You must

  • be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency, or an eligible relative must sponsor you
  • have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
  • have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
  • be invited to apply
  • satisfy the points test

Help with your visa

If you are getting help with your visa, before you pay someone, read information on Who can help with your visa application.

With this visa you can

  • stay in Australia for 5 years from the date we grant you the visa
  • live, work and study in a designated region of Australia
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
  • apply for permanent residence, if eligible, through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) – which starts on 16 November 2022. You can’t apply for other permanent visas until you have held your subclass 491 visa for 3 years.

Designated regional area

  • You and all members of your family unit who are also holders of the visa, will need to live work and study in a designated regional area of Australia. Your nomination must not be withdrawn, or you will not be granted the visa.

Pathways to Permanent Residence

  • If eligible, you will be able to apply for permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) – which starts on 16 November 2022.
  • Unless you have held your subclass 491 visa for 3 years, holders of the subclass 491 visa can’t:
    • Make a valid application for a subclass 820 (Partner) visa
    • Be granted any of the following visas:
      • Subclass 132 (Business Talent)
      • Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)
      • Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional))
      • Subclass 189 (Skilled (Independent))
      • Subclass 190 (Skilled (Nominated))
      • Subclass 858 (Distinguished talent)

How long you can stay

This is a temporary visa. You can stay in Australia for 5 years from the date we grant your visa.

Stay longer

You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. Explore your visa options

Include family

You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:

  • include them when you submit your visa application
  • add a dependent child after you submit but before we decide on your visa application.

Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members not accompanying you to Australia might also need to meet our health and character requirements.

If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, tell us the reason why (for example, they already hold Australian citizenship or are a permanent resident).

Cost

From AUD4,640.00 for the main applicant.

There is also a charge for each family member who applies for the visa with you.

To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator. The estimator does not take into account the second instalment or other costs.

You might have to pay an extra charge for any applicant 18 years old or older who has less than functional English. This charge is called the second instalment. Pay it only when we ask you to. We ask for the charge only if we are going to grant the visa.

The second instalment charge for family members is AUD4,890.00.

The Visa Pricing Estimator does not include the second instalment or other costs. You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics

Apply from

You can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance when you apply for the visa and when we decide on your application.

If you apply in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a subclass 010 Bridging A visa, a subclass 020 Bridging B visa or a subclass 030 Bridging C visa, otherwise your application will not be valid.

Processing times

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

We assess applications on a case-by-case basis, and actual processing times can vary due to individual circumstances including:

  • whether you have lodged a complete application, including all necessary supporting documents
  • how quickly you respond to any requests for additional information
  • how long it takes to perform required checks on the supporting information provided
  • how long it takes to receive additional information from external agencies, particularly in relation to health, character, and national security requirements

Your obligations

You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

Learn more about conditions for this visa.

Travel

You can travel out of Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.

Visa label

We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.

Be invited to apply

You can only apply for this visa if we invite you to.

Submit an expression of interest (EOI) in SkillSelect to let us know you would like to apply for the visa.

Indicate if an eligible relative is going to sponsor you for this visa or if you want a state or territory government agency to nominate you.


Be nominated or sponsored

You must be either nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or indicate that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative. See below for more information.

Submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the visa to get an estimate of your points score.

If you score enough points, state and territory government agencies can see your EOI and might nominate you for the visa.

If you indicate in your EOI that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative the Department may invite you to apply for a visa in an invitation round.

Nomination by an Australian state or territory government agency

If you are nominated for the visa, we will invite you to apply. All state and territory government agencies have their own criteria for deciding who they will nominate.

Contact the state or territory agency directly to find out more about their nomination process and what they want from you.

  • Australian Capital Territory
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia

Sponsorship by an eligible relative

Your sponsor must be:

  • 18 years old or older
  • usually resident in a designated area of Australia
  • be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen
  • be your eligible relative or your partner’s eligible relative if your partner is also applying for this visa

An eligible relative can be:

  • a parent
  • a child or step-child
  • a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister
  • an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle
  • a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece
  • a grandparent, or
  • a first cousin

We must approve your sponsorship before you can be granted a visa.


