491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – Subsequent entrant

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) 491
Applicant type	Subsequent entrant
Purpose	Join a subclass 491 holder
Stay	Until family member’s visa ends
Cost	From AUD6,140
Eligibility timing	Apply in or outside Australia
Work rights	Any occupation, regional area only
Study	Designated regional areas only
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entries while valid
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Permanent residence	May pursue subclass 191
Family sponsorship	Family-unit member of 491 holder
Family inclusion	Include family; add dependent child
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Age limit	No age limit
Application method	Online through ImmiAccount
Processing	Use processing time guide

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Purpose

This temporary visa is for a member of the family unit of a person holding a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) granted on the basis of meeting the primary criteria.

Stay and regional requirement

You can stay until the primary subclass 491 visa holder’s visa ends.

You must live, work and study only in a designated regional area. The visa cannot be extended. To remain longer, you must apply for another visa.

If eligible, you may apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).

Eligibility

You must:

• Be a member of the family unit of an eligible subclass 491 visa holder.
• Have no age limit requirement.
• Meet health requirements, with applying family members.
• Meet character requirements if aged 16 or over.
• Sign an Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over.
• Repay or arrange repayment of Australian Government debts, including debts of non-applying family members.
• Meet functional English requirements, or pay the second instalment when requested.
• Meet applicable immigration-history requirements; previous visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.

Location when applying

You may be in or outside Australia when applying and when a decision is made, but not in immigration clearance.

If applying in Australia, you must hold:

• A substantive visa; or
• Bridging visa A (subclass 010), B (subclass 020), or C (subclass 030).

Cost

The visa application charge is from AUD6,140 for the main applicant. Charges also apply for each family member included.

A second instalment of AUD4,890 may apply for an applicant aged 18 or over who does not have functional English. Pay this only if requested before grant.

Other possible costs include health examinations, police certificates and biometrics.

Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concession

From 1 July 2026, eligible applicants receive a lower application charge through ImmiAccount. The primary applicant must use a valid passport issued by:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Included family members may also receive the lower charge, based on the primary applicant’s or qualifying visa holder’s passport.

Rights and conditions

With this visa, you can:

• Stay in Australia while the visa remains valid.
• Live, work and study in designated regional areas.
• Work in any occupation and for any employer, subject to visa conditions.
• Travel to and from Australia as often as you wish while valid.
• Apply for subclass 191 permanent residence if eligible.

You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws. Check your individual conditions in your grant letter or VEVO.

Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa.

Family provisions

You can include members of your family unit when lodging the application. You may add a dependent child after lodgement but before a decision.

Applying family members must meet health and character requirements. Non-accompanying family members must meet character requirements and may need to meet health requirements.

If a partner or dependent child is not included, explain why.

Dependent children

A child aged over 18 but under 23 must be dependent on you or your partner. A child aged 23 or over must be dependent because of physical or cognitive limitations.

For a child under 18 migrating without a person with legal responsibility, provide:

• Form 1229 or a statutory declaration of consent; or
• A court order or evidence that home-country law permits migration.

Required documents

Provide clear colour scans or photographs. Combine multi-page documents into one file. Translate all non-English documents into English and provide both originals and translations. Certification is not required.

Documents may include:

• Current passport biodata pages.
• National identity card, if available.
• Name-change evidence.
• Relationship evidence, including marriage, divorce, separation or death documents.
• Partner evidence, including a genuine and continuing relationship.
• Birth certificates, family book or adoption papers for children.
• Evidence of dependency for children aged over 18.
• Form 47a for dependent family members aged 18 or over.
• Australian Federal Police National Police Certificate, if you spent 12 months or more in Australia during the last 10 years since turning 16.
• Overseas police certificates for each country where you spent 12 months or more during that period.
• Military records, if applicable.
• Form 80.
• Form 1221.
• Functional English evidence, where required.

For de facto partners, provide either a registered relationship or evidence of at least 12 months of de facto relationship before applying, plus evidence the relationship is genuine and continuing.

How to apply

1. Gather identity, relationship, character and family documents.
2. Arrange health examinations if possible before applying.
3. Create or log in to ImmiAccount.
4. Complete the online application.
5. Attach documents for every applicant.
6. Pay each applicant’s visa charge.
7. Record the transaction reference number.
8. Check ImmiAccount for requests, health examinations, biometrics or further information.

The Department may decide the application without requesting missing documents.

After applying

If applying in Australia, remain lawful by holding a valid visa. A Bridging visa A may take effect if your current visa expires while the application is pending.

Do not ask for your current visa to be cancelled. If it is cancelled, you may become unlawful and your Bridging visa A will cease.

Tell the Department promptly about changes to:

• Address, telephone number, email or passport.
• Marital or de facto relationship status.
• Birth of a child.
• Errors in the application.
• Withdrawal of the application.

Use Form 1023 to notify incorrect answers. Use Form 1436 to add a dependent child after lodgement.

If applying outside Australia, do not arrange travel, leave employment or sell your home until written visa grant advice is received.

Decision and travel

The Department will notify you in writing of its decision. If granted, retain the grant notice, which states the grant number, start date and conditions. Application charges are not refunded if refused.

If granted outside Australia, enter Australia before the date stated in the grant letter.

Your visa is digitally linked to your passport; no passport label is issued.

Important warning for New Zealand passport holders

If processed at the border, tell the immigration officer that you hold a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 489 and do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444). The source states that a subclass 444 grant might affect eligibility for subclass 191 permanent residence and ultimately permanent residency or Australian citizenship.