491 Visa
The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, also known as the 491 visa in Australia, allows skilled workers to live, work and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years.
Who is the 491 Visa for?
The Subclass 491 visa is for skilled workers who want to migrate to Australia and are willing to live and work in regional areas. It is designed to address skill shortages in these regions while providing a pathway to permanent residency.
To be eligible for the 491 visa requirements, applicants must:
- Have an occupation on the relevant 491 visa occupation list (for example: engineers, nurses, ICT professionals, teachers, and selected trades such as electricians and plumbers, depending on current skilled occupation lists)
- Obtain a positive skills assessment
- Be nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area
- Score at least 65 points on the points test
- Be under 45 years of age at the time of invitation
- Have competent English
- Meet health and character requirements
This visa is suitable for applicants who may not qualify for independent skilled visas but are open to regional opportunities. It’s particularly relevant for those who:
- Have skills in demand in regional Australia
- Are willing to live and work outside major metropolitan areas
- Have access to state nomination or eligible family sponsorship
Need help with your Australian Visa?
IMMagine Immigration offers a range of immigration services, including assistance with work visa applications.
491 Visa Benefits:
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Live, work and study in a designated regional area for up to 5 years under the 491 visa in Australia
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Travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid
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Access Medicare (Australia’s public health care system), if eligible
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Apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa, if requirements are met
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Include eligible family members in your application
How We Can Help You
- Assess your eligibility, including points score, occupation and visa requirements
- Advise on suitable state or territory nomination pathways
- Guide you through the skills assessment process
- Prepare and review your visa application for accuracy and completeness
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Assist with compiling supporting documents in line with Department requirements
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Manage communication with state authorities and the Department of Home Affairs
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Provide support for complex cases or previous visa issues
Step by Step
Our Process
1. Free Eligibility Check
Complete our short questionnaire and attach your resume (or provide a summary of qualifications and work experience).
Within 48 working hours, we will provide a free written assessment of Visa options.
2. Online Consultation
Book a 75–90 minute paid online consultation to explore your visa options and get answers to all your questions.
3. Visa Application
Once you decide to proceed, we will handle the preparation and processing of your visa application.
About Our Strategy Consultation
If your initial FREE assessment is evaluated as positive you will qualify for a Strategy Consultation with one of our registered migration agents.
The Strategy Consult is:
A professional assessment by a registered migration agent
A review of your most realistic visa pathways
An explanation of timelines, risks, and trade-offs
Guidance before you invest significant time or money
The Consult is NOT:
A guarantee of eligibility or visa approval
A sales call
Generalised or automated advice
People seeking guarantees
(This saves everyone time)
Why IMMagine Immigration
35 years of experience in the migration industry
Fixed fees
Government registered/licensed migration agents with offices in Melbourne (Australia) and Auckland (New Zealand)
Success oriented fee structure with instalments paid on reaching milestones in the process.
Your Jounrey from Assessment to Grant
The 491 Visa Application
Confirm Eligibility & Submit Expression of Interest
Ensure you meet the 491 visa requirements, including the points test, skills assessment, English language ability, and nomination or sponsorship requirements.
Gather all necessary supporting documents and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. Seek nomination from a state or territory government or sponsorship from an eligible relative.
You must be nominated or sponsored and invited to apply before proceeding with a visa application.
Apply online through ImmiAccount
Once invited, submit your visa application via ImmiAccount and pay the 491 visa fees, which are government visa application charges and may change over time.
Await a decision
Await a decision from the Department of Home Affairs. Provide additional information if requested and wait to receive written notification of the outcome once a decision has been made.
Alternative Visas
The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa and the Subclass 189 Skilled Independent Visa are strong alternatives to the Subclass 491 visa.
The Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government. It provides immediate permanent residency and does not require regional living conditions.
The Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa is also a permanent residency visa for skilled workers. It does not require state or territory nomination or employer sponsorship, but it is highly competitive and invitation-based.
The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa differs as it is a provisional visa that requires applicants to live and work in a designated regional area and provides a pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Subclass 491 visa provides a pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.
To qualify, visa holders must:
- Have lived in a designated regional area
- Have worked while holding the 491 visa
- Comply with all visa conditions
- Meet income and other requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs
Processing times vary depending on individual circumstances, nomination processes, and application completeness.
- Government nominated applications have a typical processing time of 16 months to 26 months
- Family sponsored applications usually take 87 days to 29 months.
These timeframes are subject to change.
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