How to Qualify for the 491 Visa in Victoria: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're a skilled worker looking to migrate to Australia and are open to living in a regional area, the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (subclass 491) visa could be a strong option for you. This visa provides a pathway to permanent residency for those who live, work and study in designated regional areas. While the 491 visa is available across various Australian states and territories, Victoria has its own specific eligibility requirements that depend on your current visa status, location, and employment situation. For other states, it is crucial that you look into the specific requirements outlined by the relevant authorities.

In this guide, we break down the key criteria for Victoria’s 491 nomination, outline the application process, explain your obligations after visa grant, and share practical tips to help you stay compliant and maximise your chances of success.

Quick overview

The subclass 491 visa is a temporary visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in a regional area of Australia.

It can be granted through:

• State or territory nomination; or
• Family sponsorship

The 491 visa is valid for 5 years. After 3 years of holding this visa (and meeting the visa conditions), you can then apply for the subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, which is a permanent residence visa designed for temporary holders of regional visas like the 491.

The application process is, in order, as follows:

• State or territory nomination pathway

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the federal government
2. Submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) with the state or territory government depending on the state criteria
3. Once your ROI is selected, submit the nomination application with the state or territory government
4. After nomination approval, you will be automatically invited to apply for the visa application and can submit the visa application

• Family sponsorship pathway

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the federal government
2. When your EOI is invited, you can submit the visa application

What counts as a regional area?

A regional area for migration purposes is called a “designated regional area”, which covers most of Australia except for greater Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. 

The regional definition is comprised of 2 categories:

• Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ – such as Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Geelong
• Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’

This list of postcodes outlines all areas which are counted as “designated regional areas”.

Victoria’s Nomination Requirements

Each state or territory has its own set of requirements on regional areas. In this article, we will focus on Victoria’s requirements.

Residence or employment requirement

Whether you need to be living and/or working in regional Victoria to be eligible for nomination, depends on where you live and what visa you hold at the time of getting your ROI selected. The table below neatly sets out the requirements:

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*Skilled employment refers to any role that is at skill levels 1, 2 or 3 in the relevant ANZSCO classification. It does not need to be related to or the same as your nominated occupation.

Family sponsorship requirements

Among other requirements, the sponsor must be an eligible relative of yours or your spouse/partner who is: 

• An Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen; and
• Usually resident in a designated regional area.

An eligible relative can be:

• A parent
• A child or step-child
• A brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister
• An aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle
• A nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece
• A grandparent, or
• A first cousin

Requirements/obligations after 491 visa grant

Once you are granted the subclass 491 visa, you (and all secondary visa holders) must only live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia. If you are not living and working in a designated regional area at the time of visa grant, you are given a “reasonable period of time” to move to a designated regional area. You cannot move out of the designated regional area to metropolitan Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane. This is a visa condition and failure to comply risks getting your visa cancelled.

Compliance with this obligation is monitored through:

• Regular updates (e.g., keeping your address current with the Department of Home Affairs)
• Evidence during your visa application for the 191 visa

You can move between different designated regional areas, even between states or territories, as long as the new area is still on the list of postcodes of designated regional areas.

However, if you were nominated by a state or territory, technically you are also expected to only live, work and study in a designated regional area of the nominating state or territory for a prescribed amount of time. If you were nominated by Victoria, you are expected to only live, work and study in a designated regional area of Victoria for at least 2 years, as this is what you would have committed to do when you apply for nomination from the Victorian government. 

Tips

• Always check the latest designated regional area postcode list
• Do not rely on assumptions — some suburbs near major cities may not be a designated regional area
• Keep records of your work and residential address history in designated regional areas

Conclusion

The subclass 491 visa offers a promising route to permanent residency in Australia, especially for skilled workers willing to settle in regional areas. However, understanding the state-specific nomination criteria, especially in Victoria, is crucial to avoid delays or missed opportunities. Whether you're applying from overseas or already living in Australia, meeting the right employment and residency requirements — and staying compliant after your visa is granted — is key to a smooth migration journey.

If you're unsure about your eligibility or need help navigating the process, consulting a migration professional can make all the difference. At Australian Migration Lawyers, we're here to guide you every step of the way.