1. Overview
Know these facts cold before the first client conversation - they are also what the exam below tests. Pathway to permanent residence via subclass 887 after 3 years living and working regionally and meeting the income requirement.
Visa typeProvisional (5 yrs)
LodgementOnshore or offshore
Stay5 years (provisional)
Work rightsFull work rights in designated regional areas
Study rightsYes
Government charge~$4,910 (main applicant)
Processing time~6-12 months
2. Process flow
The handling sequence for a 491 file, from first consultation to decision. Each step assumes the one before it is genuinely finished - not "mostly done".
- Screen hard before promising anything
Occupation on the relevant list, realistic points including the +15 regional points, under 45 at invitation, viable skills assessment route.
- Skills assessment
Lodge with the relevant assessing authority - the longest lead-time item.
- Secure the nomination
Nomination by a state/territory OR sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area. Confirm the postcode actually counts as regional.
- EOI, invitation, lodgement
Claim only evidencable points in SkillSelect; on invitation, lodge within 60 days with the full evidence pack.
- Health, character, decision
Medicals and police certificates promptly; respond to natural-justice letters inside the deadline.
- Grant briefing
Brief on the commitment: living and working in a designated regional area, and the 191 income requirement for PR.
5. Cost checklist
Quote the full stack, in writing, before the client signs. Surprise costs are the fastest way to lose a client's trust (and earn a complaint).
| Item | Indicative amount |
|---|
| Base visa application charge (2025-26, indicative) | ~$4,910 (main applicant) |
| Skills assessment (authority-dependent) | ~$500-1,600 |
| English test | ~$400-460 |
| Health examinations (per person) | ~$300-500 |
| Police certificates (AFP ~$42 each; foreign vary) | ~$42-150 each |
| Additional applicant charges | Roughly 50% (18+) / 25% (under 18) of the base charge |
| Your professional fee | Per your agency's schedule - quote in writing before Form 956 |
| Rule of thumb | Government charges usually change every 1 July - re-quote any file that lodges after 30 June |
7. Case studies - eligible cases
Illustrative composites showing what a grantable 491 file looks like in practice.
Grant: Omar from Pakistan
- Background
- Omar, a registered nurse from Pakistan. Skilled workers willing to live and work in regional Australia - adds 15 points.
- Why it qualified
- (1) Nomination by a state/territory, or sponsorship by an eligible relative in a regional area. (2) Submit an EOI and receive an invitation. (3) Suitable skills assessment.
- What made the file strong
- The agent tested the weakest criterion first and fixed it before lodging, not after a natural-justice letter.
- Outcome
- Granted within the indicative processing window (~6-12 months).
Grant: Priya from China
- Background
- Priya, a civil engineer from China. Skilled workers willing to live and work in regional Australia - adds 15 points.
- Why it qualified
- (1) Nomination by a state/territory, or sponsorship by an eligible relative in a regional area. (2) Submit an EOI and receive an invitation. (3) Suitable skills assessment.
- What made the file strong
- Dates, names and figures matched across every document - no internal inconsistencies to trigger checks.
- Outcome
- Granted within the indicative processing window (~6-12 months).
8. Case studies - refusal cases
The same visa, handled badly. Every one of these failure modes is screenable at the first consultation.
Refusal: Rahul from Vietnam
- Background
- Rahul, an external auditor from Vietnam, engaged an agent late and pushed for a fast lodgement of the 491.
- What went wrong
- Not genuinely living/working in a designated regional area for the qualifying period
- Outcome
- The case officer decided on the papers without a further request - the file had to stand on its own, and it could not.
- Lesson for the agent
- Apply the decision-ready test: if you cannot evidence the claim today, the application is not ready to lodge.
Refusal: Isabella from the UK
- Background
- Isabella, an electrician from the UK, engaged an agent late and pushed for a fast lodgement of the 491.
- What went wrong
- Failing the taxable-income test required to convert to 887
- Outcome
- The refusal went to review: another year, more cost, and no certainty the outcome changes.
- Lesson for the agent
- Front-load the file - address the weakness squarely in a submission instead of hoping the case officer will not notice.
9. Self-exam
10 questions drawn from this manual. Pass mark 80%. Answers are graded on the server and your result is recorded against your agent profile - retakes are unlimited and your best score is kept. Log in to the agent portal first so your result is saved to My trainings.