Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

What the visa lets you do

• stay in Australia for 5 years
• live, work and study in a designated regional area
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid
• apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the grant date

Who can apply?

You must:

• be nominated by a state or territory government agency, or sponsored by an eligible relative
• have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
• have a suitable skills assessment
• be invited to apply
• meet the points test

The steps

1. Check your occupation on the skilled occupation lists.
2. Get your skills assessment and an English test result.
3. Work out your points with the points calculator. Regional nomination or sponsorship adds 15 points.
4. Submit an expression of interest in SkillSelect.
5. Get a state or territory nomination or relative sponsorship.
6. Receive an invitation and lodge within 60 days.

Where can I live?

In a designated regional area. See regional areas and postcodes.

Cost

From A$6,140 for the main applicant, A$3,070 for each additional adult and A$1,535 for each additional child. A lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens. See the fees table. Family members who join later apply as subsequent entrants and their visa lasts as long as yours.

Processing

491 applications are prioritised under Ministerial Direction No. 122, with priority sectors and applicants in Australia processed first. The Department publishes the lodgement months it is currently allocating.

491 vs 190