AustraliaWork and qualifications

Visa 491 in Australia

A visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government or sponsored by a relative living in a region. The holder is obliged to live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia throughout the period the visa is valid. The programme is aimed at those prepared to start as a temporary resident in a region and move to a permanent regional visa in time.

Source: Department of Home Affairs — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

Who can obtain the 491 visa

The invitation is issued through SkillSelect on the strength of points and one of two forms of backing — from a state or from a relative.

Nomination by a state or territory

The state or territory considers the expression of interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and decides whether to nominate the applicant against its own criteria.
After the nomination the department sends an invitation to lodge the visa.
While the visa is valid you have to live, work and study in the designated region that the state vouched for.

Sponsorship by a relative

The sponsor can be an adult relative — an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen — who is usually resident in a designated regional area.
The range of eligible relatives: parent, child, brother or sister (including step and adoptive), aunt or uncle, nephew or niece, grandparent, cousin.
The department has to approve the sponsorship before the visa is granted.

Conditions common to both routes

The occupation is on the combined list of occupations for the 491 visa, and there is a suitable skills assessment obtained no more than 3 years before the date of the invitation.
At the date of the invitation the applicant has not yet turned 45 and has at least Competent English.
At least 65 points scored on the SkillSelect test — otherwise no invitation is sent.

When the 491 visa will not suit

You want to live in any city in Australia with no tie to a region

Consider the 189 visa (Skilled Independent) or the 190 (Skilled Nominated) — they do not restrict the choice of region.

An employer in Australia is ready to nominate you specifically

Consider the 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme) with an employer nomination.

You have already turned 45 by the date of the invitation

The visa is unavailable on age: the department does not issue invitations to applicants aged 45 and over.

What it costs

Visa for the main applicant (first instalment)	6 140 AUD
Second instalment for a family member aged 18 and over without functional English	+4 890 AUD

Documents to gather

The full list depends on the points claimed in the EOI; below is what is required almost always.

A valid passport with the photograph page, personal details and the dates of issue and expiry
Evidence of a suitable skills assessment obtained no more than 3 years before the date of the invitation
A test result showing Competent English at the time of the invitation
An Australian police certificate — if in total you have spent 12 months or more in Australia over the last 10 years since turning 16
Police certificates from every country where in total you have spent 12 months or more over the last 10 years since turning 16
Form 80 and form 1221 — the questionnaires for the character assessment
If you apply with a partner — identity and relationship documents: a marriage certificate or evidence of living together for at least 12 months
If a relative is sponsoring you — the sponsor's completed declaration and evidence of the relationship, age, status and residence in the regional area

How the process runs

The 491 visa application is lodged in several stages through SkillSelect and ImmiAccount.

1
Lodge an expression of interest (EOI)
A free EOI in SkillSelect: the applicant states the occupation and the points, and also whether they are seeking a state nomination or sponsorship by a relative.
2
Wait for an invitation to lodge the visa
an invitation may arrive within 2 years of lodging the EOI
The department calculates the points from the EOI data; an invitation requires at least 65 points and one of the two routes of backing — a state nomination or a relative's agreement to sponsor.
3
Lodge the application and pay the first instalment
60 calendar days from the date of the invitation — it cannot be extended
The application is lodged online in ImmiAccount, the documents are attached and the first instalment of the visa charge is paid; an unpaid application is not assessed.
4
Complete the checks
The department may request a medical examination, biometrics and further documents; the status of the application is tracked in ImmiAccount.
5
Receive the visa decision
The department notifies the grant or refusal in writing. On a grant it states the visa number, the date it comes into effect and the conditions. On a refusal the charge is not refunded.

Timelines and rights

Work

You work in a designated regional area. Condition 8579 requires you to live at an address in such an area and normally to work your hours there as well.

Who you can bring with you

Family members can be included in the application.

Partner and dependent children included in the application

They apply together with the main applicant and are assessed against the health and character requirements. Adult family members need at least functional English or payment of the second instalment of the visa charge.

A child born after the application is lodged

Can be added to the application after lodgement but before the visa is decided — the department has to be told as soon as possible.

Relatives who did not travel with the main applicant

They can join later as subsequent entrants — on a separate application.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

You live in a designated regional area for the whole period the visa is valid. The Department publishes the list of areas by postcode.

The 491 visa is temporary and is valid for 5 years from the date of grant; the visa itself cannot be extended. After 3 years holding the 491 visa and meeting the conditions on work and residence in the region, the holder can apply for the permanent regional visa Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional), subclass 191 — applications for it opened on 16 November 2022. Until that point other permanent visas for skilled workers and the subclass 820 partner visa are unavailable.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Visa 491	Skilled Independent visa	Skilled Nominated visa
Grounds	A state nomination or sponsorship by a relative in a designated regional area	An invitation from the Department of Home Affairs following selection in SkillSelect	A nomination by a state or territory plus an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs
Work	You work in a designated regional area	You work and live anywhere in Australia, with no tie to an employer or a state	You work and live in Australia as a permanent resident
Residence	You live in a designated regional area for the whole period the visa is valid	The travel facility on a permanent visa lasts 5 years	The travel facility lasts 5 years

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 3 years holding the 491 visa and meeting the income requirement you apply for the permanent Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, subclass 191.

Route to citizenship

The count towards citizenship runs from 4 years of lawful residence, but the last 12 months have to be spent on a permanent visa — that is, only after moving to the 191.

Frequently asked questions about Visa 491

Who can apply for the 491 visa?

The applicant has to be nominated by an Australian state or territory government or sponsored by a relative living in a designated regional area. Also needed are an occupation from the relevant list, a suitable skills assessment, an invitation from the department, at least Competent English and no fewer than 65 points on the test.

What does the 491 visa cost?

The base charge for the main applicant is from AUD 6,140. If an adult family member does not evidence functional English, a second instalment is payable for them — AUD 4,890.

How long is the 491 visa valid and what comes after it?

The visa is temporary and is valid for 5 years from the date of grant. After 3 years holding the visa and meeting the regional conditions, the holder can apply for the permanent Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, subclass 191.

Can family be included in a 491 visa application?

Yes. A partner and dependent children are included in the application; they are assessed against the health and character requirements. Relatives who did not travel straight away can be included later as subsequent entrants.

How does the 491 visa differ from the 189 and 190 visas?

A 491 holder is obliged to live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia. Until 3 years of holding the visa have passed, the 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (Skilled Nominated), 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) and a number of other permanent visas cannot be obtained.

How many points do you need for the 491 visa?

At least 65 points on the SkillSelect test. The department will not invite an applicant who scores less; a particular invitation may state a higher threshold if the department so decides.

Other ways to move to Australia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Australia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.