Subclass 491 Occupation Lists: State Nomination and Family Sponsorship
A job title that looks similar to an occupation on a website is not enough to establish subclass 491 eligibility. Home Affairs lists occupations separately for the state or territory nominated and Family Nominated pathways. On 20 October 2026, its regional occupations page showed 504 occupations for state or territory nominated subclass 491 and 212 for Family Nominated subclass 491. The figures illustrate that the two pathways use different list coverage; they do not show that a particular applicant qualifies or will receive an invitation.
Identify the pathway before checking the occupation
A primary subclass 491 applicant can seek nomination from a state or territory government, or sponsorship from an eligible relative. State nomination also depends on that jurisdiction’s current occupation, residence, work, English and selection criteria. The Family Nominated pathway has its own eligible occupation and sponsor requirements. Having a relative in a designated regional area does not make an occupation appearing only under the state nominated column eligible for family sponsorship. Conversely, appearing on the state nominated list does not require a state to nominate you.
Both routes remain subject to the subclass 491 EOI, invitation, skills assessment, points and other visa criteria. State or territory nomination and the federal occupation and visa requirements are separate checks.
Match the ANZSCO code to the actual work
Identify the ANZSCO occupation that best matches the work actually performed, then check whether the current list marks it for the subclass 491 pathway you intend to use. A similar job title does not prove that the duties match. Compare the main tasks, skill level, qualifications and work history. Home Affairs’ occupation information also identifies the relevant skills assessing authority. Check that authority’s requirements for qualifications, task evidence, documents and assessment validity.
Some skilled visas use different ANZSCO versions. Home Affairs currently says that subclass 491 and some other visas use ANZSCO 2013, while Skills in Demand subclass 482 and some subclass 186 pathways use ANZSCO 2022. Do not automatically carry an occupation code or assessment from another visa application into a new 491 application without checking the applicable version and purpose.
A listed occupation is only one part of eligibility
Being shown in the relevant column addresses only occupation-list eligibility. The applicant still needs to establish the nomination or sponsorship pathway, invitation and points claims, suitable skills assessment, English, age, health, character and all other criteria in force when applying. A state can also select applicants under its own annual program rules. Inclusion on the Commonwealth occupation list does not replace that separate decision.
If the same occupation name appears with different codes on an old assessment and a current list, record the source date and ANZSCO version, then confirm the correct code with the relevant assessing authority using the actual duties. An online occupation matcher should not be the only basis for a visa claim.
Cross-check these items before submitting an EOI
Choose state or territory nomination or the Family Nominated relative-sponsorship pathway.
Check the full occupation name, ANZSCO code and applicable 491 pathway column on the current Home Affairs list.
Confirm the assessing authority, assessment purpose and validity, and compare actual duties with the occupation description.
For state nomination, check that jurisdiction’s current residence, work, occupation and selection requirements.
Keep the date and version of the list checked, and recheck after any occupation or nomination-policy change.
Checked against the Department of Home Affairs’ regional occupations page, subclass 491 information and skilled occupation list on 20 October 2026. Official occupation counts can change as policy and instruments are updated, so use the current list and applicable legal instrument before lodgement. Occupation-list eligibility does not guarantee an invitation or visa grant.
Official sources and verification date
20 October 2026
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