Short answer: Australia Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional) requires state/territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship, plus skills assessment and points. It is a temporary visa requiring life in a designated regional area; Subclass 191 permanent residence may follow after time and income conditions.
Information updated to October 2026.
How does 491 compare with 189 and 190?
| Item | 491 | 190 | 189 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | Provisional (regional) | Permanent (state nominated) | Permanent (independent) |
| Nomination | State or family | State | None |
| Residence | Must be regional | Usually in nominating state | No state mandate |
| PR next step | Subclass 191 | Already permanent | Already permanent |
See Australia skilled.
Global Immigrate note
Choose 491 only if you genuinely intend to live regionally. Applications are handled by Global Immigrate's in-house professional immigration team; track income and residence for 191 from day one.
Use the programme-matching tool or contact Global Immigrate advisors.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.