491 Visa

Applying for a 491 (Provisional) Visa

You may be able to apply for a 491 Visa if you meet the following requirements:

Be invited to apply

You can only apply for this visa if you receive an invitation from us.

To express your interest in applying for the visa, please submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect.

Be sure to indicate whether an eligible relative will sponsor you or if you would like a state or territory government agency to nominate you.

Be nominated or sponsored

You must either be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or indicate that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative. Here are the details:

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI): Complete an EOI for the visa to receive an estimate of your points score.

2. Points Score: If you achieve a sufficient score, state and territory government agencies will be able to view your EOI and may choose to nominate you for the visa.

3. Sponsorship by an Eligible Relative: If you indicate in your EOI that you will be sponsored by an eligible relative, the Department may invite you to apply for a visa during an invitation round.

Nomination by an Australian state or territory government agency

If you are nominated for the visa, we will invite you to apply. Each state and territory government agency has its own criteria for determining nominations.

To learn more about their nomination process and requirements, please contact the relevant state or territory agency directly:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Be this age

To be invited to apply for the visa, you must be under 45 years old.

You can still apply if you turn 45 after receiving the invitation. However, if you turn 45 after submitting your Expression of Interest (EOI) but before we invite you to apply, you will not receive an invitation.

Have a suitable skills assessment

For your application to be valid, you must declare that you have a suitable skills assessment at the time of invitation.

Delegates of the Minister will now accept a suitable skills assessment for your nominated skilled occupation obtained within the 60 days prior to the invitation. This change follows the decision in *Thapa v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs [2021] FCCA 686 (Thapa)*. While the Minister will administer the Migration Regulations 1994 in line with this decision, they reserve the right to contest the ruling in court.

You will need to provide a copy of this skills assessment with your application.

For medical and legal practitioners, the following can also serve as proof of a skills assessment:

• Full, unconditional, or general medical registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Conditional specialist registration with AHPRA, allowing you to practice in your specialty without further training or supervision.
• Admission to practice law in the relevant state or territory.

Your skills assessment must have been obtained within 3 years before the date of your invitation. If the assessment was valid for a shorter period, that period must not have expired.

If your skills were assessed based on a qualification obtained in Australia while on a student visa, the qualification must be from a course registered on CRICOS.

Be able to score 65 points or more

The subclass 491 is a points-tested visa.

When you submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, you will receive an indicative points score based on your claims. If you do not achieve at least 65 points, you will not be invited to apply for this visa.

If you are invited to apply, your invitation will specify the minimum points you must score when we assess your application for the visa. This required score may be higher than 65 points, depending on the claims made in your EOI.

When you submit your application, you must provide evidence to support your claims.

To find out how points can be awarded, please refer to the points table.

Calculate your points

Have this level of English language

At the time of your invitation, you must have at least Competent English.

Information About Family Members Aged 18 and Over:

If a family member aged 18 or older is applying for the visa with you, they must either:

• Have Functional English, or
• Pay a second installment visa application charge.

Meet the skills requirement

Your occupation must be on the combined list of eligible skilled occupations for the Skilled Regional (subclass 491) visa.

Health requirement:

You and any family members applying for the visa with you must meet our health requirements. Additionally, if requested, family members who are not accompanying you to Australia may also need to meet these health requirements.

Character requirement

You and any family members aged 16 years and older who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirements. Family members who are not accompanying you to Australia must also fulfill these character requirements.

Subclass 491 Visa Estimated Cost

How long will it take to get a decision on your 491 visa?

Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) – State/Territory Government Nominated Regional:

50% of visas are processed within 20 months
90% of visas are processed within 27 months

Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491)– Family Sponsored Regional:

50% of visas are processed within 25 months
90% of visas are processed within 33 months

Processing Times Updated 1 November 2025

Include your family in the Subclass 491 Visa

Applicants can include the following people in their 491 visa application:

• Dependent children/stepchildren
• Partner

Partner

Your married or de facto partner can be the same or opposite sex. Applicants must prove:
• the relationship is genuine and continuing
• you live together, or do not live separately on a permanent basis.
• your partner is at least 18 years of age when the application is lodged (there are some exceptions)
• you are not related by family (if you are in a de facto relationship)
• you and your partner have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others

Children

To be eligible to be included or added to this visa, a child must:

• be your child or a stepchild from a current or a previous relationship (in certain circumstances);
• not be married, engaged to be married, or have a de facto partner; and must be:
• under 18 years of age
or
• over 18 years of age but not yet turned 23, and be dependent on you or your partner
or
• over 23 years of age and be unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and be dependent on you or your partner (Note: The child will still need to meet Australia’s health requirement)
or
• a dependent child of a child who is eligible under 1, 2 or 3 above.

Health & Character

All family members must meet health and character requirements. All applicants over 16 must provide police clearances.

If you would like to apply for another employer-sponsored or skilled visa, you may be eligible to apply for one of the below visas:

• 482 Visa
• 186 Visa (ENS)
• 189 Visa
• 190 Visa
• 494 Visa

If you would like more information about the 491 visa subclass or to discuss your Australian visa eligibility with a registered migration agent, click here to book a consultation.