Regional Visas
— Your Pathway to Permanent Residency in Australia
Australia’s regional visa program is one of the most accessible routes to permanent residency for skilled migrants. By choosing to live and work outside the major city centres, you gain access to lower competition, additional state nomination points, and a clear, structured path to permanent residence.
- Skilled Work Regional — Subclass 491
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional — Subclass 494
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) — Subclass 191
The Three Regional Visa Pathways
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (5 Years)
A points-tested visa requiring state or territory nomination, or sponsorship by an eligible relative in regional Australia. Nomination adds 15 bonus points — the largest single nomination bonus in the entire points system. After 3 years of regional living and employment, you can apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191.
Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (5 Years)
For workers sponsored by a regional employer. No points test required. The employer must be in a designated regional area and receive Regional Certifying Body (RCB) endorsement. Leads to Subclass 191 permanent residency after 3 years.
Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)
The permanent visa for 491 and 494 holders. To be eligible, you must have held your regional visa for at least 3 years, lived and worked in a designated regional area throughout, and met the minimum income requirement in each year.
What Counts as 'Regional'?
Regional Australia includes everywhere outside the core metropolitan areas of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. This includes many large, desirable cities:
Gold Coast · Sunshine Coast · Cairns · Toowoomba · Newcastle · Wollongong · Geelong · Adelaide · Perth · Hobart · Canberra · Darwin
If you’re open to living in any of these areas, a regional visa may be your fastest pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
Why Choose Regional?
- Less competition than metropolitan skilled visa pathways
- 15 bonus points with state nomination (Subclass 491) — the biggest points boost available
- Clear 3-year pathway to permanent residency
- Lower cost of living in many regional areas
- Growing job markets across multiple industries
Common Questions
Regional visas are designed for skilled workers who are willing to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia. They include points-tested and employer-sponsored options and often lead to permanent residency.
A regional area is any part of Australia that is classified as regional by the Australian Government. It generally excludes the largest metropolitan centres and includes many cities, towns and regional centres across the country.
The 491 is a points-tested regional visa that requires state or family sponsorship, while the 494 is an employer-sponsored regional visa where an approved regional employer nominates you for a skilled position.
To qualify for the 191 permanent visa you usually need to have held an eligible regional visa, lived and worked in a designated regional area for a set period, and be able to provide tax records showing your income during those years.
Regional visas come with conditions that require you to live, work and study only in designated regional areas. Moving to a non-regional area can affect your current visa and your eligibility for permanent residency.