491 Visa Skilled Work Regional visa

Q: How long can I stay on a 491 Visa?

You can stay in Australia for up to 5 years on the 491 Visa.

Q: Do I need to live in a regional area?

Yes, you must live, work, and study in a designated regional area of Australia.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

Australia Subclass 491 Visa Agents

The sub- class 491 is for skilled workers who can live, work and study in designated areas of Australia. The skilled workers must meet the eligibility requirements before applying for subclass 491. The applicant must give a skill exam and pass with the required scores and also get a nomination from the state or territory government.

What Is the Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)?

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, subclass 491, is a points-tested visa for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member. It replaced the subclass 489 visa on 16 November 2019.

It is a temporary visa valid for five years. During that time you can live, work and study in any designated regional area, travel in and out of Australia as often as you like, and include your partner and children.

You are not tied to one employer or to your nominated occupation. You can change jobs, work for yourself or study, as long as you stay within designated regional areas and keep to any commitment you made to the nominating state.

Key Features at a Glance

Feature	Details (2026)
Visa type	Provisional (temporary), points-tested
Validity	5 years from grant
Minimum points	65, including 15 for nomination or sponsorship
Age limit	Under 45 at the time of invitation
English	Competent English or higher
Government fee	AUD 6,140 (main applicant)
Where you can live	Designated regional areas only
PR pathway	Subclass 191 after 3 years
Family	Partner and dependent children can be included

Who Should Consider the Australia 491 Visa?

This visa suits you if any of these apply:

Your score sits between 65 and 85 points and you are not receiving
subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa or subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa invitations.
Your occupation appears on a state’s regional list but not on the list used for the 189 visa.
You have a close relative settled in regional Australia who is willing to sponsor you.
You are an international student or graduate already living in a regional area.
You are comfortable building your career in cities such as Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Canberra or the Gold Coast.

It is a weaker fit if your job exists only in Sydney or Melbourne, or if your family cannot commit to regional living for at least three years.

What Changed for the 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa in 2026

Four developments in 2026 affect anyone planning an application this year. Three are already in force. One has only been announced.

Visa Fee Increase from 1 July 2026

The government raised most visa application charges by about 25% on 1 July 2026. The 491 skilled work regional visa now costs AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, up from AUD 4,910 in 2025-26.

The new charge applies to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. Applications lodged before that date keep the old fee, whenever they are decided.

Fewer Regional Places in 2026-27

Australia’s 2026-27 Migration Program stays at 185,000 places, with 132,240 in the Skill stream. Inside that total, the Regional category fell from 33,000 places in 2025-26 to 14,110 in 2026-27, a cut of about 57%. This category covers both the 491 and the employer-sponsored 494 visa.

Most places across the program are also expected to go to applicants already in Australia. For offshore applicants from India, this means fewer invitations and stricter state criteria than in the past two years.

In practice, a bare 65 points is rarely enough. A strong English score, an occupation a state is actively looking for and a complete application on day one matter more than before.

New Processing Priorities

New ministerial directions on processing order took effect on 19 September 2026. Skilled visa applications in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture and resources occupations are placed ahead of others in the queue.

If your occupation falls in one of these sectors, your application may be reached sooner. If it does not, expect a longer wait.

Points Test Reform: Announced vs In Force

The 2026-27 Federal Budget confirmed that the government will redesign the points test to favour younger, highly educated and higher-skilled applicants. On 17 September 2026, the Minister added that housing trade qualifications will earn the same points as a university degree.

As of October 2026, none of this is law. There is no new points table and no confirmed start date. Every application is still scored under the current test with a 65-point minimum.

Skilled Work Regional visa – Main applicant

This type of skilled regional visa or subclass 491 is for skilled workers who want to work and live in Australia. The following are the benefits of a 491 visa:

Live in Australia for up to 5 years
Work, study, and live in designated areas of Australia
Travelling to and from Australia, till the visa is valid
One can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the date the visa is granted

The cost for this visa is AUD$ 4250 approx. The fee is subject to change so do check before applying. Almost 90% of the applications are processed within 22 months.