Be this age

You must be aged under 45 to be invited to apply for the visa.

You can still apply for the visa if you turn 45 after we invite you to apply.

If you turn 45 after you submit your EOI but before we invite you to apply you will not receive an invite.


Have a suitable skills assessment

For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at time of invitation.

Delegates of the Minister will now accept a suitable skills assessment for an applicant’s nominated skilled occupation which has been obtained within the 60 day invitation period.

This change of approach is made as a result of the decision of Thapa v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCCA 686 (Thapa). The Minister will administer the Migration Regulations 1994 in accordance with the decision in Thapa, but the Minister reserves the right to make submissions in a Court that Thapa was wrongly decided.

You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application.

For medical and legal practitioners, we also accept the following as proof of a skills assessment:

  • full or unconditional or general medical registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
  • conditional specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. This only allows you to practise in your speciality. You need no further training or supervision
  • admission to practice law in the relevant state or territory

Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed.

If your skills were assessed on the basis of a qualification you got in Australia when you held a student visa, the qualification must be from studying a course registered on CRICOS.


Be able to score 65 points or more

The subclass 491 is a points-tested visa.

When you submit your EOI in SkillSelect you will be given an indicative points score based on the claims you have made. If you do not obtain a score of 65 points you will not be invited to apply for this visa.

If we do invite you to apply for the visa, your invitation will state the number of points that you must score when we assess your application for grant of the visa (this score may be higher than 65 points, depending on your claims in the EOI).

When you lodge your application you must provide evidence supporting your claims.

To check how points can be awarded refer to the points table.


Have this level of English language

At the time of invitation, you must have at least Competent English.

Information about family members 18 years old or older

If a family member 18 years or older is applying for the visa with you, either:

  • they must have functional English or
  • they must pay a second instalment visa application charge

Meet the skills requirement

Your occupation must be on the combined list of eligible skilled occupations for a Skilled Regional (subclass 491) visa.


Meet our health requirement:

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement. If requested, family members not accompanying you to Australia might also need to meet our health requirement.


Meet our character requirement

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement. Family members not accompanying you to Australia must also meet the character requirement.


Have paid back your debt to the Australian government

If you or any family members (including those who do not apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.


Sign the Australian values statement

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:

  • have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia and
  • confirm you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when you sign an Australian Values Statement

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused

We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.

In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused see Limitations on applications in Australia (129KB PDF).

If applying for a visa from outside Australia see Can I go to Australia.

If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.

Step 1

Before you apply

You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) through SkillSelect to let us know you want to apply for this visa.

Help with your EOI

If you need help with your EOI you can use a registered migration agent or legal practitioner. For information on how to find someone to help you see Who can help you with your application.

Step 1.1 – Before you submit your EOI

You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) to let us know you want to apply for this visa.

If you score enough points, a state or territory government agency may nominate you for the visa and we will invite you to apply.

If you advised in your EOI that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative we may invite you to apply for a visa in an invitation round.

Check your occupation

Check that your occupation is on the combined list of eligible skilled occupations for a Skilled Regional (subclass 491) visa.

Get your skills assessed

You must have a suitable skills assessment at the time we invite you to apply.

The assessment must be undertaken by an assessing authority listed against your occupation in the list of eligible skilled occupations. You might have to pay for the assessment.

To be eligible for a visa your skills assessment must have been obtained within the 3 years before the date of invitation. If the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed.  We can't accept a skills assessment issued more than 3 years before the invitation date.

If your skills were assessed on the basis of a qualification you got in Australia when you held a student visa, the qualification must be from studying a course registered on CRICOS.

Medical practitioners

For medical practitioners we accept evidence of registration issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. You must hold either:

  • unconditional or general medical registration
  • conditional specialist registration – which allows you to practice only in your particular specialty with no further training or supervision requirements

You must show that you hold this registration at the time we invite you to apply.

Barristers and solicitors

A suitable skills assessment for barristers and solicitors is evidence of admission to practice as a lawyer in an Australian state or territory.

The relevant legal admissions authority must have admitted you to practice at the time we invite you to apply.

