Skilled Work Regional Visa, Subclass 491
The Skilled Work Regional visa is a provisional visa for skilled workers who are willing to live and work in regional Australia. After meeting the requirements you can apply for permanent residence through the 191 visa. It can open a door when the 189 or 190 is out of reach.
The 491 is a provisional visa for skilled workers who will live and work in regional Australia. You can be nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area. It adds points to your score and, after meeting the requirements, can lead to permanent residence.
- TypeProvisional
- RouteState nomination or eligible relative
- WhereDesignated regional area
- Leads toPermanent residence (191)
Overview
The Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) is a provisional visa for skilled workers who will live and work in regional Australia.
- It runs for up to 5 years, and you can apply for the 191 permanent visa after 3 years if you meet the requirements.
- Regional nomination or sponsorship can open a pathway when the 189 or 190 is out of reach.
- Eligible family members can generally be included in the application.
Who this suits
Skilled workers willing to live and work outside the major capital cities
People whose points or occupation make the 189 very competitive
Applicants with an eligible relative living in a designated regional area
Applicants who want a long-term plan that ends in permanent residence
Key facts
- Provisional visa for up to 5 years
- You must live and work in a designated regional area
- Nomination by a state or territory, or sponsorship by an eligible relative, is generally required
- You can apply for the 191 permanent visa after 3 years if you meet the requirements
Government application fees
Skilled Work Regional (491)
Main applicant$6,140
Additional applicant 18+$3,070
Additional applicant under 18$1,535
A second instalment may be payable for applicants aged 18 and over who do not have functional English. Check the current amount with Home Affairs.
These are the Department of Home Affairs charges only. They are indexed each 1 July, so confirm the current amount with the Department before you lodge. Other costs may apply, such as health examinations, police certificates, skills assessments and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Our professional fees are separate.
Check before you apply
State nomination rules differ across Australia
If you are nominated by a state or territory for the 491, its own rules apply on top of the points test.
- Occupation listsEach state or territory nominates only from its own list of occupations, and the lists change.
- Residence and workSome require you to already live or work in the state. Others invite applicants from overseas.
- Extra criteriaEnglish level, work experience, qualifications and job offers can be set above the national minimum.
- Timing and placesNomination places and opening dates vary through the year, so the rules can change before you apply.
- Living in the stateStates generally expect you to settle and work in the state that nominates you.
We check the current requirements of each state or territory that fits your occupation before you apply.
What you need to qualify
- You need an occupation that is eligible under the nominating state’s list or the relevant family sponsor pathway, and these lists change.
- You need a suitable skills assessment, English results and enough points, with the age limit that applies.
- The state or territory, or your eligible relative, must support you, and each state sets its own regional criteria.
- You must be prepared to live and work in a designated regional area, and the list of areas changes.
- You and any family members included must meet the health and character requirements.
The 491 process
- 01Eligibility review
- 02Skills assessment and English test
- 03Expression of Interest (EOI)
- 04Nomination or relative sponsorship
- 05Invitation
- 06Lodge visa application
- 07Decision
- 08Live and work regionally
- 09Apply for the 191
Skills assessment
Skills assessment, with our help
A positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation is needed before you can lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Many applicants ask us to help with their skills assessment, because the assessing authority’s rules are strict and a weak application can cost months.
Ask about a skills assessmentAssessing authority fees are set by the authority and are separate from ours.
- The right authorityWe identify the assessing authority and the assessment that applies to your occupation.
- Eligibility firstWe review your qualifications and experience against the requirements before you pay any fees.
- Guidance on your evidenceWe explain what the authority expects, such as employment references and duties, and review what you have gathered before you submit.
- Support to the outcomeWe help you understand and respond to the authority’s requests until the outcome is issued.
Documents you will need
- Passport and identity documents for you and each family member included
- Skills assessment, English test results and your points evidence
- Qualifications and evidence of skilled employment, such as references, payslips and tax records
- Nomination or sponsorship documents, including evidence of your relative’s status and residence if applicable
- Police certificates and health examination results when requested
After the visa is granted
- You must live and work in a designated regional area, and moving outside it can affect your pathway to the 191.
- Keep records of your regional residence, employment and income from day one, as the 191 requires evidence of them.
- After 3 years, you may apply for the 191 permanent visa if you have met the requirements.
- The regional area list can change, so check it before any move, even within the same state.
How we help
- Check whether the 491 is the right pathway for you
- Identify regional areas and nomination options
- Prepare the Expression of Interest (EOI) and state nomination applications, including Registration of Interest (ROI) applications where required
- Prepare the visa application
- Plan the step to permanent residence through the 191
Common pitfalls
- Moving outside the designated area
- Not planning for the 191 requirements from the start
- Choosing a region without checking its criteria
- Not keeping regional work and income records as you go
Related articles
Skilled MigrationVictoria Publishes Its Own Points Test: What 190 and 491 Applicants Need to Know (2026–27)Victoria has published the Victorian Points Test (VPT), which ranks every Registration of Interest (ROI) for the 190 and 491 visas in the 2026–27 program year.Read the article
Skilled MigrationVictoria Introduces Fees for 190 and 491 ROIs and NominationsVictoria will charge fees for Registrations of Interest (ROIs) and nomination applications for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) visas from the 2026–27 program year.Read the article
Frequently asked questions
Does the 491 lead to permanent residence?
It can. After 3 years you may apply for the 191 permanent visa if you have met the requirements, such as living and working in a regional area. We plan this with you from the start.
Where do I have to live?
You must live and work in a designated regional area. The list of areas changes, so we confirm it for you before you decide.
Who can nominate me?
A state or territory can nominate you, or an eligible relative living in a designated regional area can sponsor you. Which suits you depends on your circumstances.
Is the 491 easier than the 189?
It can be more accessible for some occupations, because regional nomination may be available where the 189 is very competitive. The trade-off is the regional requirement.