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Migrate to Regional Canberra: Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)

Secure your provisional visa to live and work in regional Canberra, with a pathway to permanent residency after 3 years.

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🔎 Visa Snapshot

Visa Type: Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa)

PR Pathway: Eligible for permanent residency through Subclass 191 after 3 years.

State Nomination Required:Yes ( ACT State Nomination)

Points Test Required: Minimum 65 points

Processing Time: 6–9 months

Family Inclusion: Family members can be included

Common Use: For skilled workers who wish to live and work in regional Canberra temporarily, with a pathway to permanent residency.

Visa Overview & PR Benefits

The ACT 491 visa allows skilled professionals to gain temporary residency in Australia. It grants:

Full work and study rights

Access to Medicare

Pathway to Australian citizenship

Freedom to live anywhere in regional Canberra

Ability to sponsor eligible relatives for migration

Why Apply for Subclass 491 in ACT?

Ideal for skilled workers who wish to live and work in regional Canberra temporarily, with a pathway to permanent residency.

Direct pathway to permanent residency after 3 years of living and working in regional Canberra.

Includes eligible family members, such as spouses and dependent children.

Opportunity to settle in high-demand sectors like healthcare, engineering, and ICT.

Eligibility Criteria & Points Test

Age: Under 45 years at the time of invitation

Occupation: Must be on the ACT Critical Skills List

SkillSelect Points: Minimum 65 points (including state nomination points)

Skills Assessment: Must have a valid positive skills assessment from the relevant authority

English: Competent English (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)

🧮 Download Eligibility Checklist

Canberra Matrix Overview:

The Canberra Matrix is used to assess applicants for the ACT 491 visa. It awards points for:

Age: Younger applicants earn higher points.

Work Experience: Points are awarded for skilled employment in a nominated occupation or related field.

Education: Qualifications from Australian institutions or overseas.

Canberra Residency: Applicants who have lived in Canberra for at least 6 months receive additional points.

Family Ties: Having close family connections in Canberra (partners, parents, children, siblings) can increase an applicant's points.

ACT 491 Visa Streams Points Test Required: 65 points is the minimum for SkillSelect. However, the Canberra Matrix (used by ACT for nomination) is significantly more competitive and uses additional ranking criteria.

Minimum Matrix Scores: In January 2025, the minimum Canberra Matrix score for competitive categories (e.g. finance managers, skilled occupations) was around 115 points.

ACT 491 Visa Streams

The ACT 491 visa is available through specific streams based on applicant skills, residency, and employment status. Applicants are ranked through the Canberra Matrix, a points-based system that considers factors such as age, work experience, Canberra residency, and family connections.

Skilled Workers in Regional Canberra

  • Stream Overview: This stream is for applicants who are currently working in regional Canberra in a skilled occupation that is in demand.
  • Eligibility:
    • Onshore applicants currently working in regional Canberra for at least 6 months.
    • Applicants must be employed in an occupation on the ACT Critical Skills List.
    • Applicants must meet the minimum 65 points for SkillSelect, including state nomination points.

Offshore Applicants – SkillSelect Invitation

  • Stream Overview: This stream is for offshore applicants who have been invited through SkillSelect and have their occupation listed on the ACT Critical Skills List.
  • Eligibility:

Graduate Stream – Recent Graduates from ACT Institutions

  • Stream Overview: This stream targets recent graduates from Canberra-based institutions who are employed in a skilled occupation.
  • Eligibility:
    • Applicants who have completed qualifications in Canberra within the last 3 years.
    • Lived and worked in regional Canberra for a minimum of 3–6 months.
    • Must meet 65 points and submit a Skills Assessment.

Regional Employment Stream – Designated Areas

  • Stream Overview: This stream targets recent graduates from Canberra-based institutions who are employed in a skilled occupation.
  • Eligibility:
    • Applicants who have completed qualifications in Canberra within the last 3 years.
    • Lived and worked in regional Canberra for a minimum of 3–6 months.
    • Must meet 65 points and submit a Skills Assessment.

Step-by-Step Process for ACT 491 Nomination

Step 1
Check eligibility

Confirm your occupation is on the ACT Critical Skills List and that you meet the points criteria.

Step 2
Submit Skills Assessment

Obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.

Step 3
Submit EOI

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect with ACT selected.

Step 4
Submit ROI

Submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) through the Live in Canberra portal.

