Subclass 491 Visa in 2025: Occupation Lists, State Nomination Updates, and Strategy
The subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa remains a five‑year, points‑tested pathway that requires either state/territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship, with a clear permanent residency pathway via the subclass 191 after meeting residence and income requirements in regional Australia.
What the 491 Is (2025)
The 491 is a provisional visa allowing skilled applicants to live, work, and study in designated regional areas for up to five years, with multiple‑entry travel rights during validity. Designated regional areas cover most of Australia outside the three major cities, and holders must reside and work or study within those regional boundaries while the visa is in effect.
Who Can Apply
Applicants submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and must reach at least 65 points at invitation under the skilled points test, alongside a positive skills assessment and meeting English requirements for the nominated occupation. The state‑nominated stream requires selection by a state/territory against local criteria, while the family‑sponsored stream relies on invitations issued through SkillSelect to applicants with an eligible regional‑resident relative.
Occupation Lists in 2025
Eligibility is anchored to the national skilled occupation settings and the ongoing rollout of the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which aims to better align migration with labour market needs. States draw on federal settings to build their own 491 nomination lists, which change during the program year. Always verify both the national skilled occupation framework and the current state/territory 491 list before lodging an EOI or Registration of Interest (ROI).
State Nomination Snapshots (2025–26)
- New South Wales: Operates multiple regional pathways and publishes skilled unit groups with added criteria like onshore residence or regional employment.
- Victoria: Program open on interim allocations; onshore applicants typically need to live and work in regional Victoria, with offshore options subject to ROI ranking.
- Western Australia: Runs a 491 stream under the State Nominated Migration Program with WA‑specific criteria layered over federal rules.
- South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, and ACT: Maintain distinct 491 criteria such as regional employment, minimum hours/earnings, occupation lists, or job‑offer requirements.
Points, Invitations, and Streams
The 491 is points‑tested and typically requires an EOI in SkillSelect. For the state‑nominated stream, applicants follow each state’s ROI or application process and are selected competitively. For the family‑sponsored stream, eligible regional relatives can sponsor, and invitations are issued in periodic SkillSelect rounds. States often add filters like current regional work, residence duration, job offers, or salary thresholds to target local workforce needs.
How to Apply (State‑Nominated)
- Confirm occupation eligibility on federal and state lists and secure a positive skills assessment before lodging an EOI.
- Submit an ROI or state nomination application with evidence of meeting local criteria (e.g., regional residence, current employment, job offer).
- If nominated, lodge the 491 visa application with identity, skills, English, health, and character documents.
How to Apply (Family‑Sponsored)
- Confirm an eligible sponsoring relative who resides in a designated regional area.
- Lodge an EOI for the family‑sponsored 491 pathway and await a SkillSelect invitation.
- After invitation, lodge the visa with sponsorship, relationship, occupation, skills, English, health, and character evidence.
Conditions and Work Rights
491 holders must live, work, and study only in designated regional areas. The visa provides broad work rights consistent with its regional purpose and allows multiple entries while valid. Eligible family members can later join the primary holder as subsequent entrants, provided regional residence is maintained.
Pathway to PR via Subclass 191
The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) is available after at least three years in designated regional areas, meeting residence, compliance, and taxable income requirements. It does not require state nomination or a sponsor at PR stage. Keep accurate records of regional addresses, employment, and taxable income across the qualifying period to evidence eligibility.
2025 Program and Planning Notes
The skilled occupation framework and CSOL consultations continue to shape which occupations are supported nationally, and states align their nomination lists accordingly. States may start the year on interim allocations and update rules as allocations finalise, so timing ROI/EOI submissions to current rules improves competitiveness. For the family‑sponsored stream, monitor invitation round patterns and maintain a competitive points profile.
Practical Success Strategies
- Target states whose current criteria match the profile, especially for onshore applicants already living and working in the region.
- Maintain valid documents: skills assessment currency, English test results, regional leases, utility bills, and compliant employment evidence.
- Compare state nomination timelines against family‑sponsored invitation trends to choose the most certain or fastest route for the occupation and points.
- Improve points where feasible: English to ‘Superior’, NAATI community language, partner points, or additional Australian study where appropriate.
Key Takeaways
The 491 remains a flexible 2025 pathway for skilled applicants willing to live and work in regional Australia, with access via state nomination or family sponsorship. Success depends on matching an eligible occupation to current national and state settings, achieving a competitive points score, and aligning evidence with regional residence and employment rules to support both 491 grant and the subsequent 191 permanent residency outcome.