Subclass 491 · Skilled migration · State or territory nominated, and family sponsored
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
The subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa for skilled workers who will live and work in a designated regional area, which is everywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Regional nomination or eligible family sponsorship adds 15 points, the largest single points boost available. After three years of meeting its conditions you move to the permanent 191.
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- Stay period
- 5 years provisional
- Permanent residence
- Yes, PR or a pathway to it
- Points tested
- Yes, 65 points needed to be invited
- Age limit
- Under 45 at the date of invitation
- Base application charge
- From about AUD 4,770 for the primary applicant
- Processing time
- Roughly 6 to 12 months after invitation
- English requirement
- Competent English to qualify; higher levels add points
- Work experience
- Set by the nominating state or covered by family sponsorship rules
- Skilled occupation list
- Regional occupation lists, broader than the 189 list
Who it’s for
You need a positive skills assessment, an occupation on the relevant regional list, 65 points including the 15-point regional bonus, competent English, to be under 45 at invitation, and either:
- Nomination by a state or territory government for one of its regional areas, or
- Sponsorship by an eligible relative who lives in a designated regional area
Pathway to permanent residence
Live in a designated regional area and have taxable income at or above a set threshold (currently AUD 53,900) for at least 3 years while on the 491, then apply for the subclass 191 permanent visa. Time on a 494 also counts toward the 191.
What counts as regional
Everywhere except the Greater Sydney, Greater Melbourne, and Greater Brisbane metropolitan areas. Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, Newcastle, and Wollongong are all regional for this visa.
The 15 points
Regional nomination or family sponsorship is worth 15 points, compared with 5 for the 190. That often turns an uncompetitive 189 profile into an easy invitation.
Getting to permanent residence
The 191 opened in November 2022. You need three years on the 491 with regional residence and three years of income above the threshold, evidenced by ATO notices of assessment. You do not need to still be working in your nominated occupation.
Family-sponsored stream
If a parent, sibling, or child who is a settled Australian citizen or permanent resident lives in a regional area, they can sponsor you without any state involvement. Invitation rounds for this stream are small, often a few hundred places.
Visa conditions
Condition 8579 requires you to live, work, and study only in a designated regional area. Condition 8578 requires you to tell Home Affairs within 14 days if your address, employer, or other circumstances change. Breaching these can end the visa and block the 191.
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): common questions
How much does the subclass 491 visa cost?
The base application charge for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is From about AUD 4,770 for the primary applicant. Family members you include each pay an additional charge, and there are separate costs for health checks, police certificates, and skills assessments.
How long does the subclass 491 visa take to process?
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is generally processed in Roughly 6 to 12 months after invitation. Times vary with your occupation, how complete your application is, and demand at the time.
Does the subclass 491 visa lead to permanent residence?
Live in a designated regional area and have taxable income at or above a set threshold (currently AUD 53,900) for at least 3 years while on the 491, then apply for the subclass 191 permanent visa. Time on a 494 also counts toward the 191.
What is the age limit for the subclass 491 visa?
Under 45 at the date of invitation. Age is assessed at a specific point in the process, usually the date of invitation or application, so check exactly when before you plan around it.
How many points do I need for the subclass 491 visa?
You need at least 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest, but 65 rarely gets an invitation. Recent rounds have invited trades occupations near 65, most professional occupations from about 75, and ICT and accounting from 90 or higher. Work out your score with our points calculator.
How long can I stay on the subclass 491 visa?
5 years provisional.
Recent invitation rounds
Full history| Round | Stream | Invitations | Min points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Aug 2025 | Family Sponsored | 150 | 65 |
Not sure where you stand? Work out your points for the 491 and related visas.
This is general information, not immigration advice. Visa criteria change often, so always confirm the current rules on the Department of Home Affairs website or with a registered migration agent before you apply.