Subclass 491 - Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a provisional visa for skilled workers which allows you to live and work in Tasmania for up to five years.

State nomination from Tasmania for this visa provides you with 15 additional points to help you meet the Department of Home Affairs’ points test pass mark of 65 points. More information on this is available under “Eligibility”.

You may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after you have lived in Tasmania for at least three years and earned a minimum taxable income that meets the minimum threshold determined by the Department of Home Affairs for at least 3 years (currently set at AU$53,900).

How to apply

Your application for state nomination and application for the visa are two separate processes. The Tasmanian Government assesses your application for state nomination and the Department of Home Affairs assesses your visa application.

The processing time is affected by the overall quality and thoroughness of your application. It is recommended that you prepare as much of the necessary documentation prior to applying to avoid delays. Other factors that impact on processing times include changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, and complex cases.

Please refer to the NEWS updates of this website for current processing times.

The Tasmanian Government is not permitted to provide specific migration advice concerning visa options. Only registered migration agents or lawyers can provide migration advice specific to your individual circumstances. A complete list of migration agents and lawyers can be found on the MARA website.

Home Affairs - Immigration Assistance information here.

To be eligible to apply for state nomination, you must meet the following requirements set out by the Department of Home Affairs. You must have:

• not yet turned 45 years of age
• nominated an occupation on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations
• a valid and positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
• at least ‘Competent’ English language proficiency
• at least 65 points on the Department of Home Affairs points test.

Visit the  Department of Home Affairs for more detailed information on these and other relevant requirements. Please note that you also need to meet the Tasmanian Government nomination requirements to be eligible for state nomination.

Meeting the nomination requirements does not guarantee that you will be offered state nomination from the Tasmanian Government. The Department of Home Affairs sets a nomination quota for the state each year, which limits the number of applicants that can be nominated.

If you are able to meet the minimum nomination requirements, your application will be competitively assessed against other eligible applications, with a focus on your ability to address a number of criteria, including:

• your demonstrated ability and commitment to establishing yourself, and any dependents, in Tasmania with a view to your prospects for long-term settlement in the state
• the demand for your particular skills and expertise, and your ability to find work in Tasmania
• the suitability and transfer-ability of your qualifications, skills and experience – including any specialist capabilities - to the needs of Tasmania’s labour market
• the skills and background of dependent family members
• your level of English language competency
• the likelihood of you obtaining a personal income that would meet the minimum taxable income requirement for the subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (currently AU$53,900 per year for at least 3 years in the next 5 years)

Applicants who have skills in areas of particular need within the Tasmanian economy will be held in high regard, particularly if living in an area outside of Greater Hobart. These include:

• health
• trades and construction
• engineering
• community services (including aged and disability care)

* Applicants currently holding a BRIDGING VISA due to Australian Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or Judicial Review are asked to include within their application details of their current review status and a written explanation detailing their plans for visa lodgement in the event that they are supported for visa state nomination.

Category 1 – Tasmanian graduate

To be considered for this category, you must meet all of the following criteria.

• you must have completed and graduated from a CRICOS registered tertiary institution in Tasmania. The course undertaken:
  • must be a degree (bachelor or any higher degree), a diploma (standard, advanced, associate or graduate) or a trade qualification (minimum Cert III level for a skilled occupation in Major Group 3 in ANZSCO)
  • must have a minimum duration of one academic year (40 weeks)
  • must be full time and on site in Tasmania
• you have lived in the state for at least 1 year during your period of study
• you and your dependents are currently living in Tasmania and can provide evidence of your ongoing genuine commitment.

More specific guidance for Tasmanian Graduates can be found on our International Student Graduates page.

IMPORTANT: If your study has been in an area that is not related to an occupation on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupations List (TSOL), you need to include with your application your CAREER PLAN that explains how your studies have increased your ability to find skilled work in Tasmania. This may include areas unrelated to your Tasmanian study.

**Please also note: Acceptable courses of study include courses above Certificate 3 studied with a CRICOS registered tertiary institution in Tasmania that meet the specific requirements for state nomination categories.

