# Australia 491 Regional Visa for Indians: Requirements and PR Path > What Indians need for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) subclass 491 visa, what it costs in AUD, how long Home Affairs takes and how the 3-year path to subclass 191 works. _Published: 2026-11-05 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1156_ ## TL;DR The subclass 491 is a 5-year provisional visa for designated regional Australia, needing a state or territory nomination or eligible-relative sponsorship, an invitation before age 45, 65 points, a skills assessment and Competent English. The main applicant pays AUD 6,140, and after holding the visa for 3 years the PR pathway is subclass 191. ## Key takeaways - Subclass 491 is provisional for 5 years and limited to designated regional Australia. - You need a state or territory nomination or an eligible relative's sponsorship, plus 65 points. - Main applicant charge: AUD 6,140; each family member AUD 3,070 (18+) or AUD 1,535 (under 18). - Home Affairs' global guide: 50% of state-nominated 491 applications decided in 5 months, 90% in 18 months. - Permanent residence comes through subclass 191 after holding the 491 for 3 years. **The Australia 491 visa is a 5-year provisional visa to live, work and study in designated regional Australia. Home Affairs requires a state or territory nomination or eligible-relative sponsorship, being under 45 when invited, at least 65 points, a skills assessment and Competent English. After holding it for 3 years, the PR pathway is subclass 191.** ## Article The figures below come from the Australian Department of Home Affairs, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Home Affairs charges in AUD only and publishes no rupee amounts. For visitor, student and other work visas, see our Australia visa guide for Indians. ### Who is eligible for the 491 visa from India? The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, subclass 491, has five core requirements on the Home Affairs page: - A nomination or sponsorship. Either a state or territory government agency nominates you, or an eligible relative sponsors you. - Age. You must be under 45 when invited. - Points. At least 65 points on the points test. - Occupation and skills assessment. Your occupation must be on a relevant skilled occupation list, and you need a suitable skills assessment. - English. At least Competent English at the time of invitation. Like the 189 and 190, the 491 works by invitation, which is why the age and English tests are measured at the point you are invited, not when you first register interest. An Indian engineer who turns 45 while waiting for an invitation no longer qualifies, however strong the rest of the profile. The nomination is the step most Indians underestimate. Without a state, territory or eligible relative behind you, 65 points alone do not produce a 491 visa. ### How does the 491 lead to permanent residence? The 491 is not itself permanent. It lasts 5 years, and Home Affairs describes a pathway to permanent residence through subclass 191 after you have held the 491 for 3 years. The record we use does not list the full subclass 191 conditions, so read the 191 page on the Home Affairs website before you plan around a date. Citizenship is a separate, later step. Home Affairs' general residence requirement for citizenship by conferral is: - 4 years living in Australia on a valid visa immediately before applying; - a permanent visa held for the last 12 months of that period; - absences of no more than 12 months in total in the 4 years, and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months. Time on a 491 is time on a valid visa, but you still need 12 months on a permanent visa, such as the 191, before the citizenship application. The conferral fee is AUD 285 for applicants aged 18 to 59 who sit the citizenship test. ### How do the 491, 189 and 190 compare on cost and waiting time? These three points-tested visas share the 65-point minimum, the under-45 rule and the Competent English threshold. They differ in who backs you, whether the visa is permanent, and how long Home Affairs takes. VisaBacking neededStatusMain applicant chargeProcessing (global guide)Subclass 491State or territory nomination, or eligible relative sponsorshipProvisional, 5 years, regionalAUD 6,14050% in 5 months, 90% in 18 months (state/territory nominated)Subclass 190State or territory nominationPermanentAUD 6,14050% in 4 months, 90% in 16 monthsSubclass 189 (points-tested)None (invitation only)PermanentAUD 6,13550% in 61 days, 90% in 8 monthsThe processing figures are Home Affairs' global processing-time guide for recently decided applications of all nationalities. They are not India-specific and are not a promise for your file. ### What does a 491 application cost an Indian family? Each person in the application adds a charge. For the 491, Home Affairs lists: - Main applicant: AUD 6,140. - Each family member aged 18 or over: AUD 3,070. - Each family member under 18: AUD 1,535. Budget separately for the skills assessment, English