491 Visa: When Can You Claim the 15 Nomination or Sponsorship Points?
A state or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship can account for 15 points in the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) points test, if the legal requirements are met. Selecting a pathway in an Expression of Interest (EOI) does not by itself establish the points claim. The applicant must check the status of the nomination or sponsorship and prove the score stated in the invitation. Item 6 D131 of Schedule 6 D to the Migration Regulations 1994 links the 15 points to an invitation to apply for a 491 visa and either an unwithdrawn state or territory nomination or a family sponsorship accepted by the Minister.
Nomination and family sponsorship are different pathways
A state or territory nomination is made by the relevant Australian government agency. Family sponsorship follows a separate process and depends on an eligible relative and the department’s acceptance of the sponsorship. The EOI should reflect the pathway actually pursued. Evidence for one pathway cannot simply be used to establish the other.
For example, having a relative who lives in a designated area does not, on its own, show that the sponsorship has been accepted. An indication that a state may nominate someone is not the same as a completed, current nomination. Keep the nomination confirmation, sponsorship documents and departmental notices, then compare them with the EOI and invitation record.
When the 15 points can be counted
Under item 6 D131, the applicant must have been invited to apply for a subclass 491 visa. The relevant state or territory nomination must not have been withdrawn; alternatively, where the applicant is sponsored by a family member, the Minister must have accepted the sponsorship. Prepare evidence for the pathway used and check that its status meets the rule.
State or territory nomination: confirm the nominating agency, written nomination details, current status and whether it was withdrawn by the relevant time.
Family sponsorship: confirm the sponsor’s eligibility, the sponsorship documents and the department’s acceptance, together with the invitation record.
For either pathway: check that the EOI claim, invitation score and visa application evidence are consistent.
Sixty-five points is a threshold, not an invitation guarantee
The Department of Home Affairs describes subclass 491 as a points-tested visa. An EOI must score at least 65 points to be considered for an invitation, but reaching 65 does not guarantee an invitation. The invitation states the score the applicant must achieve when the visa application is assessed, and that score may be higher than 65. The applicant must provide evidence for the EOI claims, including the nomination or accepted sponsorship behind the 15 points.
Do not rely only on the estimated total displayed in SkillSelect. If a nomination is withdrawn, sponsorship has not been accepted, or another points claim cannot be supported, the score that can be proved may fall below the invitation requirement. An invitation is not a guarantee that the visa will be granted.
Reconcile the score and documents before applying
Save a copy of the submitted EOI, the invitation and each record of an EOI update.
Match every claimed point to evidence and keep the documents for the 15-point nomination or sponsorship claim together.
Confirm the nomination has not been withdrawn, or that the family sponsorship meets the acceptance requirement.
Recalculate the score against the invitation, rather than checking only the 65-point threshold.
If circumstances have changed or a claim cannot be proved, check the applicable rules and available procedure before lodging the visa application.
This article was checked on 20 October 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs subclass 491 guidance and the Migration Regulations 1994 compilation in force on 2 October 2026. Eligibility, the invitation score and evidence requirements depend on the applicant’s records and the rules applying at the time of application.
Official sources and verification date
20 October 2026
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