• All courses must be completed full time and on campus
• Study duration must be at least one academic year for the subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. For the subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa , your study must meet the Australian study requirement
• Graduate Diploma courses are considered eligible
• Graduate Certificate courses are not eligible
• Certificate 3 and 4 study must be related to a trade qualification (minimum Cert III level for a skilled occupation in Major Group 3 in ANZSCO) occupation.
  

  This group includes:

  • Engineering, ICT and Science Technicians
  • Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers
  • Construction Trades Workers
  • Electrotechnology and Telecommunications Trades Workers
  • Food Trades Workers
  • Skilled Animal and Horticultural Workers
  • Other Technicians and Trades Workers

** Childcare, Aged Care and Community Care related courses must be at least a Diploma level. However, we will accept Certificate III Early Childcare course if you commenced your course before 1 January 2020.

OR

Category 2 – Working in Tasmania

*If you are looking for employment opportunities in Tasmania, please refer to the comprehensive resources on the Make It Tasmania website.

To be considered for this category, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• you must have been working in Tasmania for six months immediately prior to your application for state nomination. You do not have to be working in your nominated occupation. Your employment needs to:
  • be at least 35 hours per week in one full-time job or in two or more part-time jobs and you are able to provide evidence of your employment claims (see Document Checklist – Employment for more details)
  • fill a genuine, ongoing skill shortage in Tasmania
• you and your dependents must currently be living in Tasmania and can provide evidence of genuine commitment to continue to live in Tasmania (please refer to disclaimer at the bottom of this page for indicators as to how to meet this requirement)
• your employer must have a well-established business that has been actively operating in Tasmania for the past 12 months
• there must be a genuine need for your position within the business.

If your employment is for a position at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, your employer must also provide evidence that no local person was able to fill the position (see 'Document Checklist - Employment' for evidence your employer would have to provide that you would need to submit together with your application for state nomination).

Please note that internships, stipends, scholarships and volunteer positions are not considered employment for the purpose of this category.

Sole traders/subcontractors may be eligible for nomination under Category 5 – Small Business Owner.

* There are areas of non-skill shortage in Tasmania that are not supported for visa state nomination under the ‘Working in Tasmania’ category. This includes employment relating to:

• supermarkets
• service stations
• limited service restaurants** (cooks, chefs and café / restaurant managers)
• massage clinics
• taxi/uber driving

**A limited service restaurant includes the following:

• fast food or takeaway food services
• fast casual restaurants
• drinking establishments that offer only a limited food service
• limited service cafes including, but not limited to, coffee shops or mall cafes
• limited service pizza restaurants.

OR

Category 3A – Overseas applicant (TSOL)

*If you are looking for employment opportunities in Tasmania, please refer to the comprehensive resources for on the Make It Tasmania website.

To be considered for this category, you must be living overseas and meet all of the following criteria:

• your nominated occupation must be listed on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List (TSOL) - (please note the English Proficiency and Other Requirements listed on TSOL do apply to this category)
• you, or any of your dependants have not lived in another Australian state or territory within the last twelve months
• you have achieved the English requirement specified on the TSOL for your nominated occupation in a recognised English language test or hold a passport of the UK, Ireland, the USA, Canada or New Zealand
• you have read and meet the 'other requirements and notes column' specified on the TSOL for your nominated occupation
• you have researched the Tasmanian labour market and, unless your occupation is listed as “High Demand” in the TSOL, provide evidence that there are sufficient employment opportunities (at least five and not more than eight opportunities) in your nominated occupation in Tasmania and that you have:
  • skills and recent experience relevant to the researched employment opportunities
  • skills and experience relevant to the Tasmanian economy (see Document Checklist – Employability for more guidance)

• if your occupation is listed as “High Demand” and you meet the specified requirements, employability evidence is not required
• you have access to sufficient financial assets to fund your migration and settlement in Tasmania for at least 6 months while you seek employment

OR

Category 3B – Overseas applicant (Job offer)

*If you are looking for employment opportunities in Tasmania, please refer to the comprehensive resources for on the Make It Tasmania website.