Check your points

You must be able to obtain at least 65 points on our points test to be eligible for this visa. If you cannot obtain 65 points we will not invite you to apply.

If we invite you to apply for the visa, you must prove the claims you make in your EOI when we assess your application.

Use the points table to check how many points you might score.

Check you meet all other eligibility criteria

Check that you meet all other eligibility criteria for the visa.

If we invite you to apply for the visa, you will have to prove the claims you make in your EOI. You will also need to show you meet the other eligibility criteria.

See what documents you will need to prove your claims before you submit your EOI in the Gather documents section.

Step 1.2 – Submit an EOI

Submit your EOI via SkillSelect. You can submit it from within or outside Australia.

Your EOI is not a visa application. There is no fee for submitting an EOI.

Select the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) Invited pathway.

You will receive an email confirming your EOI has been submitted.

Step 1.3 – After you submit your EOI

SkillSelect will estimate your points score based on the claims made in your EOI.

You must have an estimated score of at least 65 points to be invited to apply for this visa.

If you score enough points and there are places allocated for your occupation, we might invite you to apply.

Nomination

If you have expressed interested in being nominated then your EOI will be visible to state and territory government agencies and they may nominate you for the visa.

If you are nominated, you will get an invitation to apply for this visa.

If a state or territory government agency nominates you, you and all members of your family unit who are also holders of the visa, will need to live, work and study in only certain areas of Australia. See Designated regional areas for more information.

Sponsorship

We may invite you to apply for the visa if you have stated in your expression of interest that you have an eligible relative willing to sponsor you.

If an eligible relative sponsors you, you and all members of your family unit who are also holders of the visa, will need to live, work and study in only certain designated areas of Australia. See Designated regional areas for more information.

Stay lawful

An EOI is not a visa application. Submitting an EOI does not mean you will get a bridging visa.

If your current visa is about to expire, you must apply for another visa to remain in Australia lawfully.

You are not eligible for a bridging visa because the EOI is not a visa application. You are only eligible for a bridging visa after you are invited and apply for this visa.

Make changes to your EOI

Let us know through SkillSelect if:

  • you want to apply for a different skilled visa
  • your circumstances change - for example, if you change your occupation or your family structure changes
  • you could score more points - for example, you have completed a higher qualification or gained new work experience
  • your employment circumstances change and you are no longer working at least 20 hours per week in your nominated occupation

You must be able to meet the points score on your invitation letter if we invite you to apply.

SkillSelect will update your indicative points score when you make changes to your EOI. You can change your EOI at any time before we invite you to apply for a visa.

Step 1.4 – Receive an invitation to apply for visa

We allocate places for the skilled migration program to meet the Australian Government’s migration planning levels.

Once invited, you have 60 calendar days to apply for the visa. We cannot extend this time.

You could receive an invitation up to 2 years after submitting an EOI. If we invite you to apply you will receive an email from SkillSelect. Getting an invitation does not mean you will be granted the visa.

The invitation will include an indicative points score based on your EOI claims.

When you apply for the visa, you must show that you:

  • can meet the points score on your invitation (which will include proving any claims you made in your EOI) and
  • can meet all other eligibility criteria

If you do not apply for the visa after two invitations, your EOI will be removed from SkillSelect.

We will not process your visa application if you are 45 or over at the time of your invitation.

If you can't show you meet the invited points score or other eligibility criteria

If you can't show you meet the points score on your invitation or the other visa criteria, then do not apply for the visa.

Your EOI will be suspended if an invitation is issued, but you can update information once the 60-day invitation period has passed. If this is your second invitation, you will have to submit another EOI if you still want the visa.

Get help with your application

Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:

  • a registered migration agent
  • a legal practitioner, or
  • an exempt person.

You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.

Step 2

Gather your documents

You will need to provide documents to support the claims you make in your EOI and show you meet the other visa criteria.

Provide accurate information

Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or do not provide true information.

Identity documents

Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.

Also provide:

  • a national identity card, if you have one
  • proof of change of name

Documents that prove a change of name include:

  • a marriage or divorce certificate
  • change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
  • documents that show other names you have been known by

Relationship documents

If you are or have been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated, provide proof such as divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations.

