Subclass 491
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
A provisional visa in the regional skilled migration program, with nomination or family sponsorship arrangements.
Overview
A provisional visa in the regional skilled migration program, with nomination or family sponsorship arrangements.
General factual information. This page does not assess your eligibility and has not been reviewed by a lawyer or registered migration agent.
Requirements
Open the official visa page for its current requirements and stream details. A listing here does not mean applications are open.
Requirements on Home AffairsDocuments & forms
Home Affairs lists the documents for each stream. Your practitioner can prepare a checklist for your matter.
Browse official form linksForms commonly used with this visa
- Form sponsor-declaration-491: Sponsorship Declaration - Skilled Work Regional (Class PS) Subclass 491 (Provisional) Visa — Family-sponsored stream — the eligible relative's sponsorship declaration.
- Form 491fs: Sponsorship Declaration - Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491) Visa — Alternate sponsorship declaration for the Subclass 491 family-sponsored stream.
- Form 80: Personal Particulars for Assessment Including Character Assessment — Personal particulars and character — routinely requested for skilled applicants.
- Form 1221: Additional Personal Particulars Information — Additional personal particulars, if requested.
- Form 956: Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person — If you appoint a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.
- Form 1022: Notification of Changes in Circumstances — To notify a change in circumstances after lodgement.
- Form 1023: Notification of Incorrect Answer(s) — To correct an incorrect answer after lodgement.
Factual associations from a dated snapshot. The official visa page lists what an application actually requires.
Open official visa documents and instructions
General preparation checklist — a printable, official-linked list of common steps and documents. It is not advice.
Occupation lists
- Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List — 212 occupations in the captured instrument
- Short-term Skilled Occupation List — 215 occupations in the captured instrument
- Regional Occupation List — 77 occupations in the captured instrument
Which list a program uses, and any caveats, are set by the official source. Appearing on a list is not an assessment of any person.
Published processing times and charges
Official global processing times
| Stream | 25% of applications | 50% | 75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Sponsored Regional | 70 Days | 3 Months | 5 Months | 6 Months |
| State/Territory Government Nominated Regional | 5 Months | 12 Months | 14 Months | 18 Months |
Aggregate figures for applications decided in the period ending 2026-06-30, published 2026-08-04. They describe past decisions and never an individual timeframe. Current official processing times ↗
Visa application charge (published table)
| Published entry | Base applicant | Additional applicant 18+ | Additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) | $6,140 | $3,070 | $1,535 |
Generic published amounts as at 2026-07-01. Government charges are separate from any professional fee, and surcharges or exemptions may apply. Current official pricing ↗
Updates & sources
Australian Government Department of Home Affairs
Source link checked: 9 September 2026. This records a source check, not a guarantee that the information has not changed.
Changes are reviewed before publication. Manage source update preferences or report a correction.