Eligibility for the Skilled Work Regional visa – Main applicant

Skills Assessment – You can see the skill assessment criteria on the official website, and get the skill assessment done.
Scores – You must score a minimum of 65 points or more to get the invitation.
English Language proficiency – You must meet the English language requirements to apply for the visa. You can check on their website which tests they are accepting and what is the minimum requirements.
Sign the Australian value statement – If there are visa refusals or any rejections in your previous visas that you applied for, specifically your Australian visas , then you might not be able to get this visa.
Refusals – If you have any refusals and are not sure if you will receive this visa or not, please do not worry, GIEC Global India will help you with an end to end assistance in applying for this or any other visa.
After Visa Grant – Once you have been granted your visa, you cannot stay more than the time your visa is valid. If you want to extend your stay, you have to apply for another visa. With this visa, you can travel from and to Australia as much as you want till your visa is valid. Keep in mind that time spent outside of Australia will not extend your stay in Australia.

491 Visa Requirements: Full Eligibility Checklist

You must meet every one of the 491 visa requirements below at the time you are invited. Missing a single item leads to refusal, and the visa charge is not refunded.

Be under 45 years of age when you receive the invitation.
Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.
Hold a positive skills assessment for that occupation.
Score at least 65 points on the points test.
Be nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative.
Have at least Competent English.
Receive an invitation to apply through SkillSelect.
Meet health and character requirements.

Age, Occupation and Skills Assessment

Your age is counted on the date of invitation, not the date you lodge your Expression of Interest (EOI). If you turn 45 while waiting, you can no longer be invited.

Your occupation must be on the list that applies to your pathway. State-nominated applicants can draw on the widest set of occupations, including regional-only ones. Family-sponsored applicants are limited to the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List.

A skills assessment confirms that your qualification and work experience match Australian standards. It must be issued by the authority for your occupation and obtained within three years before your invitation, or within its own validity period if that is shorter.

Profession	Usual assessing authority
IT professionals	Australian Computer Society (ACS)
Engineers	Engineers Australia
Nurses and midwives	ANMAC
Accountants	CPA Australia, CA ANZ or IPA
School teachers	AITSL
Social workers	AASW
Chefs, cooks and trades	Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
Many management and general professional roles	VETASSESS

English Language Requirements

Indian passport holders must prove their English with an approved test. Since 7 August 2025, the Department of Home Affairs accepts nine tests, including IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic and the Michigan English Test.

Level	IELTS (each band)	PTE Academic (L / R / W / S)	Points
Competent (minimum)	6.0	47 / 48 / 51 / 54	0
Proficient	7.0	Higher scores apply	10
Superior	8.0	Higher scores apply	20

Results are valid for three years. Online and at-home versions of these tests are not accepted, so book a test-centre sitting.

Health and Character Requirements

Every applicant, including dependants, completes a medical examination with a panel physician approved by the Australian government. In India, these are available in major cities.

You also need a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from the Passport Seva system and from any other country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years, since turning 16.

Points Test Requirements

Applicants must score at least 65 points based on factors such as:

Age: Up to 30 points
English Language Ability: Up to 20 points
Skilled Employment Experience: Up to 20 points
Educational Qualifications: Up to 20 points
Australian Study Requirement: 5 points
Study in Regional Australia: 5 points
Partner Skills: Up to 10 points
Nomination or Sponsorship: 15 points

Note: Points for nomination or sponsorship are awarded only if you are nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member.

491 Visa Points Test Explained

You need at least 65 points to lodge an EOI. The 15 points for nomination or sponsorship count towards that total, so your own profile needs to reach 50.

The table below shows the test as it applies in October 2026.

