The Subclass 491 visa is a provisional points-tested visa for eligible skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia.
Applicants must have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list, obtain a suitable skills assessment and meet the applicable points, age, English, health and character requirements.
Applicants must also receive either:
Meeting the minimum requirements or achieving 65 points does not guarantee a nomination, family sponsorship invitation or visa grant.
Five-Year Provisional Visa: Live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years.
Two Application Pathways: Apply through state or territory nomination or sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area.
Points-Tested Visa: Applicants must achieve at least 65 points, including the points awarded for nomination or eligible family sponsorship.
Regional Requirement: Visa holders and included family members must live, work and study only in designated regional areas, subject to the applicable visa conditions.
Permanent Residence Pathway: Eligible visa holders may apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191) after three years from the date of the Subclass 491 visa grant, provided all applicable requirements are met.
Family Inclusion: Eligible members of the family unit may be included in the application. A Subsequent Entrant pathway may be available for eligible family members applying later.
Skills Assessment: The applicant must have a suitable skills assessment for the nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority.
Expression of Interest: An Expression of Interest must be submitted through SkillSelect.
Nomination or Sponsorship: The applicant must be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area.
Invitation to Apply: The applicant must receive an invitation from the Australian Government before lodging the visa application.
Points Score: The applicant must achieve at least 65 points.
Age: The applicant must be under 45 years of age when invited to apply.
English Language: The applicant must have at least Competent English when invited to apply.
Health and Character: Applicants and included family members must meet the applicable health and character requirements.
Supporting Evidence: All information and points claimed in the Expression of Interest must be supported by valid evidence.
Regional Conditions: Visa holders and included family members must comply with the regional living, working and study conditions attached to the visa.
The Subclass 491 visa requires a minimum score of 65 points.
State or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship provides 15 points towards the points test.
Additional points may be awarded for:
Achieving 65 points does not guarantee nomination, sponsorship-based selection or an invitation. States and territories may require a higher points score or impose additional occupation, employment, residence or commitment requirements.
All points claimed in the Expression of Interest must be supported by valid evidence.
Applicants may follow one of two pathways.
State or Territory Nomination
Each state and territory sets its own occupation lists, nomination criteria, application process and available places. Applicants should check the requirements of the relevant jurisdiction before seeking nomination.
The process may include:
Eligible Family Sponsorship
An eligible relative may sponsor an applicant if the relative meets the applicable relationship, age, residence and status requirements and usually resides in a designated regional area.
The applicant must nominate an occupation available under the relevant skilled occupation list for the family-sponsored pathway and receive an invitation through SkillSelect.
Nomination or family sponsorship does not guarantee an invitation or visa grant.
The Subclass 491 visa application cost starts from AUD $6,140 for the main applicant. Additional visa application charges may apply for family members included in the application.
A second instalment may apply for an included applicant aged 18 or over who does not have Functional English.
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application cost may apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application.
Other expenses may include:
Processing times vary depending on the completeness and complexity of the application, verification requirements, application volumes and government processing priorities.
Published processing times are estimates based on recently decided applications and do not guarantee that an individual application will be decided within a particular timeframe.
Check the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator and Visa Processing Times Guide before applying.
Regional Living and Employment: Live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years.
Permanent Residence Pathway: Eligible visa holders may apply for the Subclass 191 visa after three years from the date their Subclass 491 visa was granted, provided all applicable requirements are met.
Additional Points: Receive 15 points for state or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship.
Family Inclusion: Include eligible members of the family unit in the visa application, subject to applicable requirements.
Travel Facility: Travel to and from Australia during the five-year travel facility.
Medicare: Subclass 491 visa holders may be eligible to enrol in Medicare, subject to Medicare enrolment requirements.
Regional Opportunities: Access employment, education and lifestyle opportunities across designated regional areas of Australia.
Migration laws, occupation lists, state nomination criteria, points settings, invitation arrangements, fees and processing times may change.
Applicants must check the Department of Home Affairs requirements and, where relevant, the current nomination criteria of the selected state or territory.
Number One Service Australia provides skills assessment support only. We are not a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner and do not provide migration or legal advice.
For advice about points, nomination, eligible family sponsorship, an Expression of Interest, visa eligibility or a visa application, consult a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner.
Official information: Please click to https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-work-regional-provisional-491
Information reviewed: 21 July 2026.
The Subclass 491 visa allows eligible skilled workers and their families to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years.
Applicants must have an eligible occupation, obtain a suitable skills assessment, submit an Expression of Interest, meet the points threshold and receive state or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship before being invited to apply.
The visa may provide a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa after three years from the date of visa grant, provided all applicable requirements are met.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee nomination, an invitation or a visa grant.
Number One Service Australia provides professional skills assessment support for Subclass 491 applicants who require an assessment for their nominated occupation.
Depending on the occupation and agreed service, our support may include document review, employment evidence preparation, assessing-authority application assistance and technical interview training where applicable.
A positive skills assessment does not calculate a person’s total points or guarantee nomination, an invitation or a visa grant.
Number One Service Australia is not a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. We do not provide points advice, assess visa eligibility, prepare Expressions of Interest or manage visa applications.
For advice about points, nomination, eligible family sponsorship, an Expression of Interest or a visa application, consult a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner.
