491 Nomination Criteria

The Skilled Regional Work Visa (subclass 491) is a provisional five year visa for skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia. It has a pathway to a permanent visa after 3 years from the time this visa is granted. ACT nomination is a requirement which then triggers an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs.

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If invited by the ACT government, it is expected that you live and work in Canberra for at least two years from visa grant or if moving from overseas, date of arrival in Canberra. 

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Nomination Criteria

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Canberra Resident

- Meet relevant Department of Home Affairs criteria - this includes having a valid skills assessment and a valid English test.

- Meet one of the following pathways

• Nominated occupation is on the latest ACT Critical Skills List

• Primary holder of a subclass 457/482 visa sponsored by an ACT employer. You must have worked in Canberra in nominated occupation for the last three months. The nominated occupation does not need to be on the ACT Critical Skills List as long as it is on the relevant Department of Home Affairs Skilled Occupation List.

• Majority owner of an eligible registered business located in the ACT. The following business types are ineligible: taxi, ride-share, delivery, courier services, or an on-sold business previously used to qualify for ACT Nomination.

- Lived in Canberra for at least three months at date of Canberra Matrix submission

- Work in Canberra for at least 13 weeks for one or more employers, be self-employed, and/or be a small Business Owner 

- Have a level of English equivalent to competent English or a higher level if required by the skills assessment authority.

- Sign a declaration committing to living and working in Canberra for at least two years from the date of grant.

- If you have a spouse/partner then they must be a resident in Canberra or living overseas.

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Overseas resident

- Meet relevant Department of Home Affairs criteria - this includes having a valid skills assessment and a valid English test.

- Nominated occupation is on the latest ACT Critical Skills List.

- Have at least one year full-time, post graduate work experience in your nominated occupation in the last five years. The work experience must be assessed as relevant by the assessing body in the points tested skill assessment.  

- Have a level of English equivalent to competent English or a higher level if required by the skills assessment authority.

- Have researched the ACT labour market to evidence that you are employable in Canberra.

- Provide a commitment statement explaining why you want to live in Canberra and sign a declaration committing to living and working in Canberra for at least two years from the date of arrival in Australia.

-  Living overseas, have not lived in Australia for the last 12 months and do not hold a current Australian visa with the exception of a visitor visa.

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