By Oz Unpacked · Updated
The Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) is a five-year provisional visa for skilled people who want to live, work and study in designated regional Australia. It can offer a pathway to permanent residence later, if you meet the requirements for a separate visa.
Most of this guide looks at state and territory nomination. You will need an eligible occupation, a suitable skills assessment, competent English and at least 65 points, including the points available for nomination. For state nomination, you must also meet the nominating state or territory’s criteria and receive an invitation before applying. There is another route for applicants sponsored by an eligible relative, which we explain below.
Your occupation and the places where you would like to live are a good starting point. Once you have a few locations in mind, you can compare their nomination requirements and work out which ones fit your experience and the evidence you can provide.
At a Glance
| Question | Subclass 491 invited pathway |
|---|---|
| Is the visa permanent? | No. It is a provisional visa that can be granted for five years. A separate permanent visa may be available later. |
| Where can I live and work? | In a designated regional area, subject to your visa conditions. Check the postcode before making plans. |
| Do I need nomination? | A state or territory can nominate you; alternatively, an eligible relative can sponsor you. |
| How many points do I need? | At least 65, including applicable nomination or sponsorship points. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee nomination or an invitation. |
| Is permanent residence automatic? | No. You must apply separately and meet the subclass 191 requirements. |
| Is there an age limit? | You must be under 45 when invited to apply. |
| What does the visa cost? | From A$6,140 for the main applicant as checked 2 November 2026. Family charges and limited concessions may apply. |
What the 491 Visa Lets You Do
The 491 lets you stay in Australia for five years from grant and live, work and study in designated regional Australia. You can travel in and out while the visa is valid, although time spent overseas does not extend it. Check your visa grant letter for the conditions that apply to you and any family members granted a visa.
Regional Australia includes more than small towns. Some substantial cities and surrounding areas qualify, while Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are excluded. The boundary is based on designated postcodes, so look up the actual postcode of the place you plan to live, work or study before committing to a lease, job or course.
The 491 is provisional, rather than permanent residence. After holding an eligible regional visa for at least three years, some holders may qualify to apply for the separate subclass 191 permanent visa. You need to meet its requirements; a 491 grant does not automatically become permanent residence.
Who Can Apply for a Subclass 491 Visa?
If you are seeking state nomination, you will need to meet both the Australian Government's visa requirements and those of your chosen state or territory. The two assessments are related, but each government makes its own decision.
- Occupation: Your nominated occupation must be eligible for the relevant 491 pathway.
- Skills assessment: Obtain a suitable assessment from the authority for your occupation, valid at invitation. Certain medical registration and legal admission evidence is accepted in specified circumstances.
- Age and English: Be under 45 and have at least competent English when invited.
- Points: Meet the 65-point minimum and be able to support the claims in your EOI and invitation.
- Nomination and invitation: Meet a state or territory's requirements, secure nomination and receive an invitation before lodging your application.
- Other requirements: Meet health, character and other applicable visa requirements.
An occupation can appear on the federal list without being available for nomination in every state. Each government sets its own criteria and priorities, which can change during the program year, so it is worth checking both sets of requirements before paying for an assessment or making relocation plans.
Step 1: Check Your Occupation and Skills Assessment
The federal skilled occupation list shows which occupations are available for the state-nominated 491 and identifies the assessing authority for each one. When choosing your occupation, compare its description with your actual duties, qualifications and experience. A familiar job title alone does not establish that it is the right match.
Your assessing authority will explain its document requirements, fees and processing times. You may need to provide qualifications, transcripts, employment references and proof of pay. A positive assessment does not necessarily mean that every year of your employment qualifies for points, so check which periods meet the points rules before including them in your score.
You should arrange a suitable assessment before submitting your expression of interest and make sure it is valid when you are invited. It generally needs to have been obtained within the preceding three years and remain within any shorter validity period stated on the assessment.
A provisional assessment issued for a subclass 485 visa is not suitable for this points-tested visa. You may also need separate professional registration before you can work in Australia, even if your skills assessment is positive.
Step 2: Compare State and Territory Nomination
As you compare locations, think about the employment, housing, services and schools that would suit your household, as well as the nomination opportunities. Once you have a few places in mind, check their regional postcodes and read the relevant state's current 491 criteria for your occupation and circumstances.
State programs may consider your occupation, experience, residence, employment and English, along with other evidence relevant to their priorities. Some require a separate registration of interest or nomination application alongside SkillSelect, so submitting a federal EOI may only be part of the process. The criteria can also differ for applicants living in Australia and those applying from overseas.
A short comparison can help you keep track of which programs accept your occupation, where you meet the current criteria and whether you need a separate registration or application. Include any nomination fees and deadlines, along with the source and date, so you can check that the information is still current before applying.
