Congrats for your 491 visa grants! Could you kindly share your timeline (when did you submit your visa application and when is the grant date?)

Based on this video, you even can stay offshore and after holding 491 for 3 years, you can successfully apply and obtain the 191 visa.

Hope this is correct. Cheers!

 

Thanks for the video, buddy. Timeline as follows; EOI date: 09/02/2025 Points: 95 for 491 NSW Pre-Invite: 21/02/2025 Nomination Approval and Invite: 04/03/2025 491 Application: 24/03/2025 Medicals cleared: 09/04/2025 Visa grant: 30/07/2025 Since, Psychotherapist is a priority occupation - the CO assessment and grant was quick. Much appreciated if @RDStranger or @NB could share their insights on my questions. Thank you

 

My partner and I have been granted the 491 visa. She is the primary applicant (Psychotherapist), and I am the secondary (dependent) applicant. According to the visa grant letter, we must comply with the following visa conditions:
8578 – Must notify of certain changes
8579 – Must live, work and/or study in a designated regional area
8580 – Must provide evidence of residential addresses if requested
8581 – Must attend an interview if requested

I plan to travel to Australia first to activate our visas and start living and working in a regional area, while my partner will remain offshore to complete her PhD (expected to finish by June 2026) and then move to Australia to live in the designated regional area.

My question is:
Can I (as the secondary applicant) meet the visa conditions by living and working in a regional area while the primary applicant (my partner) stays outside Australia for several months?
Will this impact her compliance with visa conditions or affect our eligibility for the 191 visa later, given that the primary applicant won’t be living in a regional area until mid-next year?

Thanks so much!

The visa is granted for 5 years, it's upto you whether you spent 2 years out of 5 in Australia, or 3 or 4 or 5, or none. For 191 eligibility you will need to check what the requirements, 2 years residence is one I am aware of, I am sure there would be others

 

Hello all, Request if someone can guide me for any latest update over 491 visa grant, offshore.
Visa lodged: 7 July 2023
CO contacted: 11 August 2025
s56: Functional English proof or a letter for second VAC charges.
Re-medicals
I submitted all documents on 15 August 2025, and re-medical cleared on 18 August 2025.
Presently residing in Dubai, UAE

Since then there is no update from CO.
Any suggestions to when I can expect a link for payment or grant. Because as per my understanding a grant is imminent once a CO asks for second payment of VAC. I will appreciate a contribution to my query, please. Thanks.

 

Hello all, Request if someone can guide me for any latest update over 491 visa grant, offshore.
Visa lodged: 7 July 2023
CO contacted: 11 August 2025
s56: Functional English proof or a letter for second VAC charges.
Re-medicals
I submitted all documents on 15 August 2025, and re-medical cleared on 18 August 2025.
Presently residing in Dubai, UAE

Since then there is no update from CO.
Any suggestions to when I can expect a link for payment or grant. Because as per my understanding a grant is imminent once a CO asks for second payment of VAC. I will appreciate a contribution to my query, please. Thanks.

If you have already replied (and I hope you have clicked that button to confirm that you have uploaded all docs) to the S56 there is nothing you can do but wait patiently again for the final grant or further request from CO. Hopefully you will hear from them soon. Good luck