This regional visa was introduced on 16 November 2019 to replace the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489). This visa is a temporary visa granted for 5 years with a pathway to a permanent visa.
To be eligible to apply for the subclass 491 visa you must:

• be under the age of 45 at time of application
• have an occupation on the relevant Regional Skilled Occupation List
• have a current Skills Assessment
• be nominated by a State or Territory (and this nomination must not have been withdrawn)
• be invited to apply for the visa
• score at least 65 points on the points test
• have competent english
• meet Health and Character requirements
• sign the Australian Values Statement
• have no debt to the Australian government
  This visa’s purpose is to encourage Skilled Workers to the regions of Australia. To be eligible to move from this visa to Permanent Residency visa the subclass 191 visa, visa holders must have lived and
  worked for three years in a regional area and earned over the minimum income threshold which is currently set at $53,900. This is taxable income per annum. It is advised that while holding the
  subclass 491 visa, employees do not engage in programs such as salary sacrificing and seek advice from an accountant before claiming expenses in tax returns so as not to fall under the income threshold and be ineligible for Permanent Residency. The bright side of the subclass 491? Employment does not need to be in the nominated occupation to meet the requirements and it can be earned from multiple jobs. Similarly, if you have a dependant partner who meets the income threshold they can become the primary applicant for the
  permanent visa after three years of earning at this level. Note: Each State and Territory have their own requirements for nomination under this visa subclass. It is important that applicants are aware of these well in advance as they often require living, studying or working in the area for a certain period before applying for nomination.