491 Visa Processing Time:
What to Expect

How Long Does 491 Visa Take to Process

Australia is one of the most preferred destinations among migrant workers and international students because of the country’s incredible employment opportunities. Obtaining legal residency, work, and study privileges in Australia is possible with a variety of visa options, including subclass 491 visa.

Just like every type of visa, it has its estimated processing time that allows applicants to set proper expectations and make plans. In this blog post, we’ll talk about Australia visa 491 processing time, factors affecting the length it takes to finalise the review of individual applications, and more.

What is Subclass 491 Visa?

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa is a provisional visa that enables skilled migrant workers to work in regional parts of Australia by being nominated by a state territory or sponsorship from a qualified relative living in a designated regional area.

As a first major step, applicants need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to demonstrate their intent to be invited, nominated, or sponsored for this visa. Moreover, it is a points-tested work visa with an age restriction of 45 years old. It is valid for five (5) years. Holders of this temporary visa can apply for permanent residence three (3) years after the grant of their provisional visa.

491 Visa Processing Time After Invitation

After formally receiving an invitation from a state territory, government agency, or having an eligible family member sponsor you, you have about sixty (60) days to respond to the invitation by lodging your application.

Based on the most recent data, here are the estimated Australian 491 visa processing time for your general reference (applies to both main applicants and subsequent entrants):

• 25% of applications – 5 months
• 50% of applications – 12 months
• 75% of applications – 15 months
• 90% of applications – 20 months

Factors Affecting 491 Visa Australia Processing Time

Finally lodging your application could be both fulfilling and nerve-wracking at the same time. Waiting for it to be reviewed, processed, and finalised can be likewise stressful. However, it’s important to learn that processing times vary, and that the estimated timeline provided above does not represent all applications.

It could take even longer (or shorter) depending on the following factors:

• Volume of applications
• Completeness of submitted documents
• Accuracy of submitted requirements
• Responding to request for additional information
• Other uncontrollable circumstances

Volume of applications

There are 15,000 places allocated annually for this five-year skilled regional visa. The Department of Home Affairs may take longer than usual to process individual requirements if they are receiving a higher volume of applications.

Completeness of submitted documents

You also have a role to play in whether or not your application gets to be processed on time. Having said that, if you submitted complete documentary requirements, then your visa may be processed faster or, at the very least, not be delayed for long.

Accuracy of submitted requirements

You may have submitted complete documents, but are they all correct and accurate? If there are inconsistencies that will raise suspicion among the reviewing officers, they may even refuse your visa, which results in your application being delayed as you may need to file for an appeal.

Responding to request for add’l information

If the Department deems it necessary to ask for more information to further assess your overall eligibility, they will notify you and request for additional information. If you fail to promptly respond to such requests, then the 491 visa processing time will take even longer.

Other uncontrollable circumstances

There may be a change of plans or priorities within the Department that may affect the processing times of virtually all applications. The time it takes to obtain vital information from outside agencies involved in security, character, and health checks also impacts visa processing timelines.

Australia 491 Visa Processing Time: Tips for a Smoother Applications

While the following tips do not guarantee speedier processing times, they can at least help you prevent scenarios that you can actually control. Without further ado, keep in mind the following tips to make sure your application is nothing short of smooth-sailing:

Prepare a checklist of documents

When applying for any type of visa, preparation is a very important step. It ensures that you will submit all pertinent documents required. Do this by having a checklist of the documentary requirements and make sure you have all of them in one place.

Ensure everything is complete and correct

Before clicking the send or submit button, review whether you have attached all necessary documents and that all information indicated in each document is error-free.

Respond to request for additional information ASAP

Though you may have submitted complete documents, the Department may still ask for more evidence from you to establish your eligibility. As such, you must promptly respond to their request to avoid further delays on your application journey.

Consider hiring a visa specialist

Overwhelmed? That’s only valid. The amount of paperwork may be too much and the legal terms may be daunting. Consider consulting with and hiring an immigration expert who could help you better understand Australia’s ever-changing migration laws and visa requirements.