Commonwealth of Australia
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): government fee breakdown
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Source auto-reconfirmed 25 September 2026 by the daily automated check (figures unchanged since last review).
The Australia subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa costs about A$6,650 for a single applicant before skills-assessment and English-test costs, plus any state or territory nomination fee where applicable.
These are the fees paid to the Commonwealth of Australia government. You pay these directly as part of your application. Fees for dependants, priority services, or higher salary bands may change the total.
How much does the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) cost in Australia?
The Australia subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa costs about A$6,650 for a single applicant before skills-assessment and English-test costs, plus any state or territory nomination fee where applicable.
Source checked against Home Affairs - current visa pricing table on 1 July 2026.
Headline total
A$6,646
Single applicant, no dependants, family-sponsor or no-fee state nomination
No changes recorded for this figure since 1 July 2026.
Currency
AUD (Australian dollar)
Last checked
1 July 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
Visa application charge (primary applicant)# Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) VAC from the Home Affairs current pricing table, updated 1 July 2026. Eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concessions may reduce the charge. | A$6,140 | Yes |
State/territory nomination application/service fee# Applies where the applicant uses a state or territory nomination rather than eligible-relative sponsorship. Verified examples: Victoria charges AUD 0, Western Australia charges AUD 200, and ACT lists a AUD 300 service fee. | Variable | Optional |
Additional applicant charge (18+)# | A$3,070per adult | Optional |
Additional applicant charge (under 18)# | A$1,535per child | Optional |
Second instalment - limited English proficiency# Charged only where an adult applicant is assessed as not having functional English at visa grant; otherwise nil. | A$4,885per applicant aged 18+ | Optional |
Skills assessment (indicative, by assessing authority)# Varies widely by occupation - ACS, Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, TRA and health regulators use different fee schedules. | A$1,050 | Optional |
English test (indicative)# Competent English is required at invitation unless an exemption applies; higher English bands can add points. | A$410 | Optional |
Police clearances# AFP national police check base fee (A$56); fingerprint checks cost more. Additional countries of residence each add their own clearance cost. | A$56 | Yes |
Health examinations (panel physician)# Indicative only. Home Affairs may require health checks, and clinic fees vary by country and exam components. | A$450 | Yes |
Worked example
Single applicant, no dependants, family-sponsor or no-fee state nomination — A$6,646
- A$6,140 subclass 491 VAC
- A$0 state nomination fee where using family sponsorship or a no-fee state program; other state/territory fees vary
- A$56 police clearance
- A$450 health examination (indicative)
- Plus skills assessment and English test costs paid to third parties.
How to read these fees
The A$6,646 headline covers single applicant, no dependants, family-sponsor or no-fee state nomination. Of the 9 components listed above, 3 are mandatory and 6 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is Visa application charge (primary applicant) at A$6,140.
Bringing family changes the total — see the dependant section below. Treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a quote: confirm each line on the official source linked below on the day you pay, because these fees are revised regularly.
Dependant fees
Add A$3,070 per adult dependant and A$1,535 per child. Each adult may separately be charged the A$4,885 limited-English second instalment if they cannot demonstrate functional English.
A state or territory nomination fee may also apply before the federal visa application charge. The eligible-relative sponsorship route can avoid a state fee but still requires sponsor eligibility and regional evidence.
Why fees change
Home Affairs changed the subclass 491 VAC on 1 July 2026 to A$6,140 for the primary applicant, A$3,070 for each adult additional applicant and A$1,535 for each child. State nomination programs open, close and change fees separately, while family-sponsored cases may avoid the state fee entirely. Verify both the federal pricing table and the nomination or sponsor route before lodging.
Primary source
Home Affairs - current visa pricing table
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/fees-and-charges/current-visa-pricing
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) fee schedule", https://visaatlas.org/fees/australia/subclass-491-skilled-regional. Last checked 1 July 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/fees
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) cost in government fees?
The Australia subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional visa costs about A$6,650 for a single applicant before skills-assessment and English-test costs, plus any state or territory nomination fee where applicable. The worked example assumes single applicant, no dependants, family-sponsor or no-fee state nomination, totalling A$6,646. Fees for dependants, priority service, or higher-tier salary bands change the total — see the itemised table above.
Are these fees refundable if my application is refused?
Most application fees are non-refundable once the government begins processing. Some jurisdictions refund specific components (e.g. Canada's Right of Permanent Residence Fee refunds if refused; UK IHS refunds if the visa is refused). Check the linked primary source for the route you are applying to.
How often do these fees change?
Home Affairs changed the subclass 491 VAC on 1 July 2026 to A$6,140 for the primary applicant, A$3,070 for each adult additional applicant and A$1,535 for each child. State nomination programs open, close and change fees separately, while family-sponsored cases may avoid the state fee entirely. Verify both the federal pricing table and the nomination or sponsor route before lodging.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
Add A$3,070 per adult dependant and A$1,535 per child. Each adult may separately be charged the A$4,885 limited-English second instalment if they cannot demonstrate functional English.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491).
Processing time
How long the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) takes from application to decision.
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Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.