If a state or territory nominates you, Home Affairs will invite you to apply for the visa. Nomination is an important step, but Home Affairs still needs to assess your visa application and be satisfied that you meet its requirements before granting the visa.
Official state and territory nomination programs
Check the relevant official program for its current 491 criteria, application process, fees and opening status. These links open in a new tab.
- Australian Capital Territory — ACT Government nomination (opens in a new tab)
- New South Wales — Skilled Nominated visa (opens in a new tab)
- Northern Territory — government visa nomination (opens in a new tab)
- Queensland — skilled visas (opens in a new tab)
- South Australia — nomination requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Tasmania — skilled migration (opens in a new tab)
- Victoria — Skilled Nominated visa (opens in a new tab)
- Western Australia — migration services (opens in a new tab)
Step 3: Work Out Your Points
SkillSelect calculates an indicative score from your EOI. Your age, English, skilled employment, qualifications, partner circumstances and other eligible factors can contribute points, as can state or territory nomination. You will need evidence to support every claim when you apply.
Age and English points
Age at invitation gives you 25 points at 18–24, 30 points at 25–32, 25 points at 33–39 or 15 points at 40–44. For English, competent scores 0, proficient 10 and superior 20 points.
Competent English is required, even though it adds no points. Citizens of Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States who hold a valid passport from that country can demonstrate competent English; extra proficient or superior points need the evidence specified for those levels.
Approved test and score rules changed on 7 August 2025. Check Home Affairs' current table for your test date and format; tests taken entirely at home online are not accepted. Assessing and registration authorities may set separate English requirements.
| Age at invitation | Points |
|---|---|
| 18–24 | 25 |
| 25–32 | 30 |
| 33–39 | 25 |
| 40–44 | 15 |
| English level | Points |
|---|---|
| Competent | 0 |
| Proficient | 10 |
| Superior | 20 |
Points for skilled employment
Eligible work must be paid skilled employment in your nominated or a closely related occupation, in the 10 years before invitation. Home Affairs defines employed work as at least 20 paid hours a week.
| Eligible skilled employment | Overseas work | Australian work |
|---|---|---|
| Less than one year | 0 | 0 |
| At least one but less than three years | 0 | 5 |
| At least three but less than five years | 5 | 10 |
| At least five but less than eight years | 10 | 15 |
| Eight years or more | 15 | 20 |
A positive skills assessment does not necessarily mean every year you have worked can count towards points. Your assessment may identify when your employment is considered skilled, so check the dates and duties before adding up your claim. Keep employment references and evidence of pay and hours for that period.
You can claim a maximum of 20 points across Australian and overseas employment combined. Australian work must also meet the relevant visa and visa-condition rules.
Points for qualifications
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Recognised doctorate | 20 |
| Recognised bachelor degree or higher qualification | 15 |
| Australian diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
| Qualification or award recognised as suitable by the relevant assessing authority | 10 |
Only your highest eligible qualification counts in this category. Overseas awards must meet the recognised standard, and your assessing authority may assess their comparability. Keep your award and transcripts with your assessment evidence.
Partner points: 0, 5 or 10
| Circumstances | Points |
|---|---|
| You are single, or your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident | 10 |
| Your partner applies with you and meets the skilled-partner requirements | 10 |
| Your partner applies with you and has competent English | 5 |
| None of these categories applies | 0 |
These categories are alternatives. For the 5 English points, your partner does not need a skills assessment. If your partner also has an eligible occupation and can meet the requirements, compare their possible points as the main applicant too.
For 10 skilled-partner points, the partner must apply with you, be under 45 at invitation, have competent English, nominate an occupation on the same relevant list and hold a suitable skills assessment. They cannot already be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
The five-point category also requires the partner to apply with you and not already hold Australian citizenship or permanent residence. A relationship-status change during processing can affect the single/Australian-partner category.
Other points you may be able to claim
| Eligible circumstance | Points | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Australian study requirement | 5 | Eligible Australian degree, diploma or trade qualification meeting the study requirement. |
| Regional Australian study | 5 | Must meet Australian study rules and regional residence/campus criteria; distance study does not count. |
| Specialist education | 10 | Eligible Australian research master's or doctorate with at least two academic years in specified science, technology, engineering, mathematics or ICT fields. |
| Professional Year in Australia | 5 | Eligible Accounting, ICT or Engineering program meeting provider, occupation and timing rules. |
| Credentialled community language | 5 | Requires a qualifying interpreting or translating credential from the recognised Australian authority. |
| State or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship for subclass 491 | 15 | Awarded for eligible nomination or family sponsorship. |
Each factor has its own conditions. The official points table in the resources below explains those conditions and can help you check a claim before adding it to your EOI.
