Skilled Work Regional Visa
A significant points bonus for committing to a designated regional area.
Overview
A provisional visa with a substantial 15-point bonus for state or eligible family sponsorship — often enough to turn a borderline points score into a competitive one — in exchange for living and working in a designated regional area for five years. The visa carries Condition 8579, a legal requirement to live, work and study regionally for its duration.
Who it's for
- Applicants who don't yet meet the 189/190 threshold on their own points
- Anyone who can secure state or eligible family sponsorship and is open to regional living for a few years
Key requirements
- At least 65 points on the SkillSelect points test — most successful invitations score higher
- Nomination by a state/territory, or sponsorship by an eligible family member
- Occupation on the relevant list — regional lists are broader than the 189's
- Genuine commitment to live, work and study in a designated regional area (Condition 8579)
- After 3 years meeting residence and income requirements, eligible for permanent Subclass 191
"Regional" is broader than it sounds — it includes cities like Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and the Gold Coast, not just remote towns.
The visa application charge rose to $6,140 for the primary applicant from 1 July 2026 (up from $4,910), plus roughly $3,070 for an additional applicant 18 or over and $1,535 for a dependant under 18.
The good news at the other end: once you've completed your 3 years and move to the permanent Subclass 191, that step costs far less — from around $630 for the Regional Provisional stream — so the expensive part of this pathway is the 491 itself, not the PR step that follows it.
Not sure if this is the right visa for you?
Tell us your situation and we'll confirm whether the Skilled Work Regional Visa fits, or point you to the one that does.
Book a free visa assessmentVisa subclasses, eligibility criteria, streams, points thresholds and fees are set by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and change periodically, often each 1 July. The figures above reflect published guidance as of August 2026 — your Rigpa House adviser will confirm current figures, state-specific nomination criteria and eligibility before you apply.