Step 5
Receive Invitation

If nominated, youu2019ll receive an invitation from ACT to apply for the Subclass 491 visa.

Step 6
Apply for Visa

Submit your visa application to the Department of Home Affairs.

Step 7
Health & Character Checks

Complete required health checks and police checks.

Step 8
Receive Outcome

Wait for your visa outcome.

ACT 191 Visa – Pathway to Permanent Residency

The ACT 191 Visa is a permanent residency pathway for individuals who have held a Subclass 491 Visa in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for at least 3 years and have met the income threshold requirements.

Once the residency and income criteria are met, you can transition to Permanent Residency (PR) through the Subclass 191 Visa, offering full work rights, access to Medicare, and a pathway to Australian citizenship.

For more information on the 191 Visa process, including eligibility and application details, please visit our Subclass 191 Visa page.

Family Members You Can Include

 

Family Members

Spouse or de facto partner (full work rights)

Dependent children under 18 (access to Medicare)

Children over 18 (if financially dependent on you)

All family members must meet health and character criteria.

Common Mistakes & Tips

Common Mistakes:

Wrong ANZSCO code: Ensure your occupation is correctly listed on the ACT Critical Skills List.

Incomplete documentation: Submit full documents upfront to avoid delays.

Expired test results: Ensure your English test results are still valid when applying.

Expert Tips:

Confirm your points with a migration agent before submitting your EOI.

Double-check your occupation and ensure it’s in demand.

Ensure your documents are complete and up-to-date.

Required Documents

Passport bio page and identity documents

Positive skills assessment result

English test results (IELTS/PTE)

Skill Select EOI summary

Proof of ACT residence (if onshore)

Employment references.

Academic qualifications and transcripts

Commitment statement to live in ACT

📥 Download Full ACT 491 Checklist

Visa Fees & Processing Time

TypeDetails & Fee (AUD)
🧾 Visa FeeApprox. AUD 4,640
👥 PartnerAUD 2,320
👥 ChildAUD 1,160
⏳ Processing Time6-9 months (post-ROI submission).
📊 Check Visa Fees With Official Estimator

🧰 Tools & Downloads

Download Subclass ACT 491 Migration Pack
Download Subclass ACT 491 Migration Pack
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Frequently Asked Questions❓

To be eligible for ACT 491 nomination, you must meet both the Department of Home Affairs requirements for the Subclass 491 visa and the ACT nomination criteria.

The ACT criteria generally include:

  • Submitting an ACT Matrix
  • Holding a valid skills assessment in an eligible occupation
  • Meeting ACT residency or overseas requirements as outlined in the ACT State Nomination guidelines
  • Meeting English, employment, and financial criteria (including the required English test score)
  • Demonstrating a genuine commitment to live and work in Canberra for at least three years

For the onshore stream, yes — you generally need to be living in Canberra for a minimum period (usually 3–6 months, depending on your circumstances) before submitting your ACT Matrix.

ACT also accepts overseas applicants under specific streams, but selection is very competitive and based strictly on ACT occupation needs and Matrix ranking.

The ACT Matrix is a points-based ranking system used to select candidates for ACT 491 and ACT 190 nominations. It allocates points based on factors such as ACT residence, ACT employment, skills level and skills assessment, English ability, spouse or partner employment, education, and ACT investment or assets.

Only the highest-ranked candidates in each invitation round receive an invitation. All claims in your Matrix must be supported by evidence, or your nomination can be refused at verification.

Do I need a job in Canberra to qualify for ACT 491?

ACT 491 nomination processing typically takes around 4–6 weeks, depending on the volume of applications and the complexity of verification.

Once ACT approves your nomination, Home Affairs processing for the Subclass 491 visa can take around 9–18 months, depending on background checks and the completeness of your documents.

Common supporting documents include:

  • Valid skills assessment
  • Passport and identification documents
  • Proof of ACT residence (lease, bills, bank statements)
  • Employment evidence (contracts, payslips, tax records)
  • English test results
  • Updated CV
  • Partner documents (if claiming partner points)
  • Evidence to verify every claim made in your ACT Matrix

Missing or inconsistent documents are a common reason for ACT 491 nomination refusal, so all evidence should clearly support your claims.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not guarantee visa approval. All visa applications are subject to the discretion of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. For personalized guidance, please contact a registered migration agent at Visa Advisor.