A worked example: how the points add up
A 30-year-old with proficient English, a recognised bachelor’s degree, five years of eligible overseas skilled employment and eligible 491 nomination could total 80 points: 30 + 10 + 15 + 10 + 15. The example shows how the categories can add up; it does not predict whether you will receive nomination or an invitation. You would need to support each claim with the required evidence.
What does 65 points really mean?
Sixty-five points is the minimum score needed to be considered for an invitation, and that score includes the 15 points for eligible nomination or family sponsorship. States and territories select candidates under their own criteria and priorities, which can differ by occupation and change over time. Meeting the threshold does not guarantee nomination or an invitation.
A simple worksheet can help you check your score before submitting. List each category, the points you are claiming and the supporting document, then check which claims can be combined and how your employment is counted.
Step 4: Submit Your EOI and Seek Nomination
Once your assessment, English evidence and points are in order, you can submit an expression of interest through SkillSelect and indicate that you are seeking state or territory nomination for the 491. The EOI is free to submit, and SkillSelect calculates an indicative points score from the information you enter.
You will also need to follow your chosen state's nomination process, including any separate registration of interest or application. Your state submission, EOI and supporting documents should tell the same story. Each state selects applicants according to its published criteria and the places available in its program.
You can update your EOI before invitation if your work, qualifications, family circumstances or evidence change. Keeping track of when your assessment and English evidence expire will also help you avoid relying on a claim you can no longer support.
An EOI can remain in SkillSelect for up to two years and is suspended during an invitation period. If you do not apply after two invitations, Home Affairs removes it, and you would need a new EOI to continue seeking an invitation.
The EOI itself does not give you a bridging visa. If you are already in Australia, you will need to monitor your current visa's expiry and conditions while you wait.
Step 5: Receive an Invitation and Apply
After nomination, your invitation from Home Affairs gives you 60 calendar days to lodge the visa application. When it arrives, check the deadline and make sure you can support the points score on which you were invited.
Prepare identity documents, your skills assessment or accepted registration evidence, English evidence, qualifications, employment records and any documents supporting your other points claims. Include relationship and dependent-child evidence where relevant. Your state may have already reviewed some documents, but Home Affairs will assess the visa application and its requirements.
If you cannot support the invited score or are unsure whether you meet a requirement, seek advice from a registered migration agent, an Australian legal practitioner or another person authorised to provide immigration assistance before lodging.
Where Can You Live and Work on a 491?
Your visa conditions require you and family members holding a 491 to live, work and study in designated regional areas. Check the official postcode list for each place relevant to your plans. The location of a workplace, campus or home matters, so check the actual addresses rather than relying on a city label or an employer's description.
Keeping records of where you live and work will make it easier to demonstrate that you have complied with your visa conditions. Your grant letter explains any changes you need to notify Home Affairs about. Before moving or changing your plans, also check any commitments you made to the government that nominated you.
Can a Family Member Sponsor a 491 Instead?
An eligible relative can sponsor you for the 491 as an alternative to state nomination. They must be at least 18, usually live in a designated regional area and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
The sponsor must be an eligible relative of you, or of your partner if your partner is also applying. Eligible relationships include parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandparents and first cousins, including the specified adoptive or step relationships.
Family sponsorship does not replace the other visa requirements. You still need an eligible occupation for this pathway, a suitable skills assessment, at least 65 points and an invitation, although eligible sponsorship can contribute 15 points to your total. The occupation list can differ from the state-nominated list, so check the one that applies to this route.
When submitting your EOI, select the family-sponsored option in SkillSelect. Home Affairs may then invite you through its invitation rounds and must approve the sponsorship before granting the visa. The regional visa conditions apply to this pathway too.
How Much Does the 491 Visa Cost?
As checked 2 November 2026, Home Affairs lists the main applicant's visa application charge as from A$6,140, with concessions in limited circumstances. Each family member applying attracts an additional charge. A lower charge applies to eligible citizens of specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste who lodge a valid application.
Home Affairs may request a second instalment for an applicable applicant aged 18 or over who has less than functional English. This is separate from the main applicant's competent-English requirement and partner-English points. Use the official pricing estimator for your household and check whether a second instalment applies; the estimator does not include every other expense.
Budget separately for skills assessment, state nomination fees where charged, English tests, professional registration, translations, health checks, police certificates and optional professional assistance. Costs and eligibility for concessions can change, so check the current official pricing before lodging.
How Long Does the 491 Visa Take?
The time it takes will depend on more than the visa application itself. You will first need to prepare your evidence and any skills assessment, then wait for state nomination and an invitation before Home Affairs can assess your application. Some states also have a registration of interest stage, which adds its own waiting time.
If you are using the family-sponsored pathway, you will instead be waiting for an invitation through the relevant SkillSelect rounds. In either case, the published visa processing times only cover the application stage after lodgement.
