Guidance for skilled workers seeking Australian employment through employer-sponsored visa pathways.
Would you like to live and work in regional Australia while building a pathway towards permanent residence?
The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) allows eligible skilled workers and their eligible family members to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia.
The visa may be available through State or Territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship, depending on the applicable pathway. Eligible holders may later progress towards permanent residence through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, subject to meeting the relevant requirements.
The Subclass 491 visa is designed for skilled professionals who are prepared to build their future in regional Australia.
Live, work and study in designated regional Australia.
Stay in Australia for up to 5 years.
Receive 15 additional points for eligible regional nomination or family sponsorship.
Include eligible family members, subject to the applicable visa requirements.
Build a potential pathway towards permanent residence through Subclass 191.
Access regional skilled migration opportunities across a broad range of occupations.
At Jurist Migration, we assess your occupation, qualifications, skills assessment, English, points position and personal circumstances to help you understand whether the Subclass 491 pathway may be suitable for you.
The current points threshold for Subclass 491 is 65 points. However, meeting the minimum threshold does not guarantee an invitation. State and Territory nomination programs have their own eligibility criteria and priorities.
The definition of a designated regional area is based on Australian Government rules and eligible postcodes. It is therefore important to check the specific location rather than assuming that every area outside a capital city is regional.
| State / Territory | Designated Regional Areas |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Eligible designated regional postcodes |
| Victoria | Eligible designated regional postcodes |
| Queensland | Eligible designated regional postcodes |
| Western Australia | Eligible designated regional locations |
| South Australia | Eligible designated regional locations |
| Tasmania | Eligible designated regional locations |
| Australian Capital Territory | Eligible designated regional locations |
| Northern Territory | Eligible designated regional locations |
Some major regional centres are included within Australia's designated regional classification. The applicable postcode should always be checked before making migration or settlement plans.
Your points score may be affected by factors such as age, English, employment, qualifications, study and sponsorship.
| Category | Points Considerations |
|---|---|
| Age | Points based on your age at the relevant stage |
| English Language | Additional points may be available for higher English proficiency |
| Skilled Employment | Relevant Australian and overseas skilled employment |
| Qualifications | Eligible educational qualifications |
| Australian Study | Eligible Australian study qualifications |
| Regional Study | Eligible study undertaken in regional Australia |
| Specialist Education | Eligible Australian specialist education qualifications |
| Professional Year | Eligible Professional Year completion |
| Community Language | Credentialled community language |
| Partner Skills | Eligible partner-related points |
| Regional Nomination / Family Sponsorship | 15 additional points |
Your points must be supported by appropriate evidence, and the points available to you depend on your individual circumstances and the applicable rules.
The Subclass 491 process generally involves the following steps:
Review your occupation, age, qualifications, skills assessment, English, work experience and potential points score.
Submit your EOI through SkillSelect with accurate information about your personal, educational and professional circumstances.
Depending on your pathway, seek nomination from an Australian State or Territory or sponsorship from an eligible family member.
If selected, you may receive an invitation to lodge your Subclass 491 visa application.
After receiving an invitation, complete your visa application and provide the required supporting documents within the applicable timeframe.
State and Territory nomination is competitive and each jurisdiction applies its own criteria based on factors such as workforce needs, occupation demand and available nomination places.
You can check your current visa conditions through VEVO.
The Subclass 491 visa can provide a pathway to the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191).
Eligible Subclass 491 holders may be able to apply for Subclass 191 after meeting the applicable requirements, including requirements relating to living and working in regional Australia.
The pathway is not automatic simply because you have held a Subclass 491 for three years.
You must satisfy the requirements that apply to the Subclass 191 visa when you lodge your application.
Important: Subclass 191 eligibility should be assessed according to your circumstances and the requirements applicable at the time you lodge the application.
The Subclass 491 is a points-tested provisional skilled visa for eligible workers who are nominated by an Australian State or Territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in regional Australia.
The visa helps regional communities attract skilled workers to address workforce needs and support economic and population growth outside Australia's major metropolitan areas.
Subclass 491 is specifically designed for regional migration. Eligible State/Territory nomination or family sponsorship provides 15 additional points, and the visa can provide a pathway towards permanent residence through Subclass 191.
The Subclass 491 is points-tested. Points can be awarded for factors including age, English proficiency, skilled employment, qualifications, Australian study and other eligible criteria.
Eligible family members may be included in a Subclass 491 application, subject to the relevant visa requirements.
