Subclass 491 · NT
Northern Territory regional nomination
Five-year provisional visa with fifteen bonus points. 800 places allocated for 2025-26. Pathway to permanent residence through the 191 after three years of regional compliance.
Current program status
As at 30 April 2026, the NT Government has confirmed that the NT nomination portal for general 190 and 491 nomination is closed to new applications, having received sufficient applications to fill the 2025-26 allocation. Applications lodged before closure continue to be assessed. Limited by-exception nominations remain available to onshore applicants facing critical visa expiry, age threshold, or points-loss deadlines before 31 December 2026. The NT confirms that all outcomes for existing applications will be issued by 30 June 2026.
The Northern Territory Government nominates skilled migrants for the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa. The program is administered by MigrationNT and uses a MigrationNT online application mechanism. For the 2025-26 program year, NT received 800 491 places from the Department of Home Affairs.
The 491 is provisional for five years. Holders must comply with condition 8579 (live, work, and study only in a designated regional area) throughout the visa period. After three years of compliant residence in NT, holders may apply for the Subclass 191 permanent residence visa.
Regional area scope
The whole Northern Territory, including Darwin, is a designated regional area. The entire NT is regional for the 491.
NT 491 eligibility
Federal eligibility
Standard 491 federal criteria: under 45 at invitation, positive skills assessment, Competent English, at least 65 points (including the fifteen-point nomination bonus), health and character.
Nominated occupation
Occupation must be on the federal MLTSSL, STSOL, or ROL. Northern Territory refines selection through the NT Migration Occupation List (NTMOL).
NT-specific commitment
NT Government nomination requires a signed declaration committing to live and work in the NT in the nominated occupation, or a closely related skilled occupation, for at least three years from visa grant. The NT does not issue release letters for transfer to other states.
Priority sectors
Northern Territory prioritises health, construction, hospitality, mining and resources support, education, defence-related industries.
From the 491 to the 191
After three years of compliant residence, work, and study in a designated regional area within Northern Territory (or elsewhere in regional Australia), 491 holders may apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. The 191 has no minimum income threshold under current criteria. The applicant must provide three Notices of Assessment from the ATO covering income years during the regional provisional visa, and must demonstrate substantial compliance with 8579 throughout.
Compliance is documented through residential leases, utility bills, employment contracts, payslips, ATO records, and bank statements showing regional transactions. Sparse documentation creates doubt at the 191 stage. Maintaining contemporaneous records throughout the provisional period is essential.
Speak with an immigration lawyer about your NT 491 application
We assess your profile against NT's priority sectors and the regional area scope, advise on the realistic prospect of nomination, and prepare both the state and federal applications to a litigation-ready standard.
Book a consultationCommon questions
What areas of Northern Territory qualify as regional for the 491?
How does the NT 491 nomination process work?
What is the NT 491 allocation for 2025-26?
Which occupations qualify?
What conditions apply once granted?
What are NT's priority sectors for the 491?
Information current as at 30 April 2026. Northern Territory program settings, occupation lists, and regional postcodes are revised through the program year. Confirm current settings at theterritory.com.au/migrate before lodging an application.