If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, tell us the reason why (for example, they already hold Australian citizenship or are a permanent resident).

Character documents

Provide an Australian police certificate if you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16.

We only accept complete disclosure National Police Certificates issued by the Australian Federal Police. We do not accept standard disclosure certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police.

For immigration purposes, Australian police certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Also provide:

  • an overseas police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16.
  • military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country

Complete and provide the following forms:

  • Form 80 – Personal particulars for character assessment (596KB PDF)
  • Form 1221 Additional personal particulars information (331KB PDF)

Competent English documents

Provide proof you have at least competent English at time of invitation for this

Partner documents

We need to see evidence of your partner's identity and relationship with you.

Provide:

  • identity documents and photos
  • character documents
  • marriage certificate, if applicable
  • documents about other relationships, if applicable

For de facto relationship provide either:

  • evidence that your relationship is registered by an Australian State or Territory
  • enough documents to prove you have been in a de facto relationship with your partner for at least 12 months before you apply

For both married and de facto applicants you must provide evidence that you are in a genuine and continuing relationship. Evidence can include but is not limited to:

  • joint bank account statements
  • billing accounts in joint names
  • joint leases or mortgages
  • documents that show your partner has lived at the same address as you

Proof your partner has functional English

Provide proof that your partner has at least functional English.

If you can't provide functional English documents

If any of the dependent applicants, who did not pay the second instalment cannot show evidence of functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge for each of those dependent applicants, when we ask you to.

Dependants under 18 documents

For every dependant 18 years old or younger who is applying with you, provide:

  • copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents of all your dependent children
  • copies of the adoption paper, if applicable.

Parental responsibility documents

You must get consent for a dependent child to migrate to Australia from anyone who:

You must get consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia from anyone who:

  • has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
  • is not coming to Australia with the child

They must complete either:

  • Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (276KB PDF)
  • statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to migrate to Australia on this visa

Alternatively, you can show us:

  • an Australian court order that allows your child to migrate to Australia, or
  • that the laws of your home country allow them to migrate

Include:

  • an identity document that shows the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a passport or driver’s licence
  • adoption papers or other court documents if applicable

You don't have to prove that your dependant under 18 years of age has functional English.

Note: If your child is likely to turn 18 while your application is being processed, you will need to provide evidence they are dependent on you. See the section 'Dependants over 18 documents' below for further information. A child who turns 18 while your application is being processed and who is not dependent on you cannot satisfy the criteria for this visa.

Dependants over 18 documents

To include your child who is over 18 in your visa application, they must be:

  • over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and dependent on you or your partner, or
  • over 23 years of age and unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and dependent on you or your partner

If your child is likely to turn 23 while your application is being processed, you will need to provide evidence they are dependent on you due to disability.

Provide:

  • identity documents
  • documents about their other relationships, if applicable

You must also provide proof the child is dependent on you.

  • proof of your relationship with the dependant such as a birth certificate or adoption papers
  • a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over (307KB PDF)
  • proof of financial dependency such as bank statements, money transfers and rent receipts
  • if the child is aged 23 or is likely to turn 23 while your application is being processed, you must also provide a report from a qualified medical practitioner that states they are dependent on you or your partner due to the total or partial loss of their bodily or mental functions

Note: A child who turns 23 while your application is being processed and who does not meet these requirements cannot satisfy the criteria for this visa.

Proof your dependant has functional English

Provide proof that all dependent applicants aged 18 years and older, have at least functional English.

If you can't provide functional English documents

If any of the dependent applicants, who did not pay the second instalment cannot show evidence of functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment of the visa application charge for each of those dependent applicants, when we ask you to.

Skills assessment documents

You must provide documents that support the claims you made in your EOI. To check the documents you need use the points table. Depending on your claims this could include evidence of your:

  • skills assessment
  • English language skills
  • Australian and/or overseas skilled employment
  • educational qualifications
  • Satisfying the Australian study requirement
  • specialist education
  • accredited community language
  • study in regional Australia
  • partner skills
  • Professional Year in Australia

Delegates of the Minister will now accept a suitable skills assessment for an applicant’s nominated skilled occupation which has been obtained within the 60 day invitation period.

