Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491)

This visa allows you and your secondary applicants included in your visa application to live, work and study in a designated area in Australia (i.e. anywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) for 5 years. This visa is points tested.

This visa allows you and your secondary applicants to travel to and from Australia during the validity of the visa.

Eligibility – you:

  • are under 45 years of age at the time you are invited to submit your visa application;
  • nominate an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list that is closely related to your skills and qualifications;
  • pass a skills assessment for your nominated occupation;
  • have competent English language skills (e.g. a minimum score of 6 in each of the 4 components (viz. speaking, reading, listening and writing) in a single International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test taken no more than 3 years before you submit your visa application)*;
  • score at least 65 on the skilled visa points test;
  • or your spouse/partner are/is sponsored by an eligible family member^ living in the designated area (i.e. anywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane);
  • and your secondary applicants pass health examinations; and
  • and your secondary applicants pass police checks for each country you and your secondary applicants have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years since turning 16 years of age.

* Not required if you are a citizen of and hold a valid passport from Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or United States of America.

^ Your sponsor (viz. an adult Australian citizen or permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen) must be related to you or your spouse/partner as:

  • a parent;
  • a child or step-child;
  • a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister;
  • an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle;
  • a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece;
  • a grandparent; or
  • a first cousin.

Obligations – you:

  • must live and work in the designated area (i.e. anywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane).

Go back to FAQs on Migration to Australia.


The above content is general in nature and is not intended to address your specific circumstances. We welcome the opportunity to have a chat with you and assist you with your legal issues or concerns. Talk with us and see the difference.

Updated December 2019.