Last updated: 30 March 2026

491 Visa Requirements: Points, Nomination and Regional Rules

The subclass 491 visa requirements combine three distinct elements that you need to understand together: the standard skilled migration criteria, the nomination requirement (state/territory or family), and the ongoing regional living obligations that apply after the visa is granted.

The 491 is specifically designed to direct skilled migrants to regional and low-population areas of Australia that have difficulty attracting workers through the more competitive 189 and 190 pathways. In exchange for committing to regional residence, applicants receive a 15-point bonus that significantly improves their competitive standing in invitation rounds.

This page covers every requirement — who can nominate you, what regional means in practice, how the points bonus works, what the occupation lists include, and what the regional obligations entail during the visa’s 5-year term.

Core Eligibility Requirements

All 491 visa applicants must satisfy the following criteria. These are federal requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs.

The 15-point bonus for nomination is the most significant feature of the 491. It means you need just 50 base points to meet the 65-point threshold — substantially lower than the 189 or 190 minimums.

Nomination: State/Territory vs Family Stream

The 491 has two nomination pathways. They operate differently and suit different circumstances.

State or territory nomination stream

State and territory governments nominate skilled workers for the 491 under their regional migration programs. Most states and territories participate, with the largest programs operated by NSW (for regional NSW), Victoria (regional areas only), Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the ACT.

Each state sets its own conditions for 491 nomination, including:

• Minimum points scores (often above the federal 65-point minimum)
• Occupation restrictions (only occupations on their specific regional list)
• Residence or connection requirements (some require current regional residence or a job offer)
• Application processes and fees (each state has its own portal)

A critical point: nomination through a state does not fix you to that state’s specific region. After receiving the 491, you must live in a designated regional area of Australia, but this is a federal definition of regional — you are not restricted to the specific state that nominated you during the visa term, though in practice you should settle where you applied from.

Check each state’s current regional migration program guidelines, as conditions change regularly.

Family nomination stream

If you have a family member in Australia who is willing and eligible to nominate you, the family stream is an alternative to the state pathway.

To be eligible to nominate you, the family member must:

• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
• Be usually resident in a specified regional area of Australia at the time they submit the nomination
• Be aged 18 or over
• Meet character requirements

Relationship types that qualify for family nomination:

• Spouse or de facto partner
• Parent
• Child or step-child
• Brother or sister (including half-siblings and step-siblings)
• Aunt or uncle (by blood or marriage)
• Niece or nephew (by blood or marriage)
• First cousin (by blood or marriage)
• Grandparent

Family nominations are lodged directly through ImmiAccount with the Department, rather than through a state government portal. The family member applies for the nomination and you then proceed through SkillSelect and the standard EOI process.

Occupation List Requirements

The 491 visa uses a broader combined occupation list than the 189. Eligible occupations come from:

• The Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
• The Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
• Regional occupation lists maintained by individual states and territories

This broader eligibility is deliberate — the 491 is designed to reach skilled workers whose occupations may not appear on the MLTSSL alone.

Practical implications for occupation eligibility

If your occupation is on the MLTSSL, you are likely eligible across multiple state 491 programs and the family stream.

If your occupation is only on the STSOL, you may be eligible for 491 through states that include STSOL occupations in their regional programs. Not all states include all STSOL occupations, so check each state’s specific regional occupation list.

If your occupation appears on a state-specific regional list that is not on either the MLTSSL or STSOL, you may still be eligible — but only through that particular state’s nomination program. A state-specific listing does not extend to other states or to the family stream.

Verify your occupation’s eligibility against:

1. The current MLTSSL and STSOL published by the Department
2. The specific occupation list for any state you plan to apply to
3. The family nomination instrument if using the family stream

Points Test Requirements for the 491

The 491 uses the same points test structure as the 189 and 190, with the critical addition of the 15-point nomination bonus.

Points table for the subclass 491

The 15-point nomination bonus means that an applicant with a base score of 50 points can still meet the 65-point threshold and compete in invitation rounds. This opens the 491 to a significantly wider pool of applicants than the 189 or 190.

What is a competitive score for the 491?

Because of the 15-point bonus, 491 invitation rounds can have lower effective cut-offs than the 189. However, states often set internal nomination criteria that are higher than the federal minimum — so applicants with 50 base points may find that some states will not nominate them even though they meet the federal threshold.

In practice, many states require a base score of 60–65 (before the 15-point bonus) for their nomination programs, which means they are looking for total scores of 75–80 post-nomination. Check each state’s nomination criteria to understand the effective entry point.

Regional Area Commitment

The regional living requirement is the most significant ongoing obligation of the 491 visa. You must live in a designated regional area of Australia throughout the 5-year visa term and any subsequent extension.

What counts as regional?

The Department defines designated regional areas in legislative instruments. The definition covers most of Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane metropolitan areas. Key inclusions and exclusions:

Designated regional areas include:

• All of rural and remote Australia
• Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin, and Canberra (and their surrounds)
• Regional cities including Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Ballarat, Bendigo, and many others
• All of the Northern Territory and Tasmania

Not designated regional (typically excluded):

• Greater Sydney metropolitan area
• Greater Melbourne metropolitan area
• Greater Brisbane metropolitan area (though some outer areas may qualify)
• The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast corridors

If you are unsure whether your intended location qualifies, check the postcode lookup tool on the Department of Home Affairs website.

What the commitment means in practice

You must:

• Live in a designated regional area during the 491 visa period
• Work or study in a designated regional area during the visa period
• Not relocate to a major metropolitan area without genuine exceptional circumstances

The regional obligation is monitored. The Department may request evidence of regional residence and employment when you apply for the 191 permanent visa — which requires 3 years of regional residence — and when assessing any future visa or citizenship applications.