This change of approach is made as a result of the decision of Thapa v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCCA 686 (Thapa). The Minister will administer the Migration Regulations 1994 in accordance with the decision in Thapa, but the Minister reserves the right to make submissions in a Court that Thapa was wrongly decided.

Medical practitioners

One of these certificates issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency:

  • unconditional or general medical registration
  • conditional specialist registration – which allows you to practice only in your speciality with no further training or supervision requirements

You must be registered at the time we invite you to apply.

Barristers and Solicitors

Proof of admission to practice as a lawyer in the relevant state or territory. You must be admitted to practice at the time we invite you to apply.

Expression of interest (EOI) documents

You must provide documents to prove all of the claims you made in your EOI. Use the points table to check the documents you need.

Sponsor documents

If you are being sponsored, provide:

  • Skilled Work Regional (class PS) 491 (provisional) visa Sponsor declaration (224KB PDF) completed by your sponsor
  • proof that your sponsor is an eligible relative
  • proof that your sponsor has turned 18
  • proof that your sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen
  • proof that your sponsor is usually resident in a designated area of Australia

To prove that your sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen, provide:

  • citizenship certificate, or
  • passport bio-data page

To prove your sponsor is usually resident in a designated area of Australia, documents you can provide include, but are not limited to:

  • drivers licence
  • mortgage/tenancy agreements
  • utility bills

To prove the sponsor's relationship with you, documents you can provide include, but are not limited to:

  • birth certificate
  • marriage certificates
  • death certificates
  • adoption certificates
  • family status certificates or family books if officially issued and maintained

Nomination documents

If you are being nominated you do not need to provide evidence of this with your application.

Tell us you are getting help

To nominate someone to:

  • receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
  • provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.

Prepare your documents

Translate

Have all non-English documents translated into English.

Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:

  • full name
  • address and telephone number
  • qualifications and experience in the language they are translating

These details must be in English.

Note: You do not need to have any documents certified.

Scan or photograph

Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in colour.

The scans and photos must be clear.

If a document is more than 1 page, save it all as 1 file.

Step 3

Apply for the visa

When you have your invitation you can apply online. You can be in or outside Australia.

You have 60 days from the date of your invitation to apply for the visa.

Provide accurate information

Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or do not provide true information.

Apply for this visa online in ImmiAccount

  1. Log into your SkillSelect account. In SkillSelect, click on the 'Apply for visa' button. This will take you to our online system, ImmiAccount.
  2. Log in or create an ImmiAccount. Your ImmiAccount login and password will not be the same as your SkillSelect login and password.
  3. Attach your documents
  4. Pay the first visa application charge. We will not process your application until you pay this first instalment of the visa application charge.
  5. Note your transaction reference number (TRN).

Each family member must have their application charge paid and documents attached to their application.

Step 4

After you apply

We will let you know when we have received your application.

If you are granted a bridging visa you will receive notification of your visa grant.

Status updates

We do not give updates on applications within the standard processing time.

You can check if we need more information from you in ImmiAccount.

Travel after you apply

If you are in Australia, you don't have to tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. This is because you can be outside Australia when we make a decision.

But if you leave Australia, make sure your visa allows you to return. To see if you can return on your current visa, check VEVO.

Learn about visa expiry.

If you applied outside Australia, don't arrange travel to Australia, leave your job or sell your home until we advise you in writing that you have been granted the visa.

Health exams

If you didn't have health examinations before you applied, we will let you know if you need them. Check ImmiAccount.

Biometrics

We might ask for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.

Attach more information

If you did not attach all documents when you applied, attach them as soon as you can to your ImmiAccount.

We might also ask you to provide more information, however we are not obliged to do so and may make a decision on your application without asking for more documents

Stay lawful

If you are in Australia, make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.

When you applied for this visa, you were granted a Bridging visa A (BVA). If your current visa expires before we decide on your application, the BVA will come into effect. You can stay in Australia on the BVA while we process your new visa application.

Do not ask to have the visa you currently hold cancelled. If your visa is cancelled:

  • you will be staying in Australia unlawfully
  • your BVA will cease

Learn more about visa expiry

Pay the second instalment

If you need to pay a second instalment, pay it when we send you the invoice.