To be considered for this category, you must be living overseas and meet all of the following criteria:

• have received a formal job offer for a job that is based in Tasmania that is in your nominated occupation
• you, or any of your dependents have not have lived in another Australian state or territory within the last 12 months
• your employer must have a well-established business that has been actively operating in Tasmania for the past 12 months
• there needs to be a genuine need for your position within the business. This may be satisfied if there is:
  • an existing, current and genuine need for your position within the business
  • an ongoing need for your position and the capacity for the business to sustain the nominated position

OR

Category 4 – Family in Tasmania

To be considered for this category you must have an IMMEDIATE family member who meets all of the following criteria:

• has been an Australian Permanent Resident or an Australian Citizen for a minimum of 12 months prior to the lodgement of your application
• is currently residing in Tasmania and has been for a minimum of 12 months
• is a parent, brother, sister, child, aunt, uncle, or grandparent
• agrees to support and assist you in the process of gaining employment in Tasmania upon your arrival in Tasmania

Please note: relationships by marriage, such as sister or brother in law, are not acceptable for this category. You (the applicant) must hold the direct relationship with the sponsoring family member.

OR

Category 5 – Small Business Owner

To be considered for this category, you must be living in Tasmania at the time of lodgement of your application and meet the following criteria:

• demonstrate that you have established and operated your business (solely owned) in Tasmania for at least 6 months
• demonstrate that the business is highly likely able to give you a personal income that would meet the minimum taxable income requirement set by Home Affairs for the subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. Currently, that is AU$53,900 per year for at least 3 years in the next 5 years.

All applicants must provide a comprehensive business plan with:

• evidence of thorough research into, and understanding of, the target market
• research and understanding of relevant industry conditions, licensing and/or registration requirements for the business in Tasmania
• realistic market opportunities for the proposed business in Tasmania, particularly where the business would be competing with other similar existing businesses already established in Tasmania.

Additional considerations include the applicant's prior business ownership or business management experience and also the nature of the business and its long-term benefit to Tasmania.

** Franchise and share-owned businesses are not acceptable under this category.

** Service stations, massage clinics and taxi/uber related businesses are not supported under this category. 

You can find helpful information about establishing and running a business in Tasmania on the Business Tasmania website.

An Expression of Interest (EOI) is an indication that you would like to be considered for a skilled visa. An EOI is not a visa application.

An EOI needs to be lodged through SkillSelect which is the Department of Home Affairs’ way of managing who can apply for visas, when they can apply, and how many people can apply at one time. Only those who are receive an invitation on SkillSelect can proceed with applying for a visa.

Once you have lodged an EOI using SkillSelect, you can apply for a Tasmanian Government state nomination through this website.

Find out more information on the EOI and SkillSelect.

Please ensure you have read and understood the nomination requirements before preparing the evidence listed below.

During your state nomination application process, you must provide the following documents before you lodge your application. You may also be contacted to produce additional documents while your application is being assessed. Please ensure that you have attached all the required documentation.

Migration Tasmania may contact the people and organisations listed in your application and supporting documents to verify the information provided. This may include education providers, employers and real estate agents.

It is important that you ensure all the information you provide with your application is complete, relevant, true and correct.

To ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible we suggest you:

• Try to keep the number of documents attached to your application to less than 20 and only include documents applicable to the relevant nomination category.
• Combine similar documents into one PDF document. For example, combine all bank statements into one document. Similarly payslips and employment contracts should be combined into one document.

Please note that:

• Incomplete applications without the appropriate documentation may be refused.
• False or fraudulent information provided in your application or supporting documents will result in your application for nomination being refused. This information may also be passed on to other agencies such as the Department of Home Affairs for further investigation.

MINIMUM DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS for ALL nomination categories

- SkillSelect EOI

Attach a copy of the Expression of Interest (EOI) record of response, which is issued to you once an EOI has been successfully lodged. The record of response details the personal, education, English and employment details as submitted by you.

