Australia State or Family Sponsored Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)
The 491 family-sponsored visa is designed for skilled individuals wishing to live and work in regional Australia. To apply, you must score at least 65 points and have a close family member living in regional Australia to offer sponsorship.
Application Process
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Secure Sponsorship
- Receive an Invitation to Apply
Basic Eligibility
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa. You can stay in Australia for 5 years from the date we grant your visa.
You must
- be nominated to apply by a state or territory government agency, or an eligible relative must sponsor you
- have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list
- have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
- be invited to apply
- satisfy the points test
Extended Stay Pathway
This is a temporary visa. It is for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia.
- You need to live, work and study in specified regional areas of Australia
- You must hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visas
With this visa you can
- stay in Australia for 5 years from the date we grant you the visa
- live, work and study in a designated region of Australia
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, while the visa is valid
- apply for permanent residence, if eligible, through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) – which starts on 16 November 2022. You can’t apply for other permanent visas until you have held your subclass 491 visa for 3 years.
Eligibility Criteria
– Receive an invitation to apply
– Be under 45 years of age when invited
– Nominate an occupation on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
– Have a positive skills assessment
– Achieve competent English
– Have sponsorship from an eligible relative
– Score at least 65 points on the Points Test
– Meet health and character requirements
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:
- include them when you submit your visa application
- add a dependent child after you submit but before we decide on your visa application.
Family members who apply for the visa must meet our health and character requirements. Family members not accompanying you to Australia might also need to meet our health and character requirements. If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, tell us the reason why (for example, they already hold Australian citizenship or are a permanent resident).
Pathway to Permanent Residency
- If eligible, you will be able to apply for permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) – which starts on 16 November 2022.