Add family

You can add dependent children to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa.

Use Form 1436 Adding an additional applicant after lodgement, pay using ImmiAccount, attach the form and supporting documents to your ImmiAccount

Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members who are not coming to Australia do have to meet our character requirement and might have to meet our health requirement.

Newborn child

If your child is born after you submit your application but before we decide on your visa, you must tell us as soon as possible.

Find out what to do your child is born after you apply.

Subsequent entrants

If we grant you the visa, your family members might be able to apply to join you in Australia later as subsequent entrants.

Mistakes on your application

You must tell us as soon as possible if you made a mistake on your application.

Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers (168KB PDF) and attach it to your application in ImmiAccount.

Help with your application

Let us know if you no longer want someone to:

  • receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
  • provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.

For more information see Who can help you with your application.

Tell us if things change

Things you need to let us know about after you have applied include:

  • changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
  • changes to your marital or de facto status
  • the birth of a child
  • you want to withdraw your application

See how to tell us if your situation changes.

Step 5

Visa outcome

You can be in or outside Australia when we decide your visa application but not in immigration clearance. We will let you know our decision in writing.

If we grant your visa, we will tell you:

  • your visa grant number
  • the date your visa starts
  • your visa conditions, if applicable

Keep a copy of the decision.

If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:

  • why we refused the visa
  • whether you have a right to a review of the decision

We will not refund the application charge if we refuse your application.

Coming to Australia

If you are outside Australia when the visa is granted, you must enter Australia before a date that we specify on your visa grant letter.

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have:

  • a valid visa to enter Australia
  • a valid passport or other travel document

At the border

Completing an Incoming Passenger Card

All people arriving in Australia must complete the Incoming Passenger Card. You will be given this card onboard.

Leaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

In Australia

  • stay in Australia while your visa is valid. The visa is valid for 5 years from the date it is granted.
  • live, work and study in designated areas or specified regions of Australia in line with your visa conditions
  • travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
  • apply for permanent residency, if eligible, through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)
  • work in any occupation and for any employer in line with the work and residence conditions attached to your visa.

To see your specific conditions, work and study requirements, use VEVO.

What you must do on this visa

You and your family members must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws. See your conditions in your visa grant letter or VEVO.

Tell us if things change

Things you need to let us know about include:

  • changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
  • changes to your relationship status
  • the birth of a child

See how to tell us if there is a change in your situation.

See how long you can stay

This is a temporary visa.

To see when you must leave or apply for a further visa to remain in Australia, refer to your visa grant letter and the information in VEVO.

Staying longer

You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. You must apply for a new visa if you want to stay longer.

See your options.

If you want to stay in Australia permanently and you or your partner have satisfied the work and residence requirements, you might be eligible for Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).

Travelling on your visa

You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa.

See your conditions in VEVO.

New Zealand passport holders

If an immigration officer processes your clearance at our border, we recommend you tell them:

  • you have a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489)
  • you do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444)

If you do not tell them, you might be granted the subclass 444 visa. Grant of a subclass 444 visa might affect your eligibility for permanent residency through a Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) and ultimately, your eligibility for permanent residency or  Australian citizenship.

Proving you have a visa

If you wish to provide evidence you have a visa and conditions to someone, use VEVO.

Working

You can work in any occupation and for any employer, in line with the work and residence conditions attached to your visa.

You will need to live and work in an area specified as a designated regional area

See your specific conditions in your visa grant letter or VEVO.

You are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.

Bringing family

Members of the family unit who did not apply for the visa with you can apply to join you in Australia later as subsequent entrants.

Leaving Australia

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia and return.

If applicable ensure your visa is still valid and allows you to re-enter Australia. You can check your visa validity in VEVO.

At the Border

Leaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You could leave the airport faster if you use a SmartGate.

After you leave

Get your superannuation (if you are leaving Australia and do not intend to return)

You are likely to have some money in a superannuation fund if you worked in Australia and you are:

  • 18 years old or older
  • paid AUD450 or more before tax in a month

See how to access your super.

Proving you have been to Australia

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.

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