Subclass 190 vs 491: Which Skilled Visa Is Better? (Australia 2026)
The subclass 190 and subclass 491 are Australia's two state and territory nomination pathways. This video compares the points bonus, the regional obligation, and the real timeline to permanent residence for each. Figures as at September 2026.
Read the full guide, with official sources →
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Chapters
- 0:00 190 = PR on grant
- 0:15 One is permanent.
- 0:29 190 nomination: +5 points
- 0:41 Base 70 points +
- 0:53 190: 2-year state commitment
- 1:10 Only 3 cities don't count
- 1:24 491 to 191:
- 1:36 Home Affairs processing times
- 1:52 The 491 adds a 3-year wait
- 2:06 Choose 190: base ~70–80+
- 2:21 Common mistake:
- 2:35 Where to read more
Transcript
Choosing between a subclass 190 and a subclass 491? The single biggest difference: a 190 is permanent the day it's granted. A 491 isn't.
Subclass 190 is a permanent visa from the day it's granted, with no further visa needed. Subclass 491 is a provisional visa, valid for 5 years, that needs a further step to reach permanent residence.
The trade-off is points. A subclass 190 nomination adds 5 points to your SkillSelect score. A subclass 491 nomination adds 15 points.
On a base score of 70 points, a 190 nomination takes you to 75 effective points. The same 70 points with a 491 nomination reaches 85.
A 190 comes with a state commitment: living and working in the nominating state for 2 years. That's an undertaking, not a strict visa condition. A 491's regional-area rule is different — it's an enforceable visa condition for the entire 5-year period.
On the 491, only three cities don't count as regional: Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Everywhere else — Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, the Gold Coast, even Hobart — counts.
After 3 years on the 491, living and working in a regional area, and providing ATO notices of assessment for 3 of those 5 years, you can apply for the subclass 191 permanent visa.
Home Affairs' own processing data, for the period ending 30 June 2026, shows the 190 taking 5 to 17 months, the 491 taking 5 to 18 months, and the 191 taking 4 to 13 months.
Because the 491 adds that 3-year regional wait before the 191, its total path to permanent residence runs longer than the 190's, even though the individual processing steps are similar in length.
Which one fits depends on your points. A base score around 70 to 80 or more can reach a competitive 190. A base score of 65 to 75 often needs the 491's 15-point bonus to be competitive at all.
The mistake to avoid: assuming any city that isn't a capital automatically counts as regional. For the 491, only Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane don't count — Perth, Adelaide and Canberra do.
The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description. And if you'd like to talk it through, you can compare registered migration agents there, and see their fees before you book anything.
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