Who this may suit
Skilled workers assessing ACT nomination for the provisional subclass 491 visa.
Key considerations
- The latest published ACT round, 12 October 2026, issued no subclass 491 invitations.
- Matrix submissions and nomination invitations are different stages.
- The regional visa conditions continue beyond the ACT’s two-year Canberra commitment.
Current position: Matrix access is not a 491 invitation
At the 18 October 2026 check, ACT’s portal was available for Matrix submissions, but the latest round was expressly subclass 190 only. The published results show zero 491 invitations. ACT’s 2026–27 allocation was still unconfirmed.
The next tentative round is the week starting 25 January 2027, subject to change. It does not promise 491 invitations. Keep an alternative if your visa or employment may end before selection.
Sources: ACT Government: migration program updates · ACT Government: Canberra Matrix invitation rounds
Check the latest ACT round and schedule →
What the regional visa requires
Subclass 491 is a five-year provisional visa. Federal eligibility includes an eligible occupation, suitable skills assessment, competent English, being under 45 when invited and at least 65 points. Eligible state nomination contributes 15 federal points. These are separate from your Canberra Matrix score.
Home Affairs lists all ACT postcodes as designated regional areas. Visa holders and relevant family members must meet regional living, work and study conditions. A later subclass 191 permanent-residence application requires its own eligibility assessment; it is not an automatic conversion.
Sources: Home Affairs: Skilled Work Regional visa main applicant · Federal Register of Legislation: Migration Regulations, Schedule 6D · Home Affairs: designated regional area postcodes
Read the federal subclass 491 visa guide →
Canberra residents: the ordinary 491 requirements
The resident route requires at least three months in Canberra and continued residence until invitation. NSW locations within a 30-minute commute may qualify. For employees, the work threshold is at least 15 hours weekly in 13 of the preceding 15 weeks, with genuine paid employment and an employer statutory declaration.
Self-employed applicants have a separate taxable-income test and need 12 months of ACT activity on their ABN. Small-business owners must satisfy that pathway’s rules. An interstate employer must have a genuine reason for the Canberra work location; online or home-office work is excluded.
Competent English is the stated ACT minimum unless the assessing authority requires more. A spouse or partner must have three months of Canberra residence or live overseas. Review partner documentation before claiming Matrix points.
Sources: ACT Government: 491 Canberra resident eligibility
Overseas applicants: experience and settlement planning
The ordinary overseas 491 route requires at least one year of full-time postgraduate experience in the nominated occupation within the previous five years, alongside the relevant assessment and any required registration. Competent English is required unless the assessing authority sets a higher level.
Applicants and migrating dependants generally must be overseas, have not lived in Australia in the previous 12 months and hold no Australian visa except a visitor visa. There is a specific exception for children attending school in the ACT.
Prepare evidence of employability, recent suitable vacancies, settlement funds and your own reasons for Canberra. Do not build an employment statement around jobs you cannot obtain because of citizenship or security-clearance restrictions.
Sources: ACT Government: 491 overseas applicant eligibility
Occupation, special pathways and Matrix ranking
For the general pathway, match your assessment to the current ACT occupation list. Some occupations are eligible for 491 only. A job title or inclusion on a federal list does not establish eligibility under the ACT general pathway.
ACT-university doctorate graduates and eligible majority business owners may use separate pathways. The detailed resident doctorate criteria require 12 months in the ACT; overseas or interstate doctorate applicants need an ACT award from the previous two years. Federal visa eligibility still applies.
Matrix points measure ACT-specific factors. Claim only what you can substantiate at submission or update. Meeting minimum eligibility does not establish a competitive ranking or guarantee that the Matrix will be selected.
Sources: ACT Government: nominated migration occupation list · ACT Government: nomination pathways · ACT Government: 491 Canberra resident eligibility · ACT Government: 491 overseas applicant eligibility · ACT Government: Canberra Matrix rules and validity
Follow the two-stage application process
Submit a valid federal EOI before the Canberra Matrix. The Matrix service fee is due within seven days; an invited ACT nomination application and its fee are due within 14 days. The federal visa application is separate, following successful nomination.
The standard fee schedule checked on 18 October lists AUD 27.50 including GST for a Matrix and AUD 357.50 including GST for skilled nomination. These administrative fees are non-refundable and exclude federal visa costs. Check any pathway-specific exemption and the current schedule before paying.
Sources: ACT Government: nomination application process · ACT Government: current application fees
Build evidence that explains your actual circumstances
Index evidence against each requirement and Matrix claim. Use the official checklist for your employee, self-employed, business-owner or overseas circumstances.
- Record residence dates and absences, using consistent bank and address records.
- Reconcile work hours, pay periods and deposited income rather than relying on a job offer alone.
- Keep skills assessments, English results, relationship evidence and EOI details current.
- Record Matrix expiry and update dates. An update changes its ranking date and requires fresh eligibility checking.
Sources: ACT Government: key documents checklist · ACT Government: Canberra Matrix rules and validity
Plan for the Canberra commitment and visa conditions
ACT requires a commitment to live and work in Canberra for at least two years from visa grant, or arrival for overseas nominees. Resident applicants also commit to staying while the visa is processed. This nomination commitment is distinct from the federal regional conditions.
Compare work, household plans and the permanent pathway before choosing. An EOI does not create a bridging visa; address lawful-stay concerns early.
Sources: ACT Government: 491 nomination and Canberra commitment · ACT Government: 491 Canberra resident eligibility · Home Affairs: Skilled Work Regional visa main applicant · Home Affairs: changing visas and expressions of interest
Compare ACT subclass 190 nomination →
How we can help
Ausdirect can compare your 491 and 190 options, check evidence against the correct resident or overseas criteria and flag practical risks before you apply.
Questions to consider
Is Canberra regional for subclass 491?
Yes. Home Affairs includes every ACT postcode in the designated regional definition. Check an actual postcode separately if planning to live outside the ACT.
Can I switch to ACT 190 after receiving ACT 491 nomination?
Do not assume so. ACT generally offers one nomination place per person; its exceptional renomination policy is limited to the same subclass.
Will a higher Matrix score guarantee the next invitation?
No. Selection depends on the applicable round, occupation, competition and available places. Past scores are not a promise.
Your next step
Prepare your occupation code, work and residence dates, EOI, Matrix and visa-expiry date for a consultation.