Want to live and work in regional Australia on a skilled visa?
Our team has helped thousands do exactly that, and we’re proud to say we’ve maintained a 100% success rate for 491 visa approvals since the subclass began in 2019.
With over 57 years of combined experience, we know exactly what it takes to get it right. From our Melbourne HQ, we’ve supported clients from more than 106 countries and counting.
Obligation-free, limited sessions each week
The Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa, often referred to as the 'regional visa', allows skilled professionals to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years. It offers a clear pathway to permanent residency through the 191 visa.
Like the Subclass 190 visa, the 491 is a points-tested visa. Applicants must meet eligibility across several criteria such as age, English proficiency, education, and work experience. To qualify, you'll need to be nominated by an Australian state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a regional area.
At Skylark Migration, we specialise in helping individuals understand their options and navigate the process for both state nomination and the 491 visa, ensuring you're on the right path from the start.
The 491 visa is most similar to the 190 visa, but with a key difference: it requires state nomination.
Here’s how it stands apart:
You’ll need to live and work in a designated regional area.
It’s a provisional visa with a clear PR pathway via the 191 visa.
It uses a different occupation list, giving you access to more eligible roles than the 189 or 190 visa.
Designated regional areas include locations outside of metro Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. You can check the full list of eligible postcodes on the Immigration Department’s official list.
The Department of Home Affairs reports the average processing time for the 491 Skilled Nominated Visa (as of September 2024) as follows:
17 months
21–23 months
State nomination adds another 2–3 months, depending on the state.
These are approximate timeframes and may be longer if an application is incomplete or requires additional assessment.
Since 2019, we’ve helped hundreds of clients secure their 491 Visa with confidence and minimal stress. You’re in safe hands.
Ready to apply for the 491 Visa? Make sure you tick all the boxes before you begin.
To be eligible for the 491 Skilled Nominated Visa, you must meet the following requirements:
You must live and work in a designated regional area once granted the visa. This is essential for your long-term residency goals, including eligibility for the 191 visa.
You need to be nominated by an Australian state or territory government, or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area.
Your occupation must be listed on the MLTSSL or STSOL. Not sure if yours qualifies? Check our Ultimate Guide to Immigration Occupation Lists.
You’ll need a skills assessment from the relevant authority to prove you meet the standards for your nominated occupation.
You must score at least 65 points on the Points Test. This includes your base score and an extra 5 points from your state nomination.
You must be under 45 years old at the time of invitation.
You’ll need at least Competent English, such as:
You’ll need to undergo medical checks and provide police certificates for every country you’ve lived in for more than 12 months in the past 10 years.
Submit your EOI via SkillSelect to allow the government to assess your eligibility.
We start with a 1:1 chat to understand your situation and answer any questions. This can be done with you and your employer together or separately if needed.
Lock in your spot with a small deposit, and we’ll run an eligibility check before you commit
Once we’ve received your signed agreement and payment, we’re officially underway
We’ll manage your Skills Assessment application from start to finish
With a positive assessment, we’ll prep your ROI or state nomination paperwork, plus your EOI
You’ll get a tailored checklist covering exactly what’s needed for a strong 491 application
We’ll stay in touch and follow up with the state or territory while you wait for your invitation
As soon as your invitation comes through, we’ll get to work on your 491 Visa application
While you gather documents, we’re on hand with advice and guidance when you need it
Our team completes the entire application for you, no confusing forms, no stress
We’ll review everything and make sure your application is rock-solid before submission
Once submitted, we stay on it, following up with Immigration and keeping you in the loop
When it comes to your Subclass 491 Visa application, trust the experts with the experience and results you can rely on. Here’s why Skylark is your ideal migration partner:
Former Department of Immigration Expertise
With a former Immigration officer on our team, we bring insider knowledge of what makes a successful visa application and the red flags you need to avoid.
100% 491 Visa Success Rate
Since 2015, we’ve successfully helped every client with their Subclass 491 Visa application, so you can be confident we’ll be able to help you too.
100% Money-back Guarantee
We believe in our process, and we’re so confident in our ability to get you your visa that we offer a 100% money-back guarantee – We get you your visa, or you get your money back*.
Competitive, All-inclusive Fees
We offer transparent pricing with no hidden costs. We believe in fairness, which is why we do not charge exorbitant fees for our services.
Nothing speaks louder than our satisfied clients. Want to know more? See what our customers have said!
100% 491 Visa Success Rate
Since 2015, we’ve successfully helped every client with their Subclass 491 Visa application, so you can be confident we’ll be able to help you too.
Nothing speaks louder than our satisfied clients. Want to know more? See what our customers have said!
Tell us about your situation, and we’ll try to help you get results like these:
Book a free consultation with our migration experts, and we’ll help you understand your options and next steps.
The 491 visa is a skilled work regional visa that allows eligible skilled workers and their families to live, work, and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years.
You must be nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a designated regional area. You also need to have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list and meet the required points score.
Yes. After holding the 491 visa for 3 years and meeting income and residency requirements, you may be eligible to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).
The 491 visa is granted based on your commitment to live and work in a specific regional area. Moving outside of that area can affect your pathway to permanent residency.
Yes, you can include eligible family members in your application. They will have the same visa conditions and can live, work, or study in the regional area with you.
Book 1:1 Strategy Session
Are you a student, graduate or skilled professional? Don't have enough points, or not sure what your best options are to get PR?
What is included:
1) 30min in-depth consultation
2) 1-to-1 strategic planning session to get you from HERE to PR
3) Step-by-step recommendations by our most experienced migration agents and PR planning specialists
* Due to the complex nature of PR planning and in-depth research involved for high quality advice, this is a paid consultation.
Rest assured, initial consultations are 100% redeemable with most future service! (terms & conditions apply, see booking link for more).
Request Free Consulation
Please provide your details and a skilled migration specialist will be in touch. Due to high demand, spots are limited. If your case is urgent, consider booking a 1:1 Strategy Session with a senior migration agent for faster assistance.
What is included:
1) 30min in-depth consultation
2) 1-to-1 strategic planning session to get you from HERE to your migration goals
3) Step-by-step recommendations by our most experienced migration agents and PR planning specialists
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