There is no guaranteed date for nomination or an invitation, because state priorities, occupation demand and available places can change. Home Affairs' processing-time guide reflects recently decided visa applications and can help with planning, but it does not predict when your own application will be finalised.
Can Your Partner and Children Come With You?
You can include eligible members of your family unit when lodging your application. They must meet applicable requirements, and additional charges apply. Home Affairs says dependent children can be added after lodgement and before a decision; check the rules and documents for your circumstances rather than assuming every family member can be added at any stage.
If granted 491 visas, family members must comply with their own visa conditions, including the regional requirements. Family members who join later may need to apply separately as subsequent entrants if eligible. Gather relationship and children's documents early, including consent evidence where needed.
Can the 491 Lead to Permanent Residence?
It can. The subclass 191 Regional Provisional stream is a separate permanent visa for people who meet its requirements after holding an eligible regional provisional visa, including the 491. Home Affairs says applicants must have held the eligible visa for at least three years, complied with its conditions and provide Australian Taxation Office notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of the eligible visa.
The current 191 Regional Provisional stream page says there is no minimum income requirement, although you still need the required ATO notices of assessment. Keeping your visa grant, address, employment and tax records organised from the beginning will help when you prepare that application.
As you approach the next stage, check the current 191 rules again. The 491 itself is not permanent residence, and meeting the holding period alone does not establish eligibility for a later 191.
How Does the 491 Compare With the 189 and 190?
| Visa | Main pathway | Visa type |
|---|---|---|
| 491 Skilled Work Regional | State or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship; regional conditions | Provisional, with a separate permanent pathway if eligible |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | State or territory nomination and invitation | Permanent |
| 189 Skilled Independent | Invitation without state nomination or employer sponsorship | Permanent |
The best option depends on your occupation, points, nomination prospects and where you want to live. Look at the current rules for each pathway; qualifying for one does not establish eligibility for another.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 491 a permanent visa?
No. It is a provisional visa granted for five years. You may be able to apply for the separate permanent subclass 191 visa after meeting its eligibility requirements, including the required period on an eligible visa and compliance with its conditions.
Are the 15 nomination points included in the 65?
Yes. The minimum is 65 points in total, including the 15 points available for eligible 491 nomination or family sponsorship. Check the full points table and the nomination or sponsorship conditions before relying on a score.
Can I apply for the 491 from outside Australia?
Yes. You can submit an EOI from outside Australia and, if invited and otherwise eligible, apply from overseas. Check the chosen state's offshore criteria and whether your occupation is being considered, since state programs differ.
Does a 491 EOI give me a bridging visa?
No. An EOI is not a visa application. If you are in Australia, you need to maintain a valid visa while waiting for nomination and invitation. Bridging-visa eligibility is considered when a valid visa application is lodged, depending on your circumstances.
Can my family come with me?
Eligible family members can be included when you apply. If they are granted 491 visas, their visa conditions apply to them too, including living, working and studying in designated regional areas. A later family application may be possible as a subsequent entrant if the requirements are met.
Does regional mean a remote town?
Not necessarily. Designated regional Australia includes some larger cities and surrounding areas as well as smaller communities. Check the official postcode list for the places where you plan to live, work and study.
Can I move between regional areas?
Your visa conditions require you to remain within designated regional areas for living, work and study. Before changing location, check the relevant postcodes, your grant conditions and any commitments made to your nominating state or territory.
Your Next Steps
Your next step is to check whether your occupation is available for the 491 pathway you are considering and whether you meet its requirements. For state nomination, that means reading the state's current criteria as well as the federal rules.
From there, you can put together your points calculation and supporting documents, check the postcodes where you would like to live and work, and plan around any state application steps or deadlines. If an eligible relative may be able to sponsor you, compare that route's occupation and sponsorship requirements before deciding how to proceed.
Official Resources and Source Notes
Information reviewed 2 November 2026. Visa rules, state programs, occupation lists and costs can change. The official resources below explain the requirements and help you check the details for your circumstances.
- Home Affairs: subclass 491 main applicant
- Home Affairs: subclass 491 points table
- Home Affairs: skilled occupation list and assessing authorities
- Home Affairs: designated regional areas and postcodes
- Home Affairs: state and territory nomination allocations
- Home Affairs: state and territory contacts
- Home Affairs: family sponsor declaration
- Home Affairs: subclass 191 Regional Provisional stream
- Home Affairs: visa fees and pricing estimator
- Home Affairs: competent English
- Home Affairs: SkillSelect invitation rounds
- Home Affairs: visa processing times
This article provides general information to help you research your options. Individual circumstances affect eligibility; immigration assistance should come from a person authorised to provide it.
