Visa comparison
189 vs 190 vs 491 Visa Comparison
Key published differences between subclasses 189, 190 and 491, side by side.
| Feature | 189 | 190 | 491 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent | Permanent | Provisional |
| Nomination / sponsor | None | State or territory nomination | State or territory nomination, or relative sponsorship |
| Where you can live and work | Anywhere in Australia | Anywhere in Australia | Designated regional area |
| Permanent residence | Permanent on grant | Permanent on grant | Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191), after 3 years |
| Minimum points | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| Visa application charge (main applicant) | AUD 6,135 | AUD 6,140 | AUD 6,140 |
| Processing time | Varies; see the official processing time guide | Varies; see the official processing time guide | Varies; see the official processing time guide |
Charges are the "from" amounts the Department of Home Affairs publishes for the main applicant. Concessions apply in limited circumstances. Additional applicants and the second instalment (for applicants without functional English) are not included. Processing times are not fixed: the Department publishes a guide based on recently decided applications.
Charges checked against the Department of Home Affairs visa pages on 10 October 2026.
Calculate points
Enter your details in the points calculator to calculate a points total under the published points test.
Open Points Calculator