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A large number of skilled immigrants who want to live in regional Australia use the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491). The latest updates on processing show that the number of applications handled has been going up and down over the last two years. The working trends are broken down below.
Australia has announced significant updates regarding Subclass 491 visa grants for the 2024-25 fiscal year (FY). A total of 33,000 regional visas have been allocated, with 28,500 visas specifically reserved for the Subclass 491 Visa. So far, 15,652 applications have been approved, leaving 12,398 visas still available.
The government is considering prioritizing 10% of visas for high-demand occupations and another 10% for complex cases among pending applications. This would leave 11,158 visas available for standard processing.
Subclass 491 Visa Latest News for Offshore Applicants
Recent data reveals a steady decline in the number of Subclass 491 visa grants over the past months. Here’s a breakdown:
| Month | Subclass 491 Visa Grants Issued |
| July 31, 2024 | 4,179 |
| Aug 31, 2024 | 3,237 |
| Sep 30, 2024 | 3,375 |
| Oct 21, 2024 | 1,609 |
| Nov 30, 2024 | 2,078 |
| Dec 31, 2024 | 1,174 |
This decline in Subclass 491 visa grants has impacted offshore applicants significantly. Many are experiencing longer processing times due to the backlog of applications.
Pending Subclass 491 Visa Applications by Year
A significant backlog of applications has accumulated over the years. The highest number of pending applications comes from 2023, with 13,694 applications, followed by 2024, with 10,727 applications still in processing.
| Application Year | No of Applications |
| 2022 | 400 |
| 2023 | 13,694 |
| 2024 | 10,727 |
Backlogs from 2022
As of December 2024, some visa applications from 2022 remain unprocessed.
| Lodgment Month | Pending Applications |
| Jan 2022 | 5 |
| Feb 2022 | 8 |
| March 2022 | 9 |
| Apr 2022 | 15 |
| May 2022 | 12 |
| June 2022 | 49 |
| Jul 2022 | 22 |
| Aug 2022 | 12 |
| Sep 2022 | 13 |
| Oct 2022 | 31 |
| Nov 2022 | 100 |
| Dec 2022 | 124 |
Watch Mr. Rizwan Ul Haque’s video for a full explanation. In it, he breaks down the most recent changes and details about Subclass 491 visa grants. To watch, click the link:
Backlogs from 2023
| Lodgment Month | Pending Applications |
| Jan 2023 | 135 |
| Feb 2023 | 150 |
| March 2023 | 298 |
| Apr 2023 | 391 |
| May 2023 | 884 |
| June 2023 | 5,055 |
| Jul 2023 | 2,335 |
| Aug 2023 | 899 |
| Sep 2023 | 694 |
| Oct 2023 | 959 |
| Nov 2023 | 856 |
| Dec 2023 | 1,038 |
Pending Subclass 491 Visa Applications (2024)
A breakdown of pending applications from 2024 reveals that December 2024 has the highest backlog:
| Lodgment Month | Pending Applications |
| Jan 2024 | 1,195 |
| Feb 2024 | 1,421 |
| March 2024 | 1,541 |
| Apr 2024 | 638 |
| May 2024 | 838 |
| June 2024 | 651 |
| Jul 2024 | 294 |
| Aug 2024 | 238 |
| Sep 2024 | 440 |
| Oct 2024 | 671 |
| Nov 2024 | 1,197 |
| Dec 2024 | 1,603 |
491 Visa Latest News: Processing Updates
Applications Processed from 2023
There were big changes in the number of applications processed in 2023. From May to June of that year, there were a lot more applications processed.
| Lodgment Month | Applications Processed |
| Jan 2023 | 63 |
| Feb 2023 | 42 |
| March 2023 | 46 |
| Apr 2023 | 43 |
| May 2023 | 215 |
| June 2023 | 481 |
Applications Processed from 2024
On the other hand, not as many visas have been processed so far in 2024, which could mean that other visa groups are getting priority or there are delays.
| Lodgment Month | Applications Processed |
| Oct 2024 | 71 |
| Nov 2024 | 60 |
| Sep 2024 | 38 |
| Jul 2024 | 28 |
| May 2024 | 25 |
| March 2024 | 13 |
| Feb 2024 | 11 |
| June 2024 | 10 |
Subclass 491 Grants Update: Current Visa Activity
The latest statistics on Subclass 491 Visa applications are as follows:
| Subclass | Visa Activity | Primary Applicants | Primary & Secondary Applicants |
| Subclass 491 (Skilled Regional State Nominated Visa) | Lodged | 849 | 1,623 |
| Granted | 510 | 1,174 | |
| Refused | 18 | 57 | |
| Withdrawn | 35 | 64 | |
| On Hand | 11,585 | 24,916 |
Final Thoughts
The most recent update about the Subclass 491 visa shows that there are more backlogs and longer handling times for 491 visas overseas. There are only 12,398 visas left for 2024–25, so people who want to apply should keep up with changes to priority handling. If you are applying from outside of Australia, you might want to get professional visa advice to improve your chances of being accepted.