Subclass 491 is a provisional regional skilled visa requiring state/territory nomination or eligible-family sponsorship, an invitation and applicable skills, points and visa conditions. Permanent residence through subclass 191 requires separate eligibility; there is no minimum income threshold, but required ATO notices and visa-condition compliance must be checked. Consult the dated fee and processing summaries and current official source.
Home Affairs (updated 2 October 2026): from AUD 6,140.00 (concessions apply in limited circumstances; additional applicant 18+ AUD 3,070.00).≈ $3,991
Home Affairs processing tool (updated 29 September 2026), state/territory nominated regional stream: 50% processed in 5 months and 90% in 18 months. Estimates, not a guarantee.
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Source-backed requirements
Eligibility
(2)Nominated Occupation
DocumentMandatoryCheck the occupation list applicable to the actual 491 nomination or family-sponsored branch and obtain the required suitable skills assessment. Do not treat all listed occupations as eligible for every branch.
Verified officialAge Requirement
MandatoryFor the points-tested stream, be under 45 when invited; turning 45 afterwards does not itself prevent applying. Verify the age points claimed at invitation.
Verified official
Preparation
(1)Character Requirement
DocumentMandatoryMeet character requirements and provide the actual requested evidence. Police-certificate history normally concerns the previous ten years since age 16, including cumulative residence. Australian evidence must be the accepted AFP certificate; check each applicant’s age, residence and current instructions.
Verified official
Application
(3)Points Bonus
ConditionalThe 15 nomination/sponsorship points depend on an effective state/territory nomination or accepted eligible-family sponsorship. Check actual entitlement and the invitation score; this bonus does not guarantee an invitation.
Verified officialRegional Residence Commitment
MandatoryWhile in Australia, holders and family members holding the 491 visa must comply with their designated-regional live/work/study conditions. Check the grant letter and VEVO. Permanent residence through 191 has separate qualifying-visa, tax-evidence and compliance requirements; it is not automatic.
Verified officialNomination or Sponsorship
MandatoryApplicants must either be nominated by a state or territory government or be sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area. This sponsorship is a core component of the 491 visa structure.
Verified official
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Immigration Documents & Forms
Source citations
Skilled Work Regional491 — indexed main applicant eligibility
Department of Home Affairs
Main applicant under45at_invitation,nonominationstreamageexceptioninreviewedtext; relevantoccupationlist/assessment,characterpolicehistorysince16 andregionalconditions. Indexedonlyfullcurrentpending.
Migration Regulations1994 — Schedule 1 skilled visa eligibility
Department of Home Affairs / Federal Register of Legislation
ReadfullPDFSchedule1items1137,1138and1241: primary age is assessed at invitation; eligible occupations and actual nomination or family sponsorship declarations are branch-specific. LaterOct2studentreform does not alter these scoped clauses. Full official C288 volume 1 PDF retrieved, with regulations 2.72,5.19 and 1.15C. Later student reform checked separately; no changes to reviewed employer clauses. Current dollar thresholds not verified by this review.
Migration Regulations1994 — points and regional conditions
Department of Home Affairs / Federal Register of Legislation
ReadSchedule6Demployment and nomination points, age factors, and Schedule8condition8579. 491regional duty uses regions designated at grant. 15pointsdependon effective nomination or accepted sponsorship. LaterOct2studentreform does not alter these clauses.
Migration Regulations1994 — skilled visa grant criteria
Department of Home Affairs / Federal Register of Legislation
Readfullstatutoryclauses189.222–224,190.212–216,491.211–217and491.612; suitable assessments and competent English are invitation criteria, actual scores must meet invitation and qualifying scores, nominations must remain effective, health applies to required family.191compliance and tax evidence are separate. LaterOct2studentreform does not alter these clauses. Initial graduate study windows, English evidence, AFP timing exception, insurance and regional branches; holiday passport, resources, children and public-interest criteria. Read with October student amendments, which leave these clauses unchanged. Full official C288 volume 2 retrieved. The later F2026L01347 instrument effective 2 October 2026 amends student application/visa provisions only; no changes to 482 or 186 reviewed clauses. Bounded statutory review, not case acceptance.
Official links
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