If you intend to apply for state nomination, Tasmania must be selected as your preferred location on the EOI. If you select ‘any’ or express interest in living in another state or territory you may not meet the criteria to be considered for state nomination in Tasmania.

- Skills Assessment

Attach a copy of the current Skills Assessment you used to create your EOI.

- Declaration of nomination obligations

If you are not using a migration agent, you can confirm that you acknowledge and accept Tasmania’s nomination obligations in the online application.

If you are using a migration agent, you must attach the signed and witnessed declaration that you accept Tasmania’s nomination obligations. You will be prompted to download and complete the form during the application process.

- English

If you do not hold a passport issued by the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, United States of America, or Republic of Ireland attach a current English language proficiency test result (dated within the last three years).

- Commitment to Tasmania statement

If you have been living in Tasmania for the past 12 months or more, explain in your own words, in no more than two pages, why you want to continue living in Tasmania for at least two more years following the granting of a visa and what you believe you can contribute to the Tasmanian economy, community and way of life.

If you are not currently living in Tasmania or recently moved, explain in your own words, in no more than two pages, why you want to live in Tasmania for at least two years from date of permanent arrival, and what you believe you can contribute to the Tasmanian economy, community and way of life.

In writing the Commitment to Tasmania statement, you should include the following points:

• why Tasmania’s lifestyle suits your way of life more than other places in Australia
• include evidence that you have personally researched and understand Tasmania’s lifestyle and attractions
• avoid using statements that are obviously copied from other sources (and not written in your own words)
• if your spouse / partner (if applicable) intends to work, include details of their skills and experience, evidence that they have also researched employment opportunities in Tasmania and that they are satisfied that they will be successful in attaining employment
• if you have studied or lived in another Australian state or territory within the last 12 months indicate why you want to re-settle in Tasmania
• if your spouse / partner or any dependents have studied or lived in another Australian state or territory within the last 12 months indicate whether they will be moving with you to the state, and if not, why not.

- Personal and visa information

Attach a copy of your passport. This must be current (valid for travel purposes) and show your personal details and any pages showing Australian visas. Make sure the personal details entered in your online application match the details on your passport.

Attach a copy of your current visa grant notification. For bridging visa holders, attach a copy of the visa grant notification for the last substantive visa you held as well as the bridging visa grant notification. VEVO print-outs are not sufficient.

If you are currently awaiting AAT or Federal Court review of a decision to refuse or cancel a visa, provide details including the reasons for refusal / cancellation, and a written explanation detailing how you plan to lodge a new visa application if you are nominated.

Attach a copy of your spouse/de facto partner’s passport (if applicable).

If you are using a migration agent you must attach a completed and signed Form 956.

- Work Experience

Attach your up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume which clearly states personal details, educational qualifications and work experience to date.

For overseas applicants with no employment offers, it must be clear that you have enough recent experience in your nominated occupation to be employable in Tasmania.

- Employment

If you have received an offer of employment attach evidence of this offer – such as an employment contract or a formal letter of employment.

If you are currently employed, attach evidence of employment. This must include a copy of your employment contract and your most recent two payslips.

*If you are looking for employment opportunities in Tasmania, please refer to the comprehensive resources on the Make It Tasmania website.

- Living in Tasmania

If you are not an overseas applicant attach bank statements to demonstrate that you are currently living in Tasmania. The statements must show activity such as ATM withdrawals and evidence of income or shopping expenditure.

The bank statements should cover the period since your first arrival in Tasmania to the time you lodge your application.

You should also provide any residential agreements covering the period you have been living in Tasmania.

Also provide evidence that your dependants are living in Tasmania such as proof of employment or bank statements.

- Financial capacity

Attach your signed Declaration of Financial Capacity to show that you have access to sufficient financial resources to fund your settlement in Tasmania (click here for the form). Your signature on the Declaration of Financial Capacity must be witnessed by an authorised person.

You must have access to funds to support your settlement while you are securing employment in Tasmania. If you have not already secured employment in Tasmania, you need to be realistic about employment expectations once you arrive in the state as it can take six months or longer to secure employment. Your ability to secure employment quickly will depend on your research of the Tasmanian labour market and the relevance of your skill set and experience to the market.