Working in a regional area

You can work for any employer in your nominated occupation or a related field in a regional area. The 491 does not tie you to a specific employer. You have the same work rights as you would on other skilled visas — full permission to work in any occupation — but you must ensure your primary place of residence and main work activity is in a designated regional area.

Skills Assessment Requirement

The 491 uses the same skills assessment framework as the 189 and 190. A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your ANZSCO occupation is mandatory before you can submit an EOI.

The assessing authority is determined by your occupation, not which nomination stream you use. Whether you receive state nomination or family nomination, the same assessing body applies.

Start your skills assessment early. Assessment timeframes for major bodies can range from 4 weeks to 6 months depending on the authority and complexity. Family nomination applications and state nomination applications can sometimes progress faster than your assessment if you leave it too late.

English Language Requirements

Competent English is the federal minimum for the 491 visa. Each band of an approved English test must meet or exceed the competent threshold. Higher English scores attract additional points.

Some state nomination programs for the 491 require higher English scores than the federal minimum. Check the specific state’s conditions.

Age Requirement

The 491 has the same age cutoff as the 189 and 190: under 45 at the time the Department issues the invitation. Age is not assessed at the time of EOI submission or state nomination.

Given the 15-point bonus, some applicants approaching 45 who have been waiting in the 189 or 190 pool find the 491 a more achievable pathway before the cutoff. If you are within 2–3 years of the age cutoff, consider whether the 491 nomination pathway could bring an invitation sooner than continuing to wait for a 189 or 190 invitation.

Health and Character Requirements

Health and character requirements for the 491 are identical to those for the 189 and 190:

• Medical examination through a HAP-approved panel physician after lodging your visa application
• Police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
• Full character disclosure requirements for you and secondary applicants aged 16 and over

Document Checklist

Identity documents

• Current passport (all pages)
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate or relationship evidence (if applicable)
• Change of name documentation (if applicable)

Qualifications and skills

• Academic transcripts for all qualifications claimed in the points test
• Degree certificates
• Certified English translations of non-English documents
• Skills assessment outcome letter with reference number

Employment evidence

• Reference letters from all employers claimed for points — company letterhead, authorised signatory, specifying title, duties, dates, and employment type
• Payslips or tax records corroborating employment dates
• Employment contracts (if available)

Nomination documentation

• State nomination letter or family nomination confirmation from the Department
• Any supporting documents required by the nominating state or for the family nomination application

English proficiency

• Official English test score report (valid at time of invitation)

Health and character

• HAP-approved medical examination (arranged and uploaded by panel physician)
• Police clearances from all countries of 12-month+ residence in past 10 years

Additional (if applicable)

• Partner’s skills assessment (if claiming partner skills points)
• Evidence of Professional Year completion
• Evidence of NAATI credential
• Evidence of regional Australian study for points

491 Visa and the Pathway to Permanent Residency

The 491 is a temporary visa with a 5-year term. It is the first stage of a two-stage pathway to permanent residency:

Stage 1: Subclass 491 — Live and work in regional Australia for at least 3 years during the 5-year visa period. Earn income above the minimum threshold during this time.

Stage 2: Subclass 191 — Apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after satisfying the regional residence and income requirements. This grants permanent residency.

The 191 visa application can be lodged when you have met the regional requirements, typically no earlier than 3 years into your 491 visa term.

For full details on the 491 to 191 transition requirements, eligibility criteria, and income thresholds, see our guide to the 491 to 191 visa pathway.

What to Do Next

If the 491 fits your profile — particularly if your base score is below what would attract a 189 or 190 invitation, or if you are open to living in regional Australia — the first steps are:

1. Confirm your occupation on the relevant occupation lists (MLTSSL, STSOL, or state-specific regional list)
2. Calculate your base points score before the 15-point nomination bonus
3. Identify which state programs or family nomination pathway you are eligible for
4. Begin your skills assessment if you have not already

For a comprehensive overview of the 491 visa — including invitation round data, processing times, and regional area definitions — see our subclass 491 visa overview. For context on where the 491 fits within the broader permanent residency in Australia framework, see our PR overview.

Frequently Asked Questions About 491 Visa Requirements

What counts as a “regional area” for the 491 visa?

Regional Australia for the 491 visa is defined by legislative instruments under the Migration Regulations and covers most of Australia outside of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. It includes cities like Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra, Newcastle, Geelong, and all rural and remote areas. The specific postcode-level definition is published by the Department of Home Affairs and can be checked through their regional postcode tool. Confirm your intended location before committing to a regional move.

Can a family member in Australia nominate me for the 491 visa?

Yes. The family stream of the 491 allows an eligible family member — including your spouse, parent, sibling, child, aunt, uncle, grandparent, or first cousin — who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen living in a specified regional area to nominate you. The nominating family member applies through ImmiAccount. You must then submit your EOI through SkillSelect and proceed through the standard invitation process. Once nominated, you receive the 15-point bonus and must commit to living in a regional area if the visa is granted.

Does the 491 visa lead to permanent residency?

The 491 is a temporary 5-year visa. It leads to permanent residency through the subclass 191 (Permanent Residence — Skilled Regional) visa. To be eligible for the 191, you must hold or have held a 491 visa (or its predecessor the 494), have lived in a regional area for at least 3 years, and have earned income above the threshold for those 3 years. The 491 is a provisional step on a two-stage pathway — not a direct grant of permanent residency. See our full guide to the 491 to 191 visa pathway for the complete eligibility requirements.