Can a Family Member Sponsor Your Visa to Australia?

The Australian immigration embassy has launched the family visa to reunite families. Couples, parents, kids, and other family members can immigrate to this country under specific restrictions. In essence, Australian nationals, residents of this nation on permanent visas, and eligible New Zealand nationals sponsor these visas.

For skilled workers under 45 in rural Australia, the Family Sponsored stream of the Skilled Work Rural (subclass 491) Visa is a provisional 5-year visa. If you meet specific income and residency standards, it offers a direct route to permanent residence three years following the date. You must be sponsored by an “eligible relative,” as the stream’s name implies, and your application must be approved before you may be given a visa.

Family-sponsored visa Subclass 491

The Family-Sponsored Visa 491, which allows you to live and work in one of Australia’s specified regional areas, can be obtained if you have a qualifying family member who can sponsor you. 

This visa enables you to:

• Remaining in Australia for five years,
• live, work, and attend school in a defined Australian regional area,
• You may make as many visits to and from Australia as you like while the visa is valid,
• If qualified, submit an application for permanent residence using the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa subclass 191.

After three years of possession, the 491 Family Sponsored Visa offers a direct route to permanent residence. Those who continue to reside and work in a particular Australian regional region will be qualified to switch to the subclass 191 visa.

Also Read: Australia Subclass 189 Visa Vs Subclass 491 Visa: Which One Should I Go For?

Essential eligibility criteria

To obtain a visa 491, you must reach the following eligibility criteria:

• The minimum age requirement is 45 or less.
• You must be employed in a profession on the applicable skilled occupation list.
• ‘Competent English’ must be demonstrated by you.
• You must have received a favourable skills evaluation from the appropriate authority regarding your chosen employment.
• To be eligible to apply for a visa, you must have the required Points Test score at the time of the invitation.
• You must meet health and character requirements, and you must be nominated by an eligible relative who resides in a defined

An application for a 491 visa must be sponsored by someone who is:

• Older than 18 years old;
• living in a specific Australian regional area;

• A qualifying citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand; and
• Someone who is legally related to you or your partner.

Any of the following relatives are eligible:

• the parent
• a kid or stepkid
• a brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, adoptive brother, or adoptive sister.
• a niece, nephew, step-aunt, step-uncle, adoptive aunt, or step-uncle
• a step-nephew, step-niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, or a step-niece
• an elderly relative
• an initial cousin

The Procedure for Applying for a 491 Family-Sponsored Visa

The application process for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) consists of three steps. Instead of applying on your own, you must enlist the help of a migration agent in Perth.

Stage 1

The first step in the application procedure is to complete a skills evaluation with the appropriate government agency. Depending on your skills evaluation, the Department of Home Affairs can decide if you possess the knowledge level required for work in Australia.

Stage 2

After receiving a positive skills evaluation, you must submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. Either within Australia or abroad, you can carry this out. Additionally, you must be sponsored by a qualifying relative. The relative must reside in a specific region of Australia and be no more distant than a first cousin.

Stage 3

You can submit your final, comprehensive application for the Australian Government’s approval after receiving an invitation to apply. This visa is subject to priority processing provisions, which set the order in which the department evaluates applications, regardless of when they were submitted.

The 491 visa sponsor processing time is 6-22 months for 90% of applications. Processing times can change depending on how well your application is written. Additionally, delays may result from the volume of applications and the number of available visas. Discuss your case with migration consultant Perth to avoid unnecessary delay in visa processing. The goal of the discussion is to thoroughly examine your case, determine your eligibility, and provide the attorney with the chance to develop a visa strategy unique to your circumstances.

Summary

For qualified individuals desiring to live and work in regional Australia, the 491 family-sponsored visa is available. You must receive at least 65 points to be eligible to apply for a 491 family-sponsored visa. Additionally, you require sponsorship from a close relative who resides in a remote area of Australia.

Education Agent Perth is accessible to guide and assist applicants throughout the process, and a Registered Immigration Agent Perth supports their knowledge and competence. So, You will get an Invitation to Apply if you have obtained sponsorship from a qualifying relative and satisfy the fundamental requirements for this visa.