AustraliaJune 30, 2022by Prominent Overseas CareerSubclass 190 vs. 491: Which Visa Is Right for You?

For candidates seeking to immigrate to Australia, the Subclass 190 visa is a Skilled, Points-tested, and Invited visa. For the first two years of their stay in Australia, these applicants are sponsored by a state or territory.

For candidates wishing to immigrate to Australia, the Subclass 491 visa is also a Skilled, Points-tested, and Invited visa. The state or territory sponsors these candidates or eligible family members for the first three years of residence.

Let’s take a look at how they qualify for immigrants looking to relocate to Australia.

Subclass 190 Visa in Australia

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The Skilled Nominated Subclass 190 visa has successfully replaced the offshore Skilled-Sponsored Subclass 176 permit and the onshore Subclass 886 permits. Even though it requires nomination by an Australian state or territory, it is a permanent permit. The Subclass 190 visa is a points-based visa that allows holders to live and work in Australia.

Subclass 491 Visa in Australia?

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 The Skilled Regional Subclass 491 visa has successfully replaced the Skilled Regional Subclass 489 visa. It entitles the holder to stay in Australia for a period of five years. After the visa holder has completed three years in the regional area of state nomination, it is an excellent pathway to permanent residency.

Australia’s Department of Home Affairs (DoHA)

 Both of these state-sponsored immigration visas are subject to eligibility requirements set forth by the sponsoring state or territory and the Department of Home Affairs. As a result, selected candidates are expected to live and work in the regional area for a set period of time.

Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 Similarities

Subclasses 190 and 491 are both General Stream Australia immigration state sponsorship visas. These visas are extremely similar.

Similarities between Subclass 190 and Subclass 491

Factors Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491
Age Candidates to be under the age of 45 years Applicant should be under the age of 45 years
Occupation in SOL The applicant must have a nominated occupation in the Skilled Occupation List Should have a nominated occupation on the regional Skilled Occupation List
Skills Assessment Test Clear a skills assessment test in the nominated occupation Requires passing a skills assessment exam in the nominated occupation
English Proficiency Meet the competent English language requirements Satisfy the competent English language requirements
Points Requirement Points total should at least be 65 points 65 points are the minimum requirements
Health & Character Certifications Satisfy medical, health & character requirements All medical, health & character requirements should be fulfilled
Bring Along Families Can include partner & dependent children in the application Include partner & dependent children in the visa application
Sponsoring a Partner You can sponsor a partner right away Free to sponsor a partner right away
Invitation Guarantee Invitation guaranteed with state nomination sponsorship approval Guaranteed to be invited if state nomination sponsorship is approved
Freedom to Work Free to work in any occupation Freedom to work in the chosen occupation
Differences between Subclasses 190 and 491

Subclass 190 is a visa application for permanent residency. Subclass 491 is a three-year transitional immigration visa that allows for permanent residency after 3 years.

 

Other Important Features of the State-Sponsored Subclass 190 Skilled Visa

 Permanent residents are eligible for the State-Sponsored Subclass 190 Skilled Visa for Australia. The applicant must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). To apply, you would, however, need an invitation. Before applying for a visa, you must first be approved for state nomination sponsorship.

The state nomination sponsorship eventually adds 5 points to your score.

Subclass 190 visa holders are permitted to:

  • Stay in Australia indefinitely
  • In Australia, you can work and study.
  • Sponsor family members to come and live with them.
  • Enroll in Medicare and other public health programmes.
  • For five years, I travelled in and out of Australia.
  • If applicable, apply for Australian citizenship.
Other Important Considerations for the Provisional State-Sponsored Subclass 491 Skilled Visa

Subclass 491, Provisional State-Sponsored The Skilled Visa is an invited pathway to Australia that allows for provisional temporary residence. When you receive the invitation, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Following that, you must be sponsored by an eligible relative or an Australian state or territory.

Sponsorship increases your point total by 15 points.

Subclass 491 visa holders are permitted to:

  • Spend up to 5 years in Australia.
  • Work and study in a specific Australian region
  • Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want during the same trip.
  • Bring your family members.
  • This visa is for skilled migrant workers from other countries who want to work in Australia.
  • The holder of the visa may apply for the Skilled Regional (Permanent) Subclass 887 Visa.
Qualifications for State-Sponsored Skilled Visas

 Along with a nominated occupation on the Australian STSOL list, the immigration applicant should have a nominated occupation on the specific state’s occupation list. Candidates for immigration can apply onshore or offshore, unless their visa states that they cannot apply in Australia.

