Sponsorship by an eligible relative for 491 visa
Among the requirements of the 491 visa family stream is that you must be sponsored by an eligible family member. 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.
How family sponsorship for the 491 visa works
The family-sponsored stream of the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) lets an eligible relative sponsor you instead of a state or territory government. It is a points-tested visa, so you still need a suitable skills assessment, at least Competent English, to be under 45 when invited and to score at least 65 points.
Key requirements at a glance
| Occupation | Your occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the same list used for the 189 visa. |
| Where your relative lives | Your relative must usually live in a designated regional area. For the 491 this is all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. |
| Points for sponsorship | Family sponsorship gives you 15 points, the same as state or territory nomination. |
| Invitation | Family-sponsored candidates are invited by the Department of Home Affairs in SkillSelect invitation rounds, not by a state. See our invitation rounds page for recent results. |
| Government charge | From 1 July 2026, the main applicant charge for the 491 is $6,140. See our skilled visa fees page for family member charges. |
Step by step
- Confirm your relative is eligible. Check the relationship, their citizenship or permanent residence, their age and that they usually live in a designated regional area.
- Get a positive skills assessment for an MLTSSL occupation and complete your English test.
- Lodge your Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and select the family-sponsored 491 option, including your relative’s details.
- Receive an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs in an invitation round.
- Lodge your visa application within 60 days. Your relative’s sponsorship is assessed as part of the process and must be approved before the visa can be granted.
After the visa is granted
The 491 is valid for 5 years. You and your family members must live, work and study in a designated regional area (condition 8579). After holding the 491 for at least 3 years and showing taxable income (ATO notices of assessment) for at least 3 income years while living in a designated regional area, you may be able to apply for the permanent Subclass 191 visa. There is currently no minimum income amount for the 191.
Does my relative have to live in the same area where I will live?
No. Your relative must usually live in a designated regional area, but you can live and work anywhere in a designated regional area. You do not have to live in the same town or state as your sponsor.
Can my partner’s relative sponsor me?
Yes. The sponsor can be your relative or your partner’s relative, as long as they are on the list of eligible relatives and meet the other sponsor requirements.
Can a relative who lives in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane sponsor me?
No. These cities are not designated regional areas for the 491. A relative living in another part of Australia, such as Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast or Geelong, may be eligible.
Is family sponsorship easier than state nomination?
Not always. Family-sponsored candidates compete in Home Affairs invitation rounds and the number of invitations varies a lot from round to round. Many candidates lodge an EOI for both pathways. Use our points test calculator and book a video consultation to plan your strategy.
Select a state below to see its requirements:
Australia
State and territory requirements
Each state and territory has its own list of occupations, requirements and processes you must follow.
More information about the requirements and processes on how Australian states or territories nominate applicants is available.
