Skilled Regional Pathway (491, 191, 489, 887)

The Skilled Regional pathway is a two-stage journey to permanent residency. You first apply for a provisional visa (Subclass 491) to live and work in regional Australia for five years. After three years of meeting regional residency requirements, you apply for the permanent stage (Subclass 191). A legacy pathway (Subclass 489 to 887) remains active only for those who already hold the older provisional visa.

Stage 1: Subclass 491 (Provisional)

This stage is managed through the SkillSelect online portal and requires an invitation before you can apply.

1. Get a Skills Assessment: Obtain a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation. Your occupation must be on the Skilled Occupation List.
2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI): Create a profile in SkillSelect. You must score at least 65 points on the points test to be eligible.
3. Apply for State/Territory Nomination: Each Australian state has its own criteria and application portal. You must be nominated by a state government or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area (anywhere except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane).
4. Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA): Once nominated or sponsored, you will receive an automated invitation through SkillSelect.
5. Lodge the Visa Application: You have 60 days from the date of invitation to submit your application via ImmiAccount. Upload all identity, skills, and English language documents.
6. Health and Character Checks: Complete your medical examinations and obtain police clearances (including an Australian Federal Police check if you are already in Australia).

Stage 2: Subclass 191 (Permanent)

This is the final step for 491 visa holders to secure permanent residency.

1. Meet the Three-Year Rule: You must have held your 491 visa and lived, worked, or studied in a designated regional area for at least 3 years.
2. Gather Tax Records: You must provide Notices of Assessment (NOA)—the official summary sent by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) after you file your taxes—for three income years. While there is currently no minimum income amount required, you must have filed your tax returns for those years.
3. Submit via ImmiAccount: Apply for the Subclass 191 visa online. You do not need a new nomination or skills assessment for this stage.

Legacy Pathway: Subclass 887 (Permanent)

This is only for people who already hold a Subclass 489, 495, 496, 475, or 487 visa.

1. Residency Requirement: Prove you have lived in a regional area for at least 2 years.
2. Work Requirement: Prove you worked full-time (at least 35 hours per week) in a regional area for at least 1 year.
3. Lodge Application: Submit your application and supporting evidence (lease agreements, utility bills, and payslips) via ImmiAccount.

Total Estimate: For a single applicant moving from a 491 to a 191 visa, the government fees total AUD 5,385.

Note: These fees do not include costs for skills assessments (approx. $500–$1,500), medical exams, police checks, or NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters) certified translations for non-English documents.

Processing times fluctuate based on application volume and government priorities.

• Subclass 491: Most applications are processed within 6 to 12 months. State nomination processing times vary by state, usually taking an additional 4 to 12 weeks before the visa stage.
• Subclass 191: Generally processed within 6 to 10 months.
• Subclass 887: Currently experiencing longer backlogs; expect 12 to 24 months, though COVID-19 concession cases may be prioritized.

Document Validity:

• Skills Assessments: Usually valid for 3 years from the date of issue.
• English Test Results: Valid for 3 years for immigration purposes.
• Police Checks: Generally considered valid for 12 months from the date of issue.