Do You Need to Move to a Regional Area First for the 491 Visa?

One of the most common questions we receive at Nexor is:
“Do I need to relocate to a regional area before I can apply for the 491 visa?”

The answer is: it depends — every state and territory in Australia has its own rules for 491 visa. In this blog, we’ll break it down so you better understand your situation — and what your next move should be.

What Is the SC 491 Visa?

The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) is a temporary 5-year visa that allows you to live, work, and study in a designated regional area of Australia. After 3 years, you may become eligible for permanent residency through the 191 permanent residency visa.

To apply for a 491 visa, you generally need:

• A valid skills assessment
• An occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
• Competent English
• Meet points-tested requirements (minimum 65 points including nomination)
• Be nominated by a state or territory government

Do States Require You to Live in their Regional Area First?

Here’s where it gets interesting. Each state sets its own rules for nomination eligibility under 491 visa.

Some states that require applicants residing and working in their regional areas include:

• NSW: Pathway 1 and 3
• SA: Outer Regional Skilled Employment Steam
• VIC – If graduates(500/485 visa holders) of other state/territory
• TAS 
• NT

The only state to accept EOIs from applicants residing outside their state at this stage is: 

Western Australia (WA): Accepts EOIs from applicants even outside WA.

The key takeaway is: the requirements of state nomimation change regularly depending on migration planning levels, quotas, and labour market needs.

What Happens if You Apply from Outside Regional Areas?

If your targeted state allows it, you can still submit an EOI and receive state nomination even if you’re not currently living in a regional area.
However, once your 491 visa is granted, you will be required to move to and live in the regional area as a visa condition.

This is a key requirement for ongoing compliance and eventual eligibility for the 191 permanent residency visa.

Why State Requirements Change So Often

State and territory governments adjust their nomination requirements based on:

• Occupation shortages
• Workforce demands
• Migration allocation caps from the Australian Government
• Regional development priorities

Because these factors are always changing, it’s important to stay updated or get professional advice before submitting your EOI. You can follow our social media account to stay informed (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook).

Want to know the best state for 491 visa tailored to your profile?

At Nexor Group, we monitor every state and territory’s latest nomination criteria, helping you identify where you have the strongest chance of success — even if you’re not living in regional Australia right now.

Contact us today for a full eligibility check and state-by-state migration strategy tailored to your situation.