Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 495)
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Permanent visa options
After you have lived and worked in Australia on a Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495), there are several permanent visas that you can apply for.
See: Pathways to permanent residency
See also: Concessions for the State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892)
If you hold a Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495) and you need more time to meet the residence and/or employment criteria for a permanent visa, you can apply for a Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487), which will extend your provisional visa for a further 12 months.
See: Existing Provisional Visa holders
Adding family members to your subclass 495 visa
If you currently hold a Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495), your partner, dependent children and other dependent relatives can still apply to accompany you in Australia if they were not included in your original application. They should apply for a Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495) using Form 47SK.
See: Form 47SK (162KB PDF file)
Note: This form can only be used by partners and dependants of Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) (subclass 495) visa holders and Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) (subclass 496) visa holders.
Costs
Family members who are added after a visa has been granted (also know as subsequent entrants), must pay the full first instalment Visa Application Charge (VAC) of their application.
Second Instalment
Subsequent entrants may be liable to pay a second instalment VAC if they were aged 18 years or over at the time of application and do not have functional English.
If the case officer notifies you that the second instalment VAC is due, it must be paid before the visa can be granted.
Where and how an application must be lodged
Subsequent entrants must lodge their visa 495 application by post or courier to the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre.
See: General Skilled Migration Processing Centres
Location
Your family members can be in or outside Australia at the time they apply to be added to your subclass 495 visa and in or outside Australia when their visa is granted.