Skilled · Subclass 491
491 Family Sponsored Visa
The 491 has two ways in: nomination by a state or territory, or sponsorship by an eligible relative living in regional Australia. The family stream gives the same 15 points as state nomination, but it depends on federal invitations, and recent rounds have issued very few.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Points for sponsorship
- 15
- Relative must live
- In a designated regional area
- Recent invitations
- Few — 150 in Aug 2025, none since
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →MARN 1576536
A relative in regional Australia? Find out whether this stream is worth waiting for.
In the consultation I check your points, occupation and skills assessment, confirm whether your relative qualifies and lives in a designated regional area, and compare the family stream with state nomination for your occupation. Bring your skills assessment, English results and your relative’s address.
What it costs. $330 inc. GST for 30 minutes by video with Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536), credited in full against our professional fee if you engage WIDEN. Advice confirmed in writing after the call. There is no free consultation. Free questions are closed; advice on your own case is the consultation.
Who can sponsor you
Your sponsor must be your relative, or your partner’s relative, and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, aged 18 or over. Eligible relatives are a parent, child or step-child, brother or sister (including step-siblings), aunt or uncle, niece or nephew, grandparent, or first cousin.
The regional rule
Your relative must usually live in a designated regional area. In migration terms “regional” covers far more than the countryside: it includes every part of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, so cities like Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra and Hobart count. Check the postcode: is my city regional?.
What you need yourself
- An occupation on the list for the family-sponsored stream, and a positive skills assessment in it.
- At least Competent English. See English test scores for Australian visas.
- Under 45 when invited.
- At least 65 points, including the 15 for family sponsorship. Use the points calculator.
- An expression of interest in SkillSelect selecting the family-sponsored stream, with your relative’s details.
How invitations work
Family-sponsored invitations are issued by the Department in federal SkillSelect rounds, not by the states. Numbers are small and irregular: the August 2025 round invited 150 family-sponsored applicants, and later rounds issued none for this stream. Track every round on the invitation rounds tracker.
The pathway to PR
The 491 is a five-year provisional visa. After holding it for at least three years, living and working in a designated regional area and meeting the income threshold, you can apply for the permanent Subclass 191. See the 491 guide.
Is it the right stream?
For most people the family stream is a second option, not a first. If your occupation is on a state’s list, state nomination usually moves faster. A relative in a regional area still helps: some states favour applicants with family ties, and the relative can support your settlement. The real question is which route is open for your occupation this year.
General information only, current at October 2026; not advice on your own case. Outcomes depend on the Department’s assessment of each application; no registered migration agent can guarantee a result (Code of Conduct, Migration Agents Regulations). Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
Not sure which visa fits you?
Answer three questions. An automated guide points you to the route that usually applies. General information only.
Book 30 minutes with Keshab.
Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536), reads your situation with you and tells you which route fits, what it costs and what happens next.
Video consultation. A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes, credited in full if you go ahead. Free questions are closed: advice on your own case is the consultation.
Book a consultation — A$330 inc. GST, credited In writing, no call — A$550
Need 60 minutes, or bringing a partner, employer or documents to go through? Extended consultation, A$550 inc. GST.
MARN 1576536 · practising since 2015 · contact details
Questions we get asked first
Who can sponsor me for a 491 visa?
A relative of yours or your partner’s, who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, aged 18 or over, and usually living in a designated regional area.
Can a cousin sponsor me for a 491?
Yes. A first cousin is an eligible relative, as are parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and grandparents.
How many points does family sponsorship give?
15 points, the same as state or territory nomination for the 491.
Is Perth or Adelaide regional for the 491?
Yes. Every part of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is a designated regional area.
How long does it take to be invited?
There is no set time. Family-sponsored invitations depend on federal rounds, which have been small and irregular.
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