491 Visa – Skilled Work Regional Visa (Provisional)
The Skilled Work Regional Subclass 491 visa is a provisional visa, valid for five years once granted.
The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa, provides a pathway to permanent residence after having lived and worked in regional Australia for three years.
The subclass 491 visa entitles visa holders, together with their families, to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia and provides you access to Medicare (our national healthcare scheme). It also provides a multiple re-entry facility to travel in and out of Australia as often as you like within the visa validity period.
Skilled Work Regional Visa Video
491 Visa Requirements for Applicants
Applicants for this visa must be invited to apply for the visa. They may be nominated by a State or Territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible family member who resides in a designated regional area.
The visa is a points-tested visa, and applicants must be under 45 years of age at the time of receiving an invitation from the Department of Home Affairs.
In order to qualify for a Subclass 491 visa, you will need to:
- Be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency, or an eligible relative must sponsor you
- Have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
- Have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- At the time of the invitation, you must have at least competent English
- Be invited to apply
- Satisfy the points test
- Meet health and character requirements
- Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused (if applying from onshore)
Steps involved in Applying for a 491 Visa
The process for applying for a 491 visa is as follows:
- Obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Wait for your invitation to apply for your Skilled Visa
- Apply for your visa
- Receive an invitation by the relevant state or territory government agency, if not being nominated by an eligible relative
Pass Mark for 491 Visa
The current migration points threshold is set to 65; however, this fluctuates depending on the volume and quality of candidates applying. Some occupations require a much higher pass mark; please access ‘Latest invitation round GSM‘.
Processing Time
Processing times are impacted each month by changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, complexity, and incomplete applications. Estimates of processing times are provided as a guide only. Individual processing times may vary from the published estimates. See the estimated processing times at Global visa and citizenship processing time.
491 Visa Cost
The current government application fee starts from AUD$4,770. This will vary depending on the number of dependants included in your application and their age.
Our consultancy fee will be dependent on your individual circumstances.
State Nomination
If you are applying for a Subclass 190 or Subclass 491, you will need to receive State or Territory Government nomination.
The Commonwealth Government has provided the allocations for the state and territories for the 190 and 491 migration program for 2024-25.
Frequently Asked Questions on Skilled Work Regional 491 (Provisional) Visa
Is a Job Offer required for a 491 visa?
A job offer is not required to apply for a subclass 491 visa application. However, should you wish to be nominated by an Australian state government, each state government may have additional criteria to meet their individual state objectives, which may include the requirement of having a job offer.
Who can Sponsor a 491 Visa?
An eligible relative can be related to yourself or your partner and can be your parent, child or step-child, a brother or sister (including step or adoptive), an aunt, uncle (including step or adoptive), a nephew or niece (step or adoptive), a grandparent or a first cousin.
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
Applicants for this visa who are sponsored by an eligible relative may only select a nominated occupation on the Medium Long-Term Skilled Occupation List.
Do I Apply in Australia or Overseas? Can I include Family Members on my visa application?
You can apply either whilst in Australia or outside of Australia, and you can include dependent family members such as spouse/partner and dependent children.
What happens after I submit my 491 Visa application?
You wait until a Case Officer is allocated who will assess your eligibility. A decision-ready application will be granted without a request for further information, so it’s important to make certain you lodge a decision-ready application
Are you eligible for Medicare and to Buy a house?
Subclass 491 visa holders are eligible for Medicare. A subclass 491 visa holder is considered a temporary resident for purchasing a property in Australia. You are best to check with the Foreign Investment Review Board about what steps you must take.
What are the State Nomination requirements?
Each state and territory has a unique occupation list seeking skills that meet the skill shortage requirements for each region. You must first submit an EOI and nominate the state and territory where you wish to reside. Please refer to State Nomination.
Can I move states after receiving my visa approval?
There is no restriction for subclass 491 visa holders to move interstate.
However, the nominating state government would generally require you to commit to residing and working in the designated area to which you were nominated.
What Conditions Apply Following Grant of the Visa?
The conditions apply to the primary applicant and all secondary dependents included in the application and specify that all visa holders must live, work and study only in a designated regional area and must notify the Department of changes of address and other details such as phone number and new passport details.
Is there a pathway from 491 Visa to Permanent Residency?
There is a pathway for subclass 491 visa holders to apply for permanent residency when they have resided and worked in a designated area for three years. The primary applicant must provide notices of assessment issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa. There is no minimum income requirement.
Citizenship Success Story
I was referred to Migration Downunder by a friend who had used their services. I used MD for both my PR application as well as my Australian citizenship. I found the experience to be very professional, structured, affordable and the communication was seamless.
It feels good to go through the process and eventually become a citizen and be a part of Australia. I also look forward to enjoying the privileges and responsibilities of being a citizen.