Summary of changes commencing 16th November
Department of home affairs will introduce two new visa subclasses, commencing from 16th November 2019
- – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494
- – Skilled work regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491)
Subclass 494 visa replaces existing subclass 187 (RSMS) whereas Subclass 491 will replace existing subclass 489. Subclass 494 is employer sponsored program which will have wider range of occupations for employers who are operating their business in regional Australia, whereas the state government body can nominate skilled employee for regional Australia by nominating them to stay in their region. Both of these visa will have excess to Permanent residency visa proposed new visa subclass 191, once you satisfy the conditions of existing visa.
The main features proposed for new visa subclass 494 and 491 are;
- -Quick processing time
- -Must stay for three years in regional areas, replacing 2 years on previous 187 and 489 subclasses
- -Eligible to apply for permanent residence without a second nomination stage through 191 visa. The subclass 191 is proposed to come in effect 16 November 2022
- -Low SAF levy charges to the employer
- -More points for 491 visa applicants
- -Broader occupations will be made available than other non regional pathways
- -5 additional points for regional nomination or sponsorship.
However, if you have been invited to apply for 489 visa already, you have 15 November 2019 as a deadline to lodge your visa. Similarly, you can apply for RSMS subclass 187 until 15th of November 2019.
Extra options for international graduates from regional institutions
The proposed changes will have benefit to the international students who are living and undertaking their course in regional Australia. The students will be able to access extra 1 year of post study visa who are graduated from regional campus of registered university or a institution with higher education or postgraduate qualifications and maintain ongoing residence on a regional area while holding their temporary graduate (subclass 485 visa.
To clarify, this is an introduction to the new one-year temporary graduate visa which can be applied if the students met the Australian study requirement in regional area and live in regional area while holding their first post study graduate visa.
The definition of regional Australia for this purpose will be the same as the definition for skilled migration – all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Students need to graduate from a regional campus and then spend at least two years residing in a regional area to qualify, the additional Temporary Graduate visa will be available to the first eligible cohort of graduates from 2021.
Existing Temporary Graduate visa holders may be eligible, provided they can meet these requirements.
