The 491 visa, Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa enables eligible skilled workers and their families to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years. Visa holders are eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence (subclass 191) visa after three years. Applicants for this visa must be nominated by:
- an Australian state or territory government agency or
- Sponsored by an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area and be invited to apply for the visa, following submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect.
Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa replaced the 489 visa. The 491 visa is a skilled and a points tested visa . It has a 45 year age limit and requires a positive skills assessment.
| New | Replaces |
|---|---|
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) | Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – first provisional stream |
The visa validity period is 5 years. Condition 8579 is imposed, which reflects the government’s intention that visa holders live, work and study only in regional areas. Visa holders may move between regional areas. Regional areas are defined as any area excluding Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Perth and Gold Coast are classified as regional areas. You may work in any occupation and for any employer in line with the work and residence conditions attached to your visa.
Holders of these provisional visas are also unable to apply for most other skills based visas in Australia unless they have completed at least three years in a designated regional area, unless exceptional circumstances exist. Additionally, similar to current arrangements for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa program, holders of the new provisional visas can be negatively impacted by sponsor non-compliance.
The 491 visa permanent pathway is:
- Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional): To meet the requirements of the permanent visa applicants must have held a subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years, have complied with the conditions on that visa. You must provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years, but no minimum income amount currently applies (see 191 visa income requirements).
Related: 191 visa income requirements
Effect on current 489 visa to 887 visa pathway:
The Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 489) is now closed to new applicants. Transitional arrangements are put in place for applications which have been lodged and are undecided, as well as applicants whose pathway currently targets the permanent Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 887).
Points for 491 applicants
As well as the standard points for age, qualifications, overseas and Australian work experience, Australian study and English, 491 applicants can claim:
- 15 points for nomination by a State or Territory government agency or sponsorship by a family member residing in regional Australia, to live and work in regional Australia;
- 10 points for certain Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) qualifications;
Partner Points
- 10 points, if one of the following apply:
- skilled spouse or de facto partner (Skills assessment and Competent English); or
- applicants without a spouse or de facto partner (single) or
- 5 points: if your partner has Competent English. Your partner can be over 45 years of age and does not need a Skills Assessment.
Skilled visa guides
- Skilled visas Australia
- Skilled Independent visa (189)
- Skilled Nominated visa (190)
- Skilled Work Regional visa (491)
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (191)
- Temporary Graduate visa (485)
- National Innovation visa (858)
- Skilled visa points table
- Skilled occupation list
- Skilled visa costs
- Skilled visa processing times
- Skilled visa assessment
Summary of the 491 visa:
- 14,110 places allocated in 2026-27
- be on the 491 occupations list
- Must be sponsored by an eligible relative or state authority
- Points tested
- Visa will be granted for initially 5 years
- Must live and work for 3 years in regional areas to get Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 Visa
- 191 visa income requirements
- Regional Australia is everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- You may move between regions- Regional areas include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.
- Cannot apply for most other skilled visas until you have held the 491 for 3 years
- Visa application charge from 1 July 2026: $6,140 for the main applicant, $3,070 for each additional applicant 18 and over and $1,535 for each child under 18
Benefits of the 491 visa:
- Priority processing of regional applications
- Incentives for migrants to stay in regional areas longer term as they build ties through workforce and community participation- access to medicare
- More points available to subclass 491 visa applicants
Ranking systems for an invitation to apply for a 491 visa
- First: Applicant with a skilled partner OR applicants without a partner
- Second: Applicant with a partner who can demonstrate Competent English (but does not have the skills for skilled partner points)
- Third: Applicant with a partner who is ineligible for either competent English or Skilled partner points.
Migration definitions
| Definition | Locations | Regional incentives |
| Major Cities | Sydney
Melbourne Brisbane |
– NA |
| Cities and major regional centres | Perth
Adelaide Gold Coast Sunshine Coast Canberra Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Wollongong/Illawarra Geelong Hobart |
– Access to dedicated regional visa places (14,110 places for the 491 in 2026-27).
– Priority processing on regional visas. – Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International students studying at regional universities can access an additional 1 year in Australia on a post-study work visa. |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All other locations | – Access to dedicated regional visa places (14,110 places for the 491 in 2026-27).
– Priority processing on regional visas. – Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International students studying at regional universities can access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa. – Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs). |
491 Visa State Nomination Requirements
Each state and territory has its own priority occupations, and variations in eligibility requirements and application processes.