You are not required to provide documentary evidence to support your financial position with your application. However, you must be able to provide such documents if requested by your case officer.

- Nomination by another Australian state/territory

If you have a current application awaiting consideration or have previously applied to another Australian state or territory for state nomination or a skilled migration visa, you must attach a statement explaining why you are now applying for state nomination in Tasmania.

- Family relationships

Provide details of family members intending to migrate with you, including their skills, employment background, and any current employment.

If you have family living in other parts of Australia, attach a statement explaining why you have chosen to live in Tasmania and not with them in their state/territory.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS - category specific

Category 1: Tasmanian Graduate

- Australian qualifications

If you have completed a CRICOS course at a Tasmanian tertiary institution, attach evidence of your educational qualifications, academic transcript and a completion letter from the institution.

- Employability statement

While current employment is not mandatory for this category, you must provide details of how your study, and your previous skills and experience, will enable you to settle in and contribute to Tasmania. If your study has been in an area that is not related to an occupation on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List you need to explain your career plan and how your studies have increased your ability to find skilled work in Tasmania. This may include areas unrelated to your Tasmanian study. See the Career Plan section on our International Student Graduates page for more information.

- Employment evidence

If you have received an offer of employment attach evidence of this offer.

More guidance for Tasmanian Graduates can be found on our International Student Graduates page.

Category 2: Working in Tasmania

- Employment evidence

You must attach 6 months of payslips and bank statements showing evidence of salary payments and deposits from your employer.

If your employment is for a position at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, your employer must provide proof of efforts to recruit from the local labour market. The following need to be included together with your application:

• evidence that your employer has made a genuine effort to recruit locals (Australian citizens/permanent residents) but were unsuccessful. Please include copies of the advertisements your employer has posted in open-to-public platforms, such as University of Tasmania Career hub, Tasmanian vocational institutions, Jobactive, local newspapers and from on-line sources or social media
• a selection report including information on applications received and why no local applicants were suitable for the position as well as details and expenses of any advertising the employer conducted. There is no prescribed format for this report, however it is important that all of the points above are covered. If this evidence does not accompany your nomination application or is insufficient, it will be refused.

Category 3A: Overseas applicant (TSOL)

- Employability

Unless your occupation is listed as High Demand on the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List attach evidence that there are currently sufficient employment opportunities in your nominated occupation that are relevant to your skill set and recent experience. The evidence must include:

• Personal research into recent advertised positions relevant to the nominated occupation (a minimum of five vacancies and not more than eight. You must provide a copy of the full advertisement (saved as a .pdf):
• It is essential that the date of the job advertisement as well as the location of the job are clearly displayed
• Web links alone are not acceptable and, if provided without the accompanying advertisement, will result in the criterion not being met
• An employment statement for each advertisement. You must explain how your qualifications, knowledge and experience relate to and meet the requirements for each of the job advertisements.

Please note:

• You must be able to demonstrate that you have the relevant qualifications, skill set and work experience etc. to meet the criteria of the advertised position; for example if the position requires:
  • a certain number of years relevant work experience: you must have that experience
  • a minimum qualification: you must hold that qualification
  • Australian work experience: you must have that experience

It is not enough to merely state that you meet a requirement in the advertisement – you must clearly explain, using examples, how you have the skills and experience to meet that requirement

• Job advertisements must be recent. Advertisements must be dated no more than six weeks before submission of the application
• Job advertisements must be relevant to the nominated occupation; for example:
  • if the nominated occupation is a Real Estate Agent we will not accept jobs for Property Manager
  • if the nominated occupation is HR Advisor we will not accept jobs for recruitment consultants
  • if the nominated occupation is for a manager, we will not accept assistant, support or junior positions

- Settlement statement

If you are applying under Category 3A – Overseas Applicant, you must provide a statement showing that you have researched the cost of living in Tasmania and that you have a sound understanding of the settlement costs involved while you seek employment.

