The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a 5-year provisional visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. It replaced the subclass 489 as the main points-tested regional provisional visa. Unlike the permanent subclass 189 (Skilled Independent), the 491 is provisional — holders must live and work in a regional area for 3 years before they can apply for permanent residence through the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 191).

The 491 offers a key advantage in the points test: state or territory nomination awards 15 additional points, making the regional path more accessible for skilled workers who cannot achieve the invitation score for the 189. For current invitation round scores and state nomination criteria, refer to the DHA subclass 491 page.

• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional) — the visa criteria
• DHA: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/skilled-work-regional-491
• DHA: Points table for subclass 491 — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/491-points-table
• DHA: State and territory nomination allocations — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/state-territory-nomination-allocations

The two streams

State or territory nominated stream

The applicant must be nominated by a state or territory government. To be nominated, the applicant must meet the criteria of the relevant state or territory's skilled migration program. Each state and territory has its own criteria, occupation lists, and priorities — some require a job offer in the state, some accept offshore applicants, some have specific regional requirements beyond the federal definition. State nomination awards 15 additional points on the 491 points table.

Family-sponsored stream

The applicant can be sponsored by an eligible family member who is settled in a designated regional area of Australia (as a citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen). This stream is an alternative to state nomination — the family sponsor replaces the state/territory as the nominating entity. Family-sponsored applicants also receive the points bonus. For current eligible relative types and regional residence requirements for the sponsor, refer to the DHA 491 page.

The EOI and invitation process

Like the subclass 189, the 491 requires an EOI through SkillSelect before an invitation to apply is issued. The minimum score to submit an EOI is 65 points. However, because state or territory nomination adds 15 points to a score, a 491 applicant with nomination effectively starts with a higher base than a 189 applicant with the same underlying score. Invitation rounds for the 491 are run separately from the 189 and 190 rounds. For current invitation round results, refer to the DHA invitation rounds page.

Occupation requirement

The nominated occupation must be on an eligible occupation list for the 491. This includes occupations on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List) and the ROL (Regional Occupation List). The ROL includes occupations eligible specifically for regional visa pathways but not for the metropolitan-focused 189. For the current eligible occupation lists, refer to the DHA skilled occupation list page.

What the 491 grants

The subclass 491 is a provisional visa valid for 5 years from grant. Holders can:

• Live and work in a designated regional area of Australia
• Study in Australia
• Travel to and from Australia multiple times during the 5 years
• Include eligible family members in the application

The 491 does not grant permanent residence — it is the first stage of the regional provisional → permanent residence pathway.

The pathway to permanent residence

After holding the subclass 491 for at least 3 years and meeting the income threshold and regional residence requirements while in a regional area, the holder can apply for the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 191) — which grants permanent residence. For details, see the regional provisional to PR pathway page.

State and territory nomination allocations

The annual number of state and territory nomination places across all skilled visa subclasses (189, 190, 491) is set by the Australian Government. For the 2025–26 program year, 20,350 nomination places were set (announced November 2025). Each state and territory receives its own allocation. For current allocation numbers, refer to the DHA allocation page.

The subclass 491 is one of Australia's primary entry points for skilled workers who have lower CRS-equivalent points scores or who are seeking an occupation not on the MLTSSL. The 15-point nomination bonus makes it significantly more accessible than the 189 for many applicants. The regional living requirement (3 years) is a genuine commitment — it is not satisfied by living in a major city. For current state nomination criteria, each state's skilled migration website must be consulted directly. The DHA provides links to state and territory nomination pages at the DHA 491 page.