Subclass 190 vs 491 Visa in Canberra (2026): Residency Rules, Employment Hours & PR Pathway Compared

Because the entire Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is designated as a Regional Area by the Department of Home Affairs, skilled migrants moving to Canberra have access to both the Subclass 190 (Skilled Nominated Permanent Residence) visa and the Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional) visa—plus an extra 5 points for regional study at ANU, UC, or CIT. 1. Side-by-Side Comparison: Subclass 190 vs Subclass 491 in Canberra Eligibility Criterion Subclass 190 (Canberra Resident) Subclass 491 (Canberra Resident) Visa Type Immediate Permanent Residence (PR) 5-Year Provisional Visa → Subclass 191 PR after 3 years Federal SkillSelect Bonus Points +5 points for State/Territory nomination +15 points for Regional State/Territory nomination Minimum Canberra Residence Before Submitting Matrix 6 months continuous ACT residence 3 months continuous ACT residence Minimum Canberra Employment Before Submitting Matrix 26 consecutive weeks working at least 35 hours/week in Canberra 13 consecutive weeks working at least 20 hours/week in Canberra Medicare Eligibility Immediate full Medicare enrollment Immediate full Medicare enrollment (491 holders are Medicare-eligible!) ACT Public School Fees f