State/Territory Nominated Regional
Current Home Affairs data shows 50% of recently decided applications were finalised within 5 Months, while 90% were finalised within 18 Months.
Clear data for a calmer wait
Subclass 491 processing time, without the guesswork.
Use the stream and lodgement date shown in your application to compare your wait with current Home Affairs checkpoints.
Official benchmarksHome Affairs source
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Current figuresLatest published data
Choose your visa subclass
Your selected visa
Subclass 491
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
For invited skilled people nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible family member, to live and work in regional Australia.
Eligibility, costs and application stepsChoose your pathway
Enter your lodgement date
See today's timeline
Build your waiting timeline
Two details are enough to compare your wait with current Home Affairs benchmarks.
Published benchmarks
Current Processing Times
Compare how long 50% and 90% of recently decided applications took in each pathway.
What do 50% and 90% processed mean?Published benchmark
State/Territory Nominated Regional
For invited applicants nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.
5Months
50% processed
18Months
90% processed
Last updated: 5 Oct 2026
Published benchmark
Family Sponsored Regional
For invited applicants sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area.
4Months
50% processed
7Months
90% processed
Last updated: 5 Oct 2026
Stream-specific guide
Subclass 491 processing time by regional pathway
The Skilled Work Regional visa has separate published checkpoints for State or Territory Government Nominated and Family Sponsored Regional applications. Select the pathway stated in your lodged application.
Family Sponsored Regional
Current Home Affairs data shows 50% of recently decided applications were finalised within 4 Months, while 90% were finalised within 7 Months.
Nomination, invitation and visa processing are separate stages
State nomination or eligible-relative sponsorship and the SkillSelect invitation occur before the federal visa application. These checkpoints describe the Home Affairs visa stage only.
Which date should I enter?
Enter the date the Subclass 491 visa application was lodged after nomination or sponsorship and invitation.
50% processed does not mean your application is half complete
These percentages describe recently decided applications, not progress inside one individual case.