test, police certificates and any health checks or biometrics Home Affairs asks for. None of these is included in the visa charge, and their amounts are not published on the 491 page we checked. ### How do you apply from India? Australian visas are lodged online through ImmiAccount with the Department of Home Affairs. The Home Affairs office at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi manages many visa services for citizens of India, and visa enquiries go to the helpline on +61 2 6196 0196. The High Commission lists visa application centres only for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, not India. Before you lodge, check these points: - Translate every non-English document into English and give the translator's details. - Scan documents in colour, with multi-page documents as one file. - Use Form 956 if a registered migration agent acts for you, or Form 956A for an authorised recipient. - Wait for Home Affairs to tell you whether biometrics are needed; India is not on the list of Australian Biometrics Collection Centre locations (March 2026). - Keep your skills assessment within its validity and your English result current at the invitation date. ### Is the 491 the right route, or should you consider employer sponsorship? The 491 suits applicants who can secure a state or territory nomination or have an eligible relative in a designated regional area. If you have an Australian employer instead, the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is a temporary route of up to 4 years, and your employer may later nominate you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). That route is already busy with Indians. Home Affairs reports 6,220 subclass 482 primary visas granted to Indian citizens between 1 July and 31 December 2025, 18.1% of all primary grants and the largest citizenship group. The Core Skills stream needs pay of at least AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. If relatives plan a visitor trip to Australia while your 491 file is in progress, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visitor files. Packages run from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I include my spouse and children in a 491 application? Yes. Home Affairs lists separate 491 charges for family members included in the application: AUD 3,070 for each person aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for each child under 18, on top of the AUD 6,140 main applicant charge. #### Is the 491 visa fee published in rupees? No. Home Affairs publishes visa charges in AUD only and gives no INR amount. The amount debited from an Indian card depends on your bank's exchange rate on the day of payment. #### What English level do I need for the 491? Home Affairs requires at least Competent English at the time of invitation. Check the Home Affairs page for the accepted tests and the scores that count as Competent before you book an exam. #### Can I apply for Australian citizenship directly from a 491? No. Citizenship by conferral needs a permanent visa held for the last 12 months before applying, as part of 4 years' lawful residence. The 491 is provisional, so you would first move to a permanent visa such as subclass 191. ## FAQ ### Can I include my spouse and children in a 491 application? Yes. Home Affairs lists separate 491 charges for family members included in the application: AUD 3,070 for each person aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for each child under 18, on top of the AUD 6,140 main applicant charge. ### Is the 491 visa fee published in rupees? No. Home Affairs publishes visa charges in AUD only and gives no INR amount. The amount debited from an Indian card depends on your bank's exchange rate on the day of payment. ### What English level do I need for the 491? Home Affairs requires at least Competent English at the time of invitation. Check the Home Affairs page for the accepted tests and the scores that count as Competent before you book an exam. ### Can I apply for Australian citizenship directly from a 491? No. Citizenship by conferral needs a permanent visa held for the last 12 months before applying, as part of 4 years' lawful residence. The 491 is provisional, so you would first move to a permanent visa such as subclass 191. ## Sources 1. [Department of Home Affairs - Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-work-regional-provisional-491/application) — Australian Department of Home Affairs 2. [Department of Home Affairs - Visa fees and charges (current visa pricing table)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/fees-and-charges/current-visa-pricing) — Australian Department of Home Affairs 3. [Department of Home Affairs - Global visa processing times guide](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times) — Australian Department of Home Affairs 4. [Department of Home Affairs - Citizenship by conferral for permanent residents](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen/permanent-resident) — Australian Department of Home Affairs