491 Visa 2026: +15 Points, Regional Areas & PR

Overview

The Subclass 491 is a points-tested provisional visa for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible family member living in designated regional Australia — everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. It is valid for 5 years, adds 15 points (the largest sponsorship bonus in skilled migration) to a 65-point floor, and requires you to live, work and study in a designated regional area (condition 8579). After holding it for three years and lodging ATO notices of assessment for three income years you can apply for the permanent Subclass 191. Since 19 September 2026, Ministerial Direction 122 sets the processing order.

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa is a points-tested provisional visa (5 years) for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative in designated regional Australia. It adds 15 points — the biggest sponsorship boost in skilled migration — to a 65-point floor, and leads to permanent residence through the subclass 191 after three years in region.

Why does the 491 get invited when the 189 won’t?

+15 points is the largest bonus available in the points test. A candidate on 70 points who would never be invited for a 189 effectively sits at 85 for a 491. That is why, for many applicants a long way short on the 189 or 190, the 491 is the realistic route to permanent residence — provided you’re willing to commit to a region. You must be under 45 when invited, have competent English, and lodge within 60 days of the invitation.

Where is “designated regional Australia”?

Everywhere in Australia except Greater Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Home Affairs divides it into Category 2 — the cities and major regional centres of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart — and Category 3, every other regional centre and rural area. Both count for the 491. Condition 8579 requires you to live, work and study only in a designated regional area for the life of the visa, and you must tell the Department when you move.

Which occupation lists apply?

The 491 can draw on the MLTSSL, the STSOL and the Regional Occupation List (ROL) — the broadest pool of the skilled visas — plus the requirements of the nominating state or the family-sponsor pathway. As with the 189 and 190, the CSOL used for employer-sponsored visas does not apply.

How do you get from the 491 to permanent residence (191)?

The 491 is provisional, but it is a genuine PR pathway. To apply for the subclass 191 permanent visa you must have held the 491 for at least three years, complied with its conditions (living, working and studying in a designated regional area), and lodged ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of your 491. As at 30 October 2026, Home Affairs’ 191 Regional Provisional stream page states “There is no minimum income requirement”, although its 191 overview page still refers to an income threshold; confirm the position before you lodge. Once granted, the 191 is permanent with no regional condition. Keep clean tax and residence records from day one — they are your evidence three years later.

Who is processed first, and what changed in 2026?

Since 19 September 2026, Ministerial Direction 122 sets the processing order for the 491 (and the 189, 190, 494, 186 and 191): construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, resources, law-enforcement and defence occupations first; then applicants in Australia; then offshore applicants without family; then everyone else. The 2026-27 Migration Program allocates 14,110 Regional places (shared between the 491 and the 494) and 35,500 State/Territory Nominated places. Home Affairs’ first 2026-27 tally (1 July to 31 August 2026) shows Western Australia 120, Tasmania 55 and Northern Territory 25 state-nominated 491 nominations, with Queensland and the ACT under 5 and New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria at 0 — the regional states are where the early 491 nominations are going. On 17 September 2026 the Minister also announced that trade qualifications will earn the same points as a university degree in the 189/190/491 points test — announced, but not yet in force at the time of this update.

491 vs 189 vs 190

The table above compares all three. If you can be invited unaided, the 189 is simplest. If you’re willing to commit to a region, the 491’s +15 and clear 191 pathway is often the fastest route to PR for applicants who fall short on the 190.

Fees and processing times shown above are sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and displayed with the date verified.

Who is eligible for the Subclass 491 visa?

Be nominated by a state/territory or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area
Submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and be invited to apply; lodge within 60 days of invitation
Score at least 65 points (including the 15 nomination or sponsorship points)
Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list (MLTSSL, STSOL or ROL)
Hold a suitable skills assessment
Be under 45 at the time of invitation and have at least competent English
Commit to living, working and studying in a designated regional area for the life of the visa

This visa is points-tested. Estimate your points with our calculator .

How much does the Subclass 491 visa cost?

The base application charge is A$6,140. An additional A$3,070 applies per applicant aged 18 or over. Checked against the official Home Affairs pricing table on 29 October 2026. See every Subclass 491 stream's charge and processing time, or compare every visa on our Australian visa fees table. Fees are indexed each year — see the official Visa Pricing Estimator for the current figure.

How long does the Subclass 491 visa take to process?

For the State/Territory Government Nominated Regional stream, around 75% of applications are finalised within 16 months, and 90% within 18 months.

Stream	75% finalised within	90% finalised within
State/Territory Government Nominated Regional	16 months	18 months
Family Sponsored Regional	5 months	7 months

Official figures as at 29 September 2026. Source: Department of Home Affairs — Global visa processing times. Compare all visas on our processing times tracker. Times are a guide only — complete, decision-ready applications are generally faster.

How do you apply for the Subclass 491 visa?

Confirm regional eligibility. Check that your occupation and intended region qualify under the state or family-sponsored pathway.
Submit an EOI. Lodge an EOI and apply for nomination or arrange family sponsorship — this adds 15 points.
Receive an invitation and apply. Apply within 60 days of invitation with full evidence.
Live and work regionally. Meet the regional residence conditions and lodge tax returns each year — your ATO notices of assessment are the evidence for the subclass 191 permanent visa.

How it compares

Feature	189	190	491
Status	Permanent	Permanent	Provisional (5 yrs)
Sponsor / nominator	None	State/territory	State or eligible family
Points bonus	0	+5	+15
Minimum points	65	65	65
Occupation list	MLTSSL	MLTSSL + STSOL	MLTSSL + STSOL + ROL
Where you can live	Anywhere	Nominating state	Designated regional only
Leads to	Citizenship	Citizenship	PR via subclass 191 after 3 years

Frequently asked questions

Does the 491 lead to permanent residence?

Yes. After holding the 491 for at least three years and complying with its conditions — living, working and studying in a designated regional area — you can apply for the Subclass 191 permanent visa. You must provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years as evidence. Once granted, the 191 has no regional condition.

How many points does the 491 add?

Nomination by a state or territory, or eligible family sponsorship, adds 15 points to your score — the largest bonus available. The legal minimum is 65 points including those 15. A candidate on 70 points who would never be invited for a 189 effectively sits at 85 for a 491.

What income do you need to move from a 491 to a 191?

You provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of your 491. As at 30 October 2026, Home Affairs' 191 Regional Provisional stream page states "There is no minimum income requirement", although its 191 overview page still refers to an income threshold, so confirm the position before you lodge. Keep complete tax records from day one.

Which areas count as 'designated regional Australia'?

Everywhere in Australia except Greater Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Home Affairs splits it into Category 2 'cities and major regional centres' — Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart — and Category 3, every other regional centre and area. Both categories qualify for the 491; the official postcode list is published by Home Affairs.

Which occupation list does the 491 use?

The 491 has the widest reach of the skilled visas: the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and the Regional Occupation List (ROL), plus the requirements of the nominating state or family-sponsor pathway. The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) used for employer-sponsored visas does not apply.

How are 491 applications prioritised since September 2026?

Ministerial Direction 122, in force from 19 September 2026, puts applicants whose occupation is in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing or resources (or law enforcement and defence) first, then applicants in Australia at lodgement, then offshore applicants without family, then all others. It applies to the 189, 190, 491, 494, 186 and 191, and affects processing order only.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 491)