Why Apply for Subclass 491 Visa Australia?

The Australia Subclass 491 Visa is a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa that allows qualified foreign professionals to live, work, and study in regional Australia for up to 5 years. This visa offers a pathway to Australian Permanent Residency (PR) and is ideal for those who want to build a long-term future in Australia.

Subclass 491 Visa Benefits – Key Highlights

• The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 is meant for skilled international professionals.
• Valid for up to 5 years, allowing you to live, work, and study in regional Australia.
• Offers a pathway to apply for Australia PR (Permanent Residency).
• You can include eligible family members as dependents in your application.
• Allows multiple entries and exits during the visa validity.
• As of 2025, the visa remains one of the top choices for professionals aiming to settle in regional Australia.

Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa 

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa allows skilled workers to live, work, and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years. It also provides a clear pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa once eligibility requirements are met.

To apply, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and be invited to apply. Invitations are issued either after state or territory government nomination or through family sponsorship. Applicants must also meet the points-test requirement, obtain a positive skills assessment, and satisfy health and character checks.

This visa is designed to strengthen regional Australia by encouraging skilled migrants to settle outside the major metropolitan centres, while also giving applicants and their families the opportunity to transition to permanent residency after meeting the required residence and income conditions.

The visa subclass 491 permits specific occupations. The occupations should be listed on the skilled occupation list of the Australian Skilled Migration program.

The two streams of the Subclass 491 Visa Australia are listed below:

• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa- Main Applicant Stream
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa- Subsequent Entrant Stream
   

Advantages of Subclass 491 visa

The advantages of Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 are given below:

• International individuals can stay, study, and work anywhere in Australia.
• The candidates can apply for Australia PR with a Subclass 491 visa.
• They can bring their family members through the visa application.
• The visa subclass can be applied from anywhere, be it in or out of Australia.
• The candidates can travel multiple times to and from Australia during the validity of the visa.
   

Who Is Eligible for Subclass 491 Visa?

Detailed information on the eligibility criteria for the two streams of visa subclass 491 is given below.

Eligibility Criteria for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa - Main Applicant Stream

The eligibility criteria for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa- Main Applicant Stream are listed below:

• The candidates should be invited to apply for the visa.
• The candidate should be nominated by a state or territory authority in Australia, or they must be sponsored by a relative living in Australia to apply for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa.
• The candidate should be from 18 – 45 years for Subclass 491.
• The candidate should have 65 points or more in the skills assessment.
• The applicant should meet the required proficiency in the English language.
• The applicant should meet the eligibility criteria for health and character.
• There should be no unpaid debts for the Subclass 491 visa.
• No visa or visa applications should have been refused or canceled.
• The candidates should have signed the values statement of Australia.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa - Subsequent Entrant Stream

The eligibility criteria for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa-Subsequent Entrant Stream are listed below:

• The candidate should be related to a 491 visa subclass holder in Australia.
• There are no age specifications to apply for the visa subclass 491 subsequent entrant stream.
• The applicant should be 18 years or older for Subclass 491.
• They should have the required language skills in English for Subclass 491.
• The candidate should fulfill the eligibility criteria for health and character.
• There should be no unpaid debts for Subclass 491.
• The candidate should not have any visa or visa application refused or canceled.

Requirements for Subclass 491 Visa

The requirements for visa subclass 491 are given below:

• The candidates applying for subclass visa 491 are required to fulfill requirements for the English language.
• The candidate should fulfill the health and character eligibility criteria to obtain a 491 visa.
• The Australian value statement needs to be signed by the candidate.

Steps to Apply for Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491

The steps to apply for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491 are given below:

Step 1: Check if the job is listed in the Skilled Occupation List

Step 2: Qualify for the Australian Skills Assessment

Step 3: Score the required points in the points system

Step 4: Submit an EOI or Expression of Interest

Step 5: Submit supporting documents, if required

Step 6: Check the application status

Step 7: Fly to Australia

Subclass 491 Visa Processing Times

Percentile	Points-Tested (general guide)	State/Territory Nominated	Family-Sponsored
25%	~6 months	~6–8 months	~9–10 months
50% (median)	~11–12 months	~18–20 months	~22+ months
90%	~16–17 months	~22–24 months	~25 months

Subclass 491 Processing Times by Stream

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa can be applied for through two main pathways:

• Points-tested with State or Territory nomination
• Family-sponsored stream

Processing times differ between these streams and depend on when you receive an invitation to apply.