State Nomination Requirements from each state and territory (Subclass 190 and 491):
- TAS – Tasmania Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements
- VIC – Victoria – Skilled Migration Nomination Requirement
- ACT – Government Nomination Requirements
- NT – Northern Territory – Government Nomination Requirements
- WA – Western Australia – State Nominated Migration Requirements
- QLD – Queensland – Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements
- SA – South Australia – Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements
- NSW – New South Wales – Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements
Related: State requirements for 491 visa
Sponsorship by an eligible relative (Family stream)
Please note that for the 491 family stream your occupation must be on the MLTSSL list. Your sponsor must be:
- 18 years old or older
- usually resident in a designated area of Australia
- be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen
- be your or your partner’s eligible relative
An eligible relative can be:
- a parent
- a child or step-child
- a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister
- an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle
- a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece
- a grandparent, or
- a first cousin
Sponsorship must be approved before you can be granted a visa.
Related: Family Sponsored 491 visa
Do the sponsor and the applicant need to reside in the same State/Territory?
There is no requirement in policy or the regulations that the sponsor and applicant must live in the same regional area, however, the sponsor must continue to meet all the sponsorship requirements that they have agreed to, regardless of where they are each living.”
How VisaEnvoy can help you with your 491 Visa application
Based in Melbourne, VisaEnvoy’s registered migration agents provide comprehensive online migration services to clients across Australia and overseas, including those who have never visited Australia.
We guide you through the Subclass 491 visa process, from your initial eligibility assessment to the final decision on your Australian permanent residency application.
Our services include:
- Eligibility and Skills Assessment: Assessing your qualifications and work experience, checking whether your nominated occupation is on the relevant skilled occupation lists, and assisting with your skills assessment application.
- State Nomination and Points Assessment: Assessing your eligibility for state and territory nomination programs, taking into account your current location. If you are already living in Australia, we will prioritise assessing nomination opportunities in your current state or territory. We will also review your points score, identify which points you can legitimately claim, and explore suitable nomination options.
- EOI and State Nomination Applications: Preparing and submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI) and Registration of Interest (ROI), where required. If invited by a state or territory, we will assist with preparing and lodging your nomination application and supporting documents.
- 491 Visa Application: Once your state nomination is approved and you receive an invitation to apply for the visa, we will prepare and lodge your Subclass 491 visa application, including eligible family members.
- Bridging Visa Management: Assisting with relevant bridging visa applications and conditions, where applicable, to help you maintain lawful immigration status in Australia while your application is being processed.
- Ongoing Application Support: Liaising with relevant authorities, responding to requests for further information, and monitoring your application until a decision is made.
Where to Start?
Book a consultation with registered migration agent to take the first step towards your Subclass 491 Visa.
Have a suitable skills assessment
For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at time of invitation. You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application. For medical and legal practitioners, we also accept the following as proof of a skills assessment:
- full or unconditional or general medical registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency
- conditional specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. This only allows you to practise in your speciality. You need no further training or supervision
- admission to practice law in the relevant state or territory
Your skills assessment must have been obtained in the 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the assessment was for a shorter period, that period must not have passed. If your skills were assessed on the basis of a qualification you got in Australia when you held a student visa, the qualification must be from studying a course registered on CRICOS.
I’m in Australia and want to Stay in Australia
You can stay in Australia on a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
If you wish to stay longer, you must apply for a new visa before your current visa expires.
You may be able to get a bridging visa. This will allow you to stay until:
- you have a new visa or,
- have made arrangements to leave.
If your visa has expired or is expiring book a consultation to discuss your options.
State invitation rounds
491 Visa FAQ
Is 491 a permanent residency visa?
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) allows skilled migrants to live, study and work in designated regional areas for a period of 5 years, with a pathway to permanent residency. You must receive nomination from a state or territory before you can apply for this visa.
What is the new rule for 491 visa?
Workers who are granted the 491 visa will be able to stay in Australia for 5 years from the date the visa is granted, be eligible to travel to and from Australia as many times as you like during that time, and you’ll be able to apply for permanent Australian residence through the 191 visa.
How long does it take to get PR after 491?
Can I apply for citizenship after 491 visa?
If you are a permanent resident you can apply for Australian citizenship after having lived in Australia for four years in total while holding any kind of visa, and after having lived in Australia for 12 months as a permanent resident.
Can I apply for PR while on 491 visa?
If you live and work in a regional area for three years on the subclass 491 visa and meet the requirements for at least three years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.
What happens after 5 years of permanent residency in Australia?
After 5 years, your travel facility expires. You will need to apply for and be granted either: a Resident Return visa – if you wish to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. Australian citizenship – if you wish to travel as an Australian citizen.
Contact us today to speak with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne and find more about your visa options.
