Victoria’s 491 Graduate Pathway is Back with No Regional Work Requirement

Great News! Victoria’s 491 Graduate Pathway is Back with No Regional Work Requirement! Graduates in Melbourne Can Also Apply!

🎓 Who is Eligible?

• Victorian graduates holding a Subclass 500 (Student Visa) or Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate Visa)

• Residing in Victoria (including Melbourne)

• Declared Victorian qualifications in your EOI

📝 Key Points of the New Victoria 491 Visa Policy:

• No need for a regional job offer or work experience, Melbourne residents can apply!

• Once granted, applicants must reside in regional Victoria for three years to be eligible for PR.

• Quota Reservation: The Victorian Premier has promised to reserve at least 500 491 visa places for local graduates, accounting for 25% of the total quota.

• Applicants currently living outside Victoria or overseas are not eligible.

💰 Income Declaration Tips:

• You can declare your income if you are working in regional Victoria. Melbourne-based income is not accepted. If not working in regional areas, declare “0” in the ROI.

📢 Priority Occupations for Victoria 491 Visa:

1. Health: Nursing and other health-related roles

2. Social Services: Social workers, support roles

3. Education: Including early childhood education

4. Construction: Architects, Quantity Surveyors (QS), Structural Engineers, Construction Project Managers, Building Technicians

5. New Energy: Renewable energy professionals

6. Digital Economy (491 visa only)

7. Advanced Manufacturing (491 visa only)

8. Hospitality and Tourism (491 visa only)

Priority Processing:

• Construction-related occupations are now given priority processing by the Department of Home Affairs, including Architects, QS, Structural Engineers, Project Managers, and Building Technicians.

• Civil engineers are not included in the priority list, but recent cases show faster processing times.

👥 Ideal Candidates:

• Graduates residing in Melbourne or regional Victoria

• Applicants in high-demand occupations (like IT) who are uncertain about receiving a 190 visa invitation

• Applicants without relevant work or low income

• Those willing to reside in regional Victoria and looking to secure a pathway to PR

📌 Important Notes:

1. Victorian graduates living in other states or overseas are not eligible.

2. Current 500 visa holders who have not yet graduated, even if they have a skills assessment, are not eligible.

3. 491 is not a PR visa; you need to live in regional areas for three years to apply for PR.

For those who prefer not to compete for 190 or find it challenging, but are willing to live in regional Victoria, the 491 is a fantastic option!✨