Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) now open to metropolitan Melbourne applicants
Onshore candidates living and/or working in metropolitan Melbourne can now submit a registration of Interest (ROI) for the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) nomination.
The new expanded eligibility criteria open Victoria’s subclass 491 visa program to skilled migrants living anywhere in Victoria, including previously ineligible metropolitan Melbourne residents who wish to relocate to work and live in a designated regional area of Victoria.
Subclass 491 visa holders must live, work, and study in a regional area of Victoria for at least three years before they can apply for their subclass 191 visa, which provides permanent residency. This means you may need to move to a designated regional area of Victoria or secure a job that provides you with regional employment.
New Candidates
There are four steps to subclass 491 visa nomination.
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs using Skill Select.
- Using the EOI number received from Skill Select, submit a Registration of Interest (ROI) for Victorian nomination via the Live in Melbourne portal.
- After you are selected to apply for a Victorian visa nomination, apply for a subclass 491 visa nomination on the Live in Melbourne portal.
- If your nomination application is approved, submit a visa application with the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs.
I have already applied for the subclass 190 visa nomination; can I simultaneously apply for the subclass 491 visa nomination?
If you’ve lodged a Registration of Interest (ROI) for a Subclass 190 and haven’t been selected, don’t panic—and definitely don’t just sit there doing nothing. You can withdraw the existing Subclass 190 ROI and submit a new ROI for the Subclass 491 instead. Simple, but it has to be done properly.
This is often a smarter move, because the subclass 491 visa Australia pathway offers more realistic chances for many applicants, especially those open to regional opportunities. It’s a key part of the regional skilled migration visa strategy, and when used correctly, it can keep your PR plans alive instead of letting them stall.
Bottom line: if one pathway isn’t moving, switch gears—but don’t half-arse it. Get the strategy right, stay compliant, and give yourself a bloody fair shot at success.