Victoria prioritising trade occupations for Subclass 190 and Subclass 491 visa nomination
On 29 November 2024, the Victorian Government announced that for the remainder of the 2024-25 Victorian skilled visa nomination program, the following trade occupations are being prioritised under the Skilled Nominated (Subclass 190) visa and Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) visas:
This means that persons in the above nominated occupations who register their interest to be considered for Subclass 190 visa nomination or Subclass 491 visa nomination have a good chance of being selected to apply for visa nomination by the Victorian Government.
I have work experience in one of these trade occupations, how can I register my interest for Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa nomination?
If you have work experience in any of the above trade occupations, or any other occupation that is available for Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa nomination in Australia, you will first need to obtain a skills assessment from the relevant skills assessing authority in your nominated occupation, prior to lodging an Expression of Interest and/or a Registration of Interest to be considered for the Subclass 190 and/or Subclass 491 visa program.
It is also important to note that:
Each skills assessing authority will have their own eligibility requirements (e.g. prescribing the minimum qualifications and/or work experience required in the nominated occupation and related evidentiary requirements) for the issuance of a positive skills assessment, which once issued will generally be valid for a period of three (3) years.
You must score at least 65 points to be eligible to lodge an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect to be considered for Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa nomination by a particular State or Territory Government in Australia (including the additional 5 points awarded for Subclass 190 visa nomination and/or the additional 15 points awarded for Subclass 491 visa nomination by a particular State or Territory Government).
Lodging an Expression of Interest and/or a Registration of Interest is not the same as applying for the Subclass 190 visa or Subclass 491 visa as you must be nominated by a particular State or Territory Government in Australia to actually be invited to apply for the visa.
Each State or Territory Government will have their own eligibility requirements for Subclass 190 or Subclass 491 visa nomination, and in addition to the Expression of Interest which you will have to lodge through SkillSelect, certain State or Territory Governments may also require the lodgement of a Registration of Interest for their Subclass 190 visa or Subclass 491 visa programs.
If and once nominated by a particular State or Territory Government and invited to apply for the Subclass 190 visa or the Subclass 491 visa, you will generally have 60 days to lodge your visa application, and there will other requirements you will need to meet for the grant of the visa.
What is the difference between the Subclass 190 visa and Subclass 491 visa?
The Subclass 190 visa is a permanent visa that once granted and in effect, will confer the visa holder with permanent residency rights in Australia. The Subclass 491 visa on the other hand is a 5-year visa which once granted and in effect, will allow the visa holder to remain in Australia and live in a designated regional area for up to 5 years, and have a pathway to permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) (Subclass 191) visa.
Whilst most persons may prefer to be granted the Subclass 190 visa as opposed to the Subclass 491 visa, many people still opt to register for Subclass 491 visa nomination, including in circumstances where they have nominated a “non-priority" occupation which is more competitive, where they would perhaps have better chances of being nominated for Subclass 491 visa nomination with the additional 10 points awarded for Subclass 491 visa nomination as opposed to Subclass 190 visa nomination, and/or where their occupation is only available for Subclass 491 visa nomination and not Subclass 190 visa nomination by a particular State or Territory Government in Australia.
Our immigration lawyers at Inclusive Migration have extensive experience in advising prospective migrants to Australia about their employer-sponsored, skilled migration and family migration options in Australia. Should you wish to discuss your eligibility for migration to Australia through employer-sponsored and/or general skilled migration pathways, please email info@inclusivemigration.com.au or submit an enquiry using the contact form on our website.
