Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional Visa

The Subclass 491 visa is a points-tested provisional visa for skilled workers who want to live, work, and study in regional Australia. It is designed for applicants nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area. This visa provides a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after meeting regional work and residency requirements.

To apply you must:

• Be nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible relative in regional Australia.
• Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list for regional Australia.
• Be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation.
• Meet the points test requirements (minimum 65 points).
• Meet English language, health, and character requirements.
• Lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) via SkillSelect and receive an invitation to apply.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• Occupation must be on the regional skilled occupation list.
• Suitable skills assessment for the nominated occupation.
• Achieve the required points based on age, English proficiency, work experience, qualifications, and other factors.
• Be willing to live, work, and study in a designated regional area for at least 3 years.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have either a state/territory nomination or a regional family sponsorship.

The Subclass 491 visa is a provisional visa valid for 5 years.It allows you to live, work, and study in designated regional areas.After fulfilling the regional work and residency requirements, you may apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.

A job offer is not mandatory for all applicants, but having one in a regional area can strengthen the application and help meet state/territory nomination requirements.Applicants must demonstrate skills and qualifications relevant to the nominated occupation.

Processing times vary depending on occupation demand, nomination/sponsorship verification, and completeness of documents:

• Many applications are processed within 8–12 months, but times may be longer during high-demand periods.

The base application fee for the main applicant is around AUD 4,115–4,300.
Additional costs may include:

• Each family/secondary applicant
• Skills assessments
• English language tests
• Medical examinations
• Police certificates

The Subclass 491 visa provides a pathway for skilled workers to live, work, and study in regional Australia. It offers provisional residence with a clear pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa. This visa is ideal for skilled professionals willing to relocate to regional areas and contribute to local communities while gaining permanent residence opportunities in Australia.