5-year provisional visa for skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia — leads to permanent residency via subclass 191
The State or Territory Nominated stream of the 491 is the most common pathway. It's used by applicants whose Expression of Interest is selected for nomination by an Australian state or territory government agency.
Each state and territory runs its own nomination program. Each has its own occupation lists, points thresholds, work-experience requirements, English standards, and ties-to-the-state expectations.
A state or territory nomination unlocks two things: the points-test nomination bonus, and access to the federal 491 invitation system.
After approved nomination, you receive a SkillSelect invitation to apply. You then have 60 days to lodge the visa application.
Must secure state/territory or family nomination and be willing to live regionally
OpenMust have lived and worked in a designated regional area for 3 years and provide ATO Notices of Assessment for 3 income years out of 5 (no minimum income amount)
OpenThese are the published requirements for the 491. Check each one applies to your situation.
Until you've held the 491 for 3 years, you can't lodge a valid application for the onshore Partner visa (subclass 820).
You also can't be granted any of these visas during those 3 years: subclass 132 (Business Talent), 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme), 188 (Business Innovation and Investment Provisional), 189 (Skilled Independent), 190 (Skilled Nominated), or 858 (Global Talent).
The only PR pathway available during those 3 years is the subclass 191. The 191 itself requires 3 years of holding the 491, compliance with the 491's conditions, and Australian Taxation Office Notices of Assessment for 3 income years out of 5. There's no minimum income amount on the 191 itself.
For couples planning to use the onshore partner visa as a parallel PR pathway, this is a significant constraint that does not apply to 189 or 190 holders.
The 491 is valid for 5 years from the date of grant, not the date of arrival in Australia.
The 3-year window required to become eligible for the 191 also starts at the grant date.
If you're granted the visa offshore and you delay your first entry into Australia, you effectively shorten both windows. You're left with less than 5 years of visa life and less than 3 years to accumulate regional residence before the earliest possible 191 application.
Plan your first entry to Australia as close to grant as your family situation allows.
The term 'regional' under the 491 framework is far broader than its everyday meaning.
The designated regional area definition for 491 purposes covers all of Australia except the metropolitan areas of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast are all classed as designated regional areas.
State and territory nominators, however, often have their own ties-to-the-region requirements that are narrower than the federal definition. For example, a regional NSW nomination typically requires intended settlement in regional NSW specifically, not in any regional postcode anywhere in Australia.
Check both the federal definition and the specific state nominator's expectations before assuming a postcode counts.
The Nominated by an Eligible Relative stream isn't just about being related. The relative also has to already live in a designated regional area of Australia.
To sponsor, the eligible relative has to be 18 or over, usually resident in a designated regional area, and an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Eligible relative categories are: parent; child or step-child; brother, sister, adoptive or step sibling; aunt, uncle, adoptive or step variant; nephew, niece, adoptive or step variant; grandparent; or first cousin.
The relative can be your relative or your partner's relative (if your partner is also applying).
A relative who lives in metropolitan Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane can't sponsor under this stream. The regional-residence requirement applies to the sponsor, not just the applicant.
