Regional Migration (Skilled Regional Visas: subclasses 491, 494 & 191)
Trade a big-city queue for a regional town and a clearer route to Australian permanent res…
Record checked Oct 21, 2026 · official source not yet confirmed by our automated check
Summary
Australia's regional migration program gives skilled migrants who live & work outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane two provisional regional visas with a pathway to permanent residence, extra points on the skilled points test, and longer post-study work rights for regional graduates.
Dream spread
Trade a big-city queue for a regional town and a clearer route to Australian permanent residency.
Relocation reality check
Not cash: you must be nominated/sponsored (state, regional employer, or eligible relative), meet skilled-occupation & points rules, and stay in designated regional areas (Category 2/3) for the provisional visa period before applying for PR.
Your fit signals
The real program is below — the 0–100 scoring is a paid feature.
Full match score — Solo / Household
The 0–100 move-match score, quality score, and would-stay breakdown — with confidence and full reasoning — unlock on Solo and Household.
See Solo & Household plansReality engine
Four lenses on whether this move fits you — tap a panel to see the logic behind each signal.
Eligibility
Skilled workers with an eligible occupation & skills assessment, nominated by a state/territory or sponsored by a regional employer or relative; must live, work or study in designated regional Australia (everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane).
Costs & money
The amounts & terms on record from the official source. USD figures are estimates.
- Property purchase
- Not required
No amounts on record. Check the official source.
True cost to move
Upfront cash, reimbursements, and net position after approval — not headline incentive amounts.
- Flights & logistics$1,200
- Temporary housing (90 days)$2,400
- Deposit / first month rent$2,000
- Visa & consular fees$500
- Health insurance$600
- Legal & translation$400
- Setup costs$800
Application roadmap
A practical sequence — adjust for your consulate and timeline.
1. Confirm official eligibility
Read the primary government source.
2. Gather income & employment proof
Bank statements, contracts, or tax records.
3. Book consulate / immigration appointment
Slots vary by country and season.
4. Prepare health coverage
Meet minimum coverage rules before arrival.
Meet people before you go
We are still curating 🇦🇺 Australia-specific communities. Meanwhile, these global boards answer relocation questions every day.
Communities being curated — start with r/expats meanwhile
- r/expats100k+ members
Life abroad, country comparisons, honest post-move retrospectives.
Source trail
We could not fully confirm the key figures against the official source. Check it yourself before relying on them.
“'Major Cities' of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane do not receive any regional incentives”
Primary official sourceLast checked Oct 21, 2026- Secondary referenceLast checked Oct 21, 2026
Rule changes
CasaSedora last checked the official source on 14 Nov 2026. Changes appear here once two independent automated checks agree on them, or a person confirms them.
No rule changes recorded since monitoring began.
Our summaries point you to what moved — always confirm details on the official source.