Head to head · Checked 30 October 2026
491 Skilled Work Regional vs 482 Skills in Demand
The 491 is a points-tested provisional visa with a state or family nomination, five years in regional Australia for any employer, and the 191 after three years at the required income; the 482 is an employer’s visa, up to four years anywhere in the nominated occupation for that sponsor, with the 186 after two. The 491 belongs to the holder and the 482 belongs to the job. A migrant with the points and a regional nomination takes the 491 and keeps the freedom to change jobs; a migrant without them but with an employer takes the 482; a 482 holder in a regional area with the points can lodge for the 491 and hold both routes.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed 30 October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Depends on
- Your points, an occupation on the list, a state or family nomination, an invitation · An employer’s nomination of a genuine position at the threshold
- Where
- Designated regional areas, any employer · Anywhere, the sponsor only
- Length
- 5 years · Up to 4 years
- Charge
- $6,140 primary applicant · $4,015 primary applicant; the employer pays the nomination and levy
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About the CPD →Side by side
| 491 Skilled Work Regional | 482 Skills in Demand | |
|---|---|---|
| Depends on | Your points, an occupation on the list, a state or family nomination, an invitation | An employer’s nomination of a genuine position at the threshold |
| Where | Designated regional areas, any employer | Anywhere, the sponsor only |
| Length | 5 years | Up to 4 years |
| Charge | $6,140 primary applicant | $4,015 primary applicant; the employer pays the nomination and levy |
| Path to PR | 191 after 3 years at the required income | 186 after 2 years with the sponsor |
| If the job ends | Nothing changes; find another regional job | 180 days to find a new sponsor |
| Watch out | The income test on the 191 and moving out of the region | The tie to the sponsor and the occupation |
Charges are the current government application charges (from 1 July 2026, main applicant) — see the fee calculator for your family's total. Checked 30 October 2026.
The honest verdict
The 491 is a points-tested provisional visa with a state or family nomination, five years in regional Australia for any employer, and the 191 after three years at the required income; the 482 is an employer’s visa, up to four years anywhere in the nominated occupation for that sponsor, with the 186 after two. The 491 belongs to the holder and the 482 belongs to the job. A migrant with the points and a regional nomination takes the 491 and keeps the freedom to change jobs; a migrant without them but with an employer takes the 482; a 482 holder in a regional area with the points can lodge for the 491 and hold both routes.
Which side of that line you fall on depends on facts a table cannot hold — your age, score, occupation's lists, and what evidence you can actually assemble. That is consultation territory, not guesswork territory.
More head-to-heads: 482 vs 494 · 190 vs 491 · 189 vs 190 · 482 vs 186
General information only, not migration advice. Settings shown are the general rules; exemptions and stream variations exist. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
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Questions we get asked first
491 Skilled Work Regional or 482 Skills in Demand — which is better?
The 491 is a points-tested provisional visa with a state or family nomination, five years in regional Australia for any employer, and the 191 after three years at the required income; the 482 is an employer’s visa, up to four years anywhere in the nominated occupation for that sponsor, with the 186 after two. The 491 belongs to the holder and the 482 belongs to the job. A migrant with the points and a regional nomination takes the 491 and keeps the freedom to change jobs; a migrant without them but with an employer takes the 482; a 482 holder in a regional area with the points can lodge for the 491 and hold both routes.
What is the main difference between the 491 Skilled Work Regional and the 482 Skills in Demand?
Depends on: 491 Skilled Work Regional — Your points, an occupation on the list, a state or family nomination, an invitation; 482 Skills in Demand — An employer’s nomination of a genuine position at the threshold. Where: 491 Skilled Work Regional — Designated regional areas, any employer; 482 Skills in Demand — Anywhere, the sponsor only. Length: 491 Skilled Work Regional — 5 years; 482 Skills in Demand — Up to 4 years.
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