Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

Who it's for

Skilled workers whose points position needs the 15-point regional boost, whose occupation appears on broader regional lists, or who have family in regional Australia able to sponsor. It is provisional, not permanent — the trade is a bigger points bonus and wider occupation access in exchange for living, working, and studying in a designated regional area for the life of the visa.

Key requirements

• Nomination by a state or territory for a regional area, or sponsorship by an eligible relative resident in a designated regional area
• Under 45 at the time of invitation
• Suitable skills assessment; at least competent English; points score of at least 65 including the 15-point bonus
• Compliance with visa condition 8579: live, work, and study only in designated regional areas

Almost everywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane counts as designated regional — including Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, and Canberra .

Points/criteria table

The points factors are identical to the subclass 189 table, plus:

Factor	Points
Regional nomination or eligible family sponsorship	15

Process & timeline

1. Skills assessment and English test
2. EOI in SkillSelect; state Registration of Interest where required, or family sponsor documentation
3. Nomination/sponsorship → invitation → application within 60 days
4. Visa granted for 5 years
5. Pathway to permanence: subclass 191 after 3 years of regional residence with taxable income at or above the required threshold, evidenced by ATO notices of assessment

Costs

Item	Paid to	Indicative amount
Skills assessment	Your assessing authority	ACS ~AUD 550; Engineers Australia ~AUD 900–1,350; VETASSESS ~AUD 900–1,100
English test	IELTS or PTE test centre (India)	₹19,000 (IELTS) / ₹18,900 (PTE)
Visa application charge — primary applicant	Department of Home Affairs	AUD 6,135 (from 1 July 2026)
Additional family members	Department of Home Affairs	A further charge per person, roughly half the primary charge for applicants 18 and over
Health examination	Panel clinic in India (eMedical)	₹5,000–8,000 per person
Police clearance certificate (India)	Passport Seva Kendra	₹500
Regional nomination application	Nominating state or territory	Nil to ~AUD 500, varies by state
Subclass 191 application (after three years)	Department of Home Affairs	A separate charge at that time

Amounts payable to Australian authorities and assessing bodies are in Australian dollars; costs incurred in India are shown in rupees. Figures are indicative, change periodically, and should be treated as a planning guide rather than a quote. Our advisory fees are separate — see Services & fees.

Common pitfalls

• Underestimating the permanence pathway: subclass 191 has income evidence requirements that begin with your first regional tax return — planning starts on arrival, not in year three
• Moving to a metropolitan area "temporarily" — condition 8579 compliance is monitored and breaches jeopardise both this visa and the 191
• Choosing 491 over a slower but permanent 190 without weighing the three-year provisional period honestly
• Family-sponsored stream: assuming any relative qualifies — the relationship and the sponsor's regional residence are both tested

FAQ

Is 491 permanent residence? No. It is provisional for five years, with a defined pathway to permanent residence through subclass 191.

Can I change regions? Yes — the condition is regional Australia generally, not the nominating region specifically, though state commitments may say otherwise .

Does regional mean remote? No. Several state capitals are designated regional areas.

Related visas

• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• How the points system works