Full Points Table

Factor	Criteria	Points
Age	18 to 24	25
	25 to 32	30
	33 to 39	25
	40 to 44	15
English	Competent	0
	Proficient	10
	Superior	20
Overseas skilled work (last 10 years)	3 to 4 years	5
	5 to 7 years	10
	8 years or more	15
Australian skilled work (last 10 years)	1 to 2 years	5
	3 to 4 years	10
	5 to 7 years	15
	8 years or more	20
Education	Doctorate	20
	Bachelor or Master degree	15
	Diploma or trade qualification	10
Specialist education	Australian Master by research or Doctorate in a STEM field	10
Australian study	At least 2 academic years in Australia	5
Regional study	Australian study completed in a regional area	5
Professional Year	Completed in Australia in accounting, IT or engineering	5
Community language	NAATI credentialled community language	5
Nomination or sponsorship	State nomination or eligible family sponsorship	15

Work experience points for overseas and Australian employment combined are capped at 20. Only work that your assessing authority counts as skilled is included.

Partner Points for Couples

Your marital status changes your score, so couples should work this out early.

Your situation	Points
Single, or partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident	10
Partner is under 45, has Competent English and a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation	10
Partner has Competent English only	5
Partner has neither	0

If both partners are skilled, calculate the score both ways. The partner with the higher total should usually be the main applicant.

Nomination by State or Territory Government

If applying through state or territory nomination:

Occupation: Must be on the state or territory’s skilled occupation list.
Commitment: Demonstrate a genuine commitment to live and work in the nominating state or territory.
Application Process:
1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.
2. Apply for nomination to the relevant state or territory.
3. Receive an invitation to apply for the visa.

Each state or territory may have additional requirements; it’s essential to check their specific guidelines.

Sponsorship by an Eligible Family Member

If applying through family sponsorship:

Sponsor’s Eligibility:
- Must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Usually resident in a designated regional area.
- To qualify, you need to be a close family member of the applicant or their partner
Application Process:
1. Submit an EOI through SkillSelect, indicating family sponsorship.
2. Await an invitation to apply for the visa.

491 Visa Processing Time

Home Affairs updates its processing time estimates every month, and figures for the 491 visa have moved considerably over the past year. Use the official visa processing time guide tool on the Home Affairs website for the current estimate for your stream.

Three things affect how long your own case takes:

Your occupation. Since 19 September 2026, priority sectors are processed first.
How complete your application is. A decision-ready file with medicals and police certificates uploaded up front avoids requests for more information.
How long checks take. Employment verification and character checks vary from case to case.

Remember that the visa stage is only the last part. Skills assessment, English testing and state nomination usually add several months before you are even invited.

How to Apply for the 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa: Step by Step

Check your occupation and eligibility. Confirm your occupation is on a list that a state is currently nominating from, and estimate your points honestly.
Get your skills assessment. Apply to the correct authority with your degree, transcripts and employment evidence. This step often takes the longest, so start here.
Take your English test. Aim for Proficient or Superior, not just the minimum.
Lodge your Expression of Interest. Submit an EOI in SkillSelect and select the 491 visa. It costs nothing and stays valid for two years.
Apply for state nomination or arrange family sponsorship. Follow the state’s own process, which may include a separate registration of interest.
Receive your invitation. Once nominated or selected, you receive an invitation through SkillSelect.
Lodge your visa application within 60 days. Upload all documents and pay the visa charge through ImmiAccount.
Complete health checks and biometrics. Do these as soon as they are requested.
Wait for a decision and respond quickly. Answer any request for more information by the deadline given.
Move to your regional area. Enter Australia by the date on your grant letter and begin your regional life.

How GIEC Global Helps with Your 491 Visa Australia Application

GIEC Global works with skilled applicants across India from our New Delhi office and our partner offices in Australia. Australian migration advice on this pathway is provided by Suman Prem, a Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2418548).

Our support covers each stage of the process: