Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa: Complete Guide (2026)
Published 2026-02-14
Key Facts — Subclass 491 at a Glance
Visa type: Provisional (5-year visa with pathway to permanent residency). Application cost (2025–26): $4,640 (main applicant). Processing time: 6–14 months. Minimum points required: 65 (including 15 points from state/territory nomination or family sponsorship). Occupation lists: MLTSSL, STSOL, and ROL (broadest occupation coverage of any skilled visa). Age limit: Under 45 at time of invitation. English requirement: Competent English minimum (IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent). Must live and work in a designated regional area. Pathway to permanent residency through Subclass 191 after 3 years.
What is the Subclass 491 Visa?
The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is designed to attract skilled workers to regional Australia. It grants 15 bonus points on the points test — the highest bonus of any skilled visa — making it accessible to applicants who do not have enough points for the 189 or 190 visas. The trade-off is that you must live and work in a designated regional area of Australia for at least 3 years before you can apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa. The 491 replaced the old Subclass 489 visa in November 2019. It reflects the Australian government's strong push to direct skilled migration away from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and towards regional areas that need workers. The visa is valid for 5 years, giving you time to settle, find work, and meet the requirements for permanent residency.
What Counts as a Designated Regional Area?
For the 491 visa, 'regional Australia' is defined broadly — it includes everywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. This means the following major cities are considered regional: Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong, Hobart, Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Geelong, and all smaller towns and rural areas. If you are willing to live outside Australia's three largest cities, you have enormous flexibility in where you can settle. Each state and territory's nomination program may have additional preferences for specific regions within their jurisdiction. Living in a designated regional area means your residential address must be in that area, and your primary employment should also be in a regional area. The Department monitors compliance through tax records, Medicare data, and other government databases.
Two Pathways to the 491: State Nomination or Family Sponsorship
There are two ways to obtain the 15 bonus points for the 491 visa. State or territory nomination: Similar to the 190, each state and territory runs a nomination program for the 491. States nominate applicants whose skills are needed in their regional areas. Each state has its own criteria, priority occupations, and application process. State nomination is the more common pathway. Family sponsorship: If you have an eligible family member (parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece, or grandparent) who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen living in a designated regional area, they can sponsor you. The family member must have been living in the regional area for at least 12 months. This pathway does not require state nomination and gives applicants more flexibility in choosing where to live (within regional areas).
The Points Test for the 491
The 491 uses the same points test as the 189 and 190, but with 15 bonus points from state nomination or family sponsorship. This means you only need 50 points from other categories (age, English, experience, education, etc.) to reach the minimum 65. In practice, competitive scores for the 491 are typically 70–85 total points, significantly lower than the 189. This makes the 491 accessible to applicants who are younger, have less work experience, or have lower English scores than the 189 requires. The points categories are the same: age (up to 30 points), English (up to 20 points), overseas work experience (up to 15 points), Australian work experience (up to 20 points), education (up to 20 points), Australian study (5 points), specialist/STEM education (10 points), regional study (5 points), NAATI accreditation (5 points), partner skills or single applicant (up to 10 points), and the 15 points from nomination/sponsorship.
Occupation Lists: More Options Than the 189
One of the biggest advantages of the 491 is the broader range of eligible occupations. While the 189 is limited to the MLTSSL, the 491 draws from the MLTSSL, the STSOL, and the Regional Occupation List (ROL). This means many occupations that are not available for the 189 or 190 are available for the 491. Examples of occupations available for the 491 but not the 189 include various hospitality managers, marketing specialists, certain trades, and agricultural roles. States can also add occupations to their own nomination lists. Always check the current lists and your target state's specific occupation list before investing in skills assessments.
Pathway to Permanent Residency: The Subclass 191
The Subclass 491 is a provisional visa, not permanent residency. However, it provides a clear pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. To be eligible for the 191, you must have held a 491 visa for at least 3 years, lived in a designated regional area during those 3 years, met a minimum income threshold (currently taxable income of $53,900 or above for at least 3 years — shown through tax returns), and complied with all 491 visa conditions. The 191 does not require a new points test, skills assessment, or English test. It is essentially a reward for meeting your regional commitment. Once granted, you are a permanent resident and can live anywhere in Australia. The first 491 holders became eligible for the 191 in November 2022, and the pathway is now well-established.
Living and Working in Regional Australia
Regional Australia offers a different lifestyle from the major capital cities, and for many people, it is a better fit. Lower cost of living: Housing is significantly cheaper in regional areas. A home that costs $1 million in Sydney might cost $400,000–$600,000 in a regional city. Rent is similarly more affordable. Growing economies: Many regional areas have strong economies driven by agriculture, mining, healthcare, education, tourism, and infrastructure development. There are genuine job opportunities in these areas. Community: Regional communities are often welcoming and tightly knit. Many offer settlement support services for new migrants. Lifestyle: Less traffic, more space, closer to nature, and a generally more relaxed pace of life. The trade-off is that regional areas may have fewer entertainment options, less public transport, and some services may require travel to a larger centre. However, cities like Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, and Canberra — all classified as regional — offer urban lifestyles comparable to Sydney and Melbourne.
Application Process Step by Step
Step 1: Check your occupation is on the relevant list for your target state and the 491 visa. Step 2: Obtain a positive skills assessment. Step 3: Take an English language test. Step 4: Submit an EOI through SkillSelect, selecting the 491 visa. Step 5: Apply for state nomination or confirm family sponsorship eligibility. Step 6: If nominated, you will receive an invitation to apply. Step 7: Lodge your visa application within 60 days with all supporting documents. Step 8: Complete medical and police checks. Step 9: Wait for processing (6–14 months). Step 10: Once granted, move to your designated regional area within the timeframe specified. Plan your skills assessment and English test early — these can take months and must be completed before you can be invited.
Find an Agent for Your 491 Application
The 491 visa involves navigating both the federal SkillSelect system and state-specific nomination programs. A migration agent experienced in regional visas can help you choose the right state, maximise your points, prepare your application, and plan your pathway to permanent residency through the 191. Search our directory at /migration-agents for agents who specialise in regional and skilled migration. Learn more about skilled visa options at /visa/skilled-work-regional-visa, or verify any agent's MARA registration at /tools/mara-check. Also read our related guides on the Subclass 189 (/guides/subclass-189-skilled-independent-visa) and Subclass 190 (/guides/subclass-190-skilled-nominated-visa) visas.
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