• State/Territory Nominated 491: Applicants first secure nomination from a state or territory government. After receiving the nomination, they are invited to lodge their visa application. Median visa processing can take 18–20 months, with 90% of cases finalised within 22–24 months.
• Family-Sponsored 491: Applicants rely on Department of Home Affairs invitation rounds. These generally take longer, with median processing times around 22 months and 90% of cases taking up to 25 months.
• Points-Tested (general guide): Applicants without sponsorship or nomination generally see median processing around 11–12 months, though this varies depending on occupation demand and allocation settings.

Nomination Stage (Before Visa Processing)

For state or territory nomination, there is a separate assessment stage before the visa application begins. This stage is handled by individual state and territory governments and is outside Department of Home Affairs’ control.

• Typical nomination decisions take around 2 to 12 weeks, depending on the state, available allocations, and application volumes.
• Some states, such as Victoria, publish indicative service standards (e.g., 20 business days), while others update timeframes according to demand.
• Only once nomination is granted can applicants receive an invitation and proceed to lodge their visa with the Department.

Subclass 491 Visa Application Timeline

Applying for the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa involves multiple stages. Understanding the sequence helps applicants prepare documents, meet deadlines, and avoid delays.

Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

Create and submit an EOI through SkillSelect, outlining your skills, qualifications, and preferred visa stream. Your EOI is visible to both the Department of Home Affairs and state/territory governments.

Step 2: Nomination (if applicable)

If you are applying under the state or territory nomination pathway, submit a separate application for nomination. This stage is assessed by the nominating authority, and processing typically takes 2–12 weeks depending on demand and allocations.

Step 3: Receive an Invitation

Once nominated (or if applying via family sponsorship), you may receive an invitation to apply for the visa. Invitations are issued by the Department of Home Affairs.

Step 4: Lodge Your Application (within 60 days)

After receiving the invitation, you must lodge your visa application within 60 days through ImmiAccount. Supporting documents such as skills assessment, English test results, and personal evidence must be attached.

Step 5: Department of Home Affairs Processing

The Department assesses your application. Processing times vary by stream and case complexity, ranging from around 12 to 25 months. Factors such as document completeness, health checks, and external clearances can influence timing.

Step 6: Visa Grant

If successful, you will be granted the Subclass 491 visa, allowing you to live, work, and study in designated regional Australia for up to five years, with a pathway to permanent residency via the Subclass 191 visa.

Why Subclass 491 Visa Applications May Be Delayed

While the Department of Home Affairs provides indicative processing times, individual applications can take longer due to several influencing factors. Understanding these helps applicants plan better and avoid unnecessary delays.

Key factors that can slow down processing include:

 

• Document Completeness
  Applications missing required documents or with inconsistent information are often put on hold until corrections or additional evidence are provided.

 

• Nomination Delays
  For state or territory nominated visas, processing cannot begin until nomination is granted. Nomination decisions can take 2–12 weeks depending on the state and program load.

 

• Health and Character Checks
  Medical examinations and police clearances are mandatory. Delays may occur if extra tests or verifications are requested, or if results expire before a decision is made.

 

• Application Volume
  High numbers of applications, particularly during peak migration periods, can extend waiting times as the Department manages overall caseloads.

 

• Priority Occupations vs Backlog Recovery
  Applications in occupations identified as critical may be processed more quickly, while others may face longer queues due to backlog clearance or limited allocation.

Pathway to Permanent Residency: Subclass 491 to Subclass 191

The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa is designed as a temporary visa with a direct pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.

Key requirements for the Subclass 191 (Regional Provisional stream):

• You must have held an eligible visa (such as Subclass 491) for at least 3 years.
• You must have lived and worked in a designated regional area during that time.
• You must provide three Australian Taxation Office (ATO) notices of assessment for three income years out of the last five years you held the 491.
• There is no minimum income threshold, but you must show compliant taxable income across those years.
• You must also continue to meet health, character, and visa condition requirements.

Factoring in visa grant delays:

The 3-year residency requirement begins only after your 491 visa is granted. If your 491 application takes 18–24 months to be processed, you will need to add that time to your expected pathway. For example, if your visa is granted in 2025, the earliest you could apply for the 191 would generally be in 2028, provided you meet the income and residence conditions.

This structure ensures migrants contribute to regional Australia before accessing permanent residency, while giving them a clear timeline to plan for long-term settlement.

How Can Y-Axis Help You?

Y-Axis with its expertise in Australia immigration provides you the following services:

• Free eligibility check through Australia Immigration Points Calculator
• Expert guidance/counseling for Australia Immigration
• Coaching services: Expert PTE coaching, IELTS proficiency Coaching
• Complete guidance for Australia PR visa
• Job search services to find related jobs in Australia
   

Our Accreditations
Code of Conduct	Code Of Professional Conduct
Proud Sponsor of