Skilled Sponsored (Provisional) Visa – Visa Subclass 490

This visa is for individuals who are sponsored by a relative living in certain regions of Australia. It is a temporary visa that can lead to permanent residency if certain conditions, such as living and working in a designated area, are met. The visa is valid for four years.

Eligibility Criteria

The process of obtaining this visa is separated into two stages. First, an Expression of Interest (EOI) must be submitted through the online SkillSelect system. After receiving an Invitation from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, the final visa application can be filed.

EOI

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

• Be under the age of 45
• Have a nominated occupation that is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
• Obtain a positive and valid skill assessment for your nominated occupation from the relevant assessment body
• Score at least a "competent" level in an English language test
• Score a minimum of 65 points on the Skilled Migration Points Test
• Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

After submitting an EOI, to proceed with the final visa application, you must:

• Receive an Invitation from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection
• Prove that you meet the points score and all other eligibility criteria outlined in your EOI
• Pass both the health and character requirements.

Benefits of this Sub class 490 visa

With this visa, you and your family members are able to:

• Live and work in Australia for a four-year period from the date of visa grant
• Apply for permanent residency visa (subclass 887) after fulfilling the residence and work requirements
• Be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship, subject to meeting the residency requirements
• Travel in and out of Australia for the duration of the visa's validity.

Steps to apply for Visa Subclass 490

The Visa Subclass 490 application process consists of three stages:

Step 1: This includes completing a skills assessment for your nominated occupation from a relevant assessing body and obtaining the required English language score to be eligible to apply for an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Step 2: After receiving a positive skills assessment and English language score, you will need to submit an EOI through SkillSelect and secure sponsorship from an eligible relative residing in a designated area of Australia.

Step 3: After receiving an invitation to apply from the department, you will have 60 days to submit your final visa application. To be granted the visa, you must meet all the criteria listed in your EOI.

Note:

It's important to note that the Subclass 490 visa has specific living and work requirements that must be met to obtain Permanent Residency. These include:

Living requirement: You must have lived in a designated area of Australia for at least two years.

Work requirement: You must have worked full-time for at least one year in the designated area of Australia. This requirement can be met through working in your nominated occupation or another field.

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