Other eligibility requirements:

  • Character reference
  • Health and medical certificates
  • Language proficiency in English
  • Recent employment experience
  • You must be at least 18 years old.

The immigration applicant should have read the booklet Life in Australia and agreed to respect the Australian way of life. While signing the Australian Values Statement, he or she must follow Australian laws and regulations.

Visa Eligibility for Subclass 491

The immigration applicant must fully meet the requirements on the occupation list of the specific state as well as have a nominated occupation on the Australian STSOL list. Interested immigrants can apply onshore or offshore, unless their visa contains a condition that prevents them from applying in Australia.

Other eligibility requirements:

  • Comply with the character requirements
  • Medical and health requirements for Australian visas
  • Language requirements in English
  • Recent employment experience
  • You must be at least 18 years old.

The immigration applicant must have read and comprehended the booklet Life in Australia. While signing the Australian Values Statement, he or she should confirm to the Australian workplace and conform to obey laws.

How to Apply for Skilled Work Visas Sponsored by the State

 Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas.

Visa Subclass 190

Step 1: Pass a recognized skills assessment authority’s skills assessment test.

Step 2: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Step 3: Wait to be invited before applying for state sponsorship.

Step 4: When the state approves sponsorship, apply to DoHa.

Step 5: Submit your visa application within 60 days.

Visa Subclass 491

 Step 1: Take a skills assessment test from a reputable skills assessment organization.

Step 2: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Step 3: Wait for an invitation to apply for sponsorship.

Step 4: Obtain sponsorship; settled PRs, Australian citizens, or state residents

Step 5: Submit an application to DoHa, and the state approves sponsorship.

Step 6: Submit your visa application within 60 days.

Costs of Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 Visas

Visa Types

Notes

AUD

INR

Subclass 190 & 491 Fee for Main Visa Applicant AU$ 4,115 INR 2,20,938
Subclass 190 & 491 Fee for Spouse of the Main Visa Applicant AU$ 2,055 INR 110298
Subclass 190 & 491 Fee per Child of the Main Visa Applicant AU$ 1,030 INR 55283
Processing Time for Skilled Visas Sponsored by States

The processing times for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visas are listed below.

Visa Type

Visa Stage Processing Times

Visa Stage Processing Times

Subclass 190 Visa 75% of visa applications are processed in 6 months 90% visa application processing is done in 8 months
Subclass 491 Visa 75% visa applications are processed in 7 months 90% visa application processing is done in 8 months
Moving to the United States on a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 Visa

 This is a critical question that the immigration applicant must answer. The nominating state, on the other hand, commits you to staying in the state for at least two years. Even if you live in another state, you must provide a new job offer in the nominated occupation in the state sponsoring your visa.

Moving to the United States on a Subclass 190 Visa

The Subclass 190 visa, once granted, is a permanent resident visa with no strings attached to the state. The immigration applicant has the right to stay in the country for as long as he wants and to migrate to any location in Australia. The 190 visa has no restrictions on staying in the nominating state.

However, there is a catch. If the immigration applicant decides to relocate to another state, it may have an impact on their citizenship. It could have an impact on your entire immigration history in Australia, including future visa applications to sponsor a spouse.

Making a Sound Decision

If moving to another state without waiting two years is your only option, you should discuss the situation with the state government.

You can speak with them about:

  • The difficulty you’re having in finding work
  • Or perhaps your partner lives and works in another state.

They may agree to release you so that you can look for other opportunities. Persuade them that you have exhausted all other options and are still unable to find the right job.

Moving to the United States on a Subclass 491 Visa

To begin with, the Subclass 491 visa is only temporary and not permanent. It comes with the condition that the visa holder live, work, and study in the designated or specified region of Australia. You cannot back out of this commitment.

What exactly is Condition 8579?

The condition 8579 states:

  • Regional Skilled Work (Provisional) Subclass 491 A visa holder in Australia is required to live, work, and study only in the region designated as a regional area at the time the visa was granted.

It implies that, while the immigrant may move between states or territories, he or she will live in the region, state, or territory specified in the agreement when the subclass 491 visa is granted.

DoHA is concerned that your intentions while accepting the visa remain unchanged. It is also true that if you violate the visa condition, DoHA will not be interested. The agency will investigate whether you provided any false information to the sponsoring state or territory during the sponsorship process.

Other Important Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

 

Is it possible to apply for Subclass 190 while on a Subclass 491 visa?