If you are using a migration agent you must attach a settlement statement that includes:

• Evidence of research into the cost of living in Tasmania, including rent, food, transport and entertainment.
• Estimated cost of relocation to Tasmania in Australian Dollars, including but not limited to: flights; freight; and initial accommodation.
• Estimated cost of living in Tasmania for you and any dependants, in Australian Dollars.

If you are not using a migration agent, the settlement research is included as part of the online application.

From 16 November 2019 all visa state nomination applications will incur a FEE FOR SERVICE of $220 (incl. GST).

** Subclass 491 applications are NOW OPEN **

The application for nomination must be completed online through this website.

The assessment of the application for state nomination will be based solely on the supporting documents provided at the time of application. If the application is incomplete, or it does not meet the nomination criteria, the application will be refused. You will be notified of the outcome of your application by email.

Multiple nominations are not permitted and so applicants granted a Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa will not be able reapply for a Subclass 190 in the future. The Subclass 491 visa provides a pathway to permanent residency by way of a Subclass 191 visa. Previous state nominees supported for a Subclass 489 visa will need to follow the pathway to permanent residency by way of the Subclass 887 visa.

Apply

Individuals (not using an agent):

Individuals who are not using an agent may apply directly for state nomination without creating an account.

Apply (individuals)

Resume applications (individuals)

Migration agents:

Migration agents lodging an application on behalf of a client must create an agency account.

Login (agents)

Processing times

Processing times may vary depending on the quantity and quality of the applications lodged and also if further information has been requested (either from you or external parties). Please do not enquire about the progress of your application during the assessment period. Progress enquiries can delay application processing.

Visa processing times will be updated regularly and feature on the NEWS section of this website.

If your application for state nomination has been approved you will be notified of the outcome of the application by email with an offer of state nomination. The offer is valid for 60 days from the date of approval.

In addition, you will receive an invitation from SkillSelect to apply for a visa based on the EOI you have submitted to the Department of Home Affairs . Once the invitation is issued, you will not be able to make further changes to your EOI. You must respond to the visa invitation and apply for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) with the Department of Home Affairs within 60 days of the invitation being issued.

If the visa application is not lodged within 60 days, the offer of state nomination will expire. Extensions will not be granted. If an offer has expired, you will need to reapply for state nomination with a new application.

Disclaimer

Please note that if any information provided to us at the time of nomination (or lack of information), is at a later date found to be incorrect or misleading, and you would not have otherwise been supported for nomination, the Tasmanian Government reserves the right to inform the relevant authority whenever appropriate. It is your responsibility to inform both the Tasmanian Government and the Department of Home Affairs, of any changes to your circumstances. Please refer to the following link for more information. Lack of notification of changes in circumstances may result in a withdrawal of nomination and visa cancellation.

When your skilled migration visa application is decided by the Department of Home Affairs and, if approved, you will also have agreed to the below conditions to prove that you have and will fulfil the ongoing obligations of the visa’s intent.

Inform us of visa grant

You must inform the Tasmanian Government of the outcome of the application for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) and, if you are living overseas, the expected date of your arrival in Tasmania by email to skilled@migration.tas.gov.au.

When you email us you must attach a copy of your visa grant notification.

Contact us when you arrive

You must contact the Tasmanian Government within one month of your first arrival in Australia by email to skilled@migration.tas.gov.au.

Live and work in Tasmania

You must live and work in Tasmania for at least two years from the date the visa is granted (for those already residing in Tasmania) or from the date of first arrival into Tasmania (for those who do not currently reside here).

Complete surveys

The Tasmanian Government will periodically email you surveys after your visa is granted. You must complete these surveys as a condition of your nomination.

Notify of changes to contact details

Keep us informed of any changes to your contact details in Tasmania for 24 months after the granting of your visa / arrival in Tasmania

Disclaimer

The Tasmanian Government is not responsible for finding employment, accommodation or providing financial incentive or assistance to state nominated visa holders or other skilled migrants. Tasmanian Government nomination is exclusive to Tasmania and is not transferable to any other state or territory in Australia.