Subclass 491
This visa allows you to reside in Australia for a duration of five years starting from the date of visa approval. Moreover, you can live, work, and study in a specific region of Australia and travel to and from the country as many times as you want, as long as your visa remains valid. If you qualify, you can also apply for permanent residency through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191). However, you must hold your subclass 491 visa for three years before applying for any other permanent visas.
Designated regional area:
It is necessary for you and all accompanying family members to reside, work, and study in a designated regional area of Australia. If your nomination is withdrawn, your visa will not be granted.
Including Family Members:
You can include your family members in your application by adding them when you submit your visa application or by adding a dependent child after submission but before a decision on your visa application has been made. All family members applying for the visa must meet the health and character requirements of Australia. Those who are not accompanying you to Australia may also need to meet these requirements. If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, please provide a reason why, such as their Australian citizenship or permanent residency status.
Please note that processing times may vary depending on individual circumstances. These include whether your application is complete, how quickly you respond to requests for more information, and the time it takes to perform necessary checks on your supporting documents. External agencies may also affect processing times, especially in relation to health, character, and national security requirements.