The Australian Immigration Department has limited the types of visas available to Subclass 491 visa holders. This is to prevent them from relocating to other parts of the country. As a result, Subclass 491 visa holders will be unable to apply for Subclass 186, 189, 190, 820, and a variety of other visas.

Is work experience required for the subclass 190 visa?

Except in a few states, no work experience is required for occupations. However, the highest-ranking candidates in occupations are invited first, based on the state’s Priority Skilled Occupation List.

Is there a subclass 491 visa designated area?

 Except for Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, designated regional areas for subclass 491 visas include the entire country of Australia.

Is it possible to apply for a subclass 190 visa with only 60 points?

 A basic score of at least 60 points is required to apply for a subclass 190 visa. Applicants with less than this score will be required to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, either in Australia or in their home country.

How will my subclass 491 visa lead to permanent residency?

The subclass 491 visa is valid for 5 years. You can apply for the Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa if you meet the following criteria.

  • You have spent at least three years living, working, or studying in the designated area of Australia.
  • You must have earned at least $53,900 per year for the previous three years.

Either you or your spouse must provide proof of earnings. Anyone who meets the criteria can be the primary applicant for the subclass 191 visa.

How long does it take for an EOI to be approved for the Australia PR process?

 Both the Australian government authorities and the employers looking for someone with your skill set will review your EOI. It usually takes about 15 days to receive the results of your Expression of Interest.

How many expressions of interest can be submitted for an Australia visa?

Through Australia’s Skill Select, you can submit as many EOIs as you want. Applicants usually create one for each state in which they are interested. Multiple EOIs provide you with a broader range of options to choose from.

What documents are required for an expression of interest?

Along with the Expression of Interest, the following information and documents are required.

  • The date the skills assessment test was completed
  • The assessing authority provided a reference number.
  • Your name and the name of your family
  • Country of citizenship
  • Date of birth
  • Identification of Citizenship
  • Gender specific information
  • Valid passport with information
  • Residence location
  • Relationship standing
Is it possible to apply for a subclass 491 visa if I am over the age of 45?

No. If you are over the age of 45, you cannot apply for a 491 visa subclass. If you want to work in Australia, you can apply for the subclass 482 or the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).

Can I apply for Australian PR without having worked in a regional area for three years?

Though you may be able to relocate to another area of regional Australia on a subclass 491, you will not be able to apply for a subclass 191 permanent visa unless you have spent three years in the designated area.

What jobs can I get with a subclass 491 visa?

Every Australian state or territory has a specific job list from which immigration applicants can choose. Check individual state or territory lists for in-demand local occupations before applying for a subclass 491 visa.

Is it necessary for an employer to sponsor a subclass 491 visa?

No, employers are not required to sponsor a subclass 491 visa. However, some states or regions may require you to work for state nomination approval.

Why should I choose the subclass 491 visa when the subclass 190 visa is available?

If you receive an invitation to apply, you must apply for the subclass 190 visa. Only apply for the subclass 491 visa if you have not received an invitation for the subclass 190 visa.

How does the subclass 189 skilled independent visa compare to the subclass 190 visa?

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) does not require sponsorship. The Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190), on the other hand, requires sponsorship by an Australian state or territory.

Can I convert my Australian student visa to a permanent residency visa? 

To be eligible for a PR visa, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Complete at least two years of postgraduate study.
  • Show proof of work experience
  • English proficiency is required.
  • Have a full-time job offer for at least 12 months
  • Provide proof of sufficient funds to cover
  • Your profession should be on the list of New Graduate Occupations.
Can I immigrate to Australia using a GSM visa?

The General Skilled Migration (GSM) Visa is only available to people with special skills who want to live in Australia. As a result, you should consult a registered migration agent to determine whether you qualify for the GSM visa.

Which subclasses are eligible for nomination in NSW?

Subclasses 190 and 491 are both eligible for nomination in NSW. Keep in mind the distinctions between the two visas and select the one that best suits your needs.

Conclusion

 Choosing the best skilled nominated subclass between 190 and 491 visas will be determined by a number of factors. Starting with your skill set and moving on to in-demand jobs in specific states. There are many similarities, but subclass 190 visas provide more flexibility.

So, evaluate carefully or seek the services of a registered migration agent who can provide you with a clear picture of how things are on the ground. Visa consultants can also educate and keep you up to date on new immigration options.

Prominent Overseas Careers can assist you with your immigration to Australia.

Begin your visa application today!

 

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