Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491) Tax Calculator
Subclass 491 is a 5-year provisional visa allowing skilled migrants to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia with access to Medicare and resident tax rates.
Contextual tax, banking, and overseas remittance offers
Gross Annual Salary (AUD)
Base salary before tax & superannuation
Visa Subclass & Nationality
Determines tax residency brackets and Medicare eligibility
100% Medicare Levy Exemption (MES): As a non-citizen from a non-RHCA country, you can obtain a Medicare Entitlement Statement (MES) from Services Australia and pay 0% Medicare Levy.
Additional Residency & Insurance Toggles
Applying for PR with work rights gives you interim Medicare access, removing the MES exemption.
Avoids 1.0% – 1.5% Medicare Levy Surcharge for taxable incomes above $101,000.
Take-Home Income
You save $1,900/yr ($158/mo) under Category 1 MES.
Paid in addition to gross salary
Total pkg: $106,400
Citizen vs. Visa Holder Comparison
$73,812
Includes 2% Medicare$75,712
0% Medicare (MES)Extra take-home pay due to 100% Medicare Levy Exemption
/ year
Compare Approved OVHC Health Cover
Maintain mandatory health insurance for Work Visa (482/485) while claiming 100% Medicare Levy Exemption.
- Instant Department of Home Affairs letter
- No waiting period on emergency dental
- 24/7 multilingual health advice line
- 100% compliant with visa condition 8501
- Direct billing at 1,000+ medical clinics
- Telehealth included at $0 co-pay
- Simple digital claims via nib app
- Unlimited emergency ambulance
- Customizable extras & dental
⚡ Instant digital visa certificate sent to your email in under 3 minutes.
Get Quote with Bupa AustraliaHow to Claim 100% Medicare Levy Exemption (MES)
Official step-by-step Services Australia checklist
Obtain a certified copy of your passport photo page, current Australian visa grant notice (or VEVO check), and proof of arrival.
Apply online using your Services Australia / Medicare online account through myGov, or complete Medicare Entitlement Statement (MS015).
Once approved (usually 4-6 weeks), enter your MES certificate number under ATO tax return question M2 (Medicare Levy Exemption: 365 days).
Contextual tax, banking, and overseas remittance offers
Worked Take-Home Pay Examples for Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional) Holders
Pre-calculated Stage 3 marginal tax withholdings and Medicare exemption net impact
| Gross Annual Salary | Income Tax (Stage 3) | Medicare Levy (2%) | MES Extra Net Cash | Net Take-Home Pay | Super (12%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $75,000 AUD | $13,288 AUD | $1,500 AUD | $0 (PR / Citizen) | $60,212 AUD | $9,000 AUD |
| $95,000 AUD | $19,288 AUD | $1,900 AUD | $0 (PR / Citizen) | $73,812 AUD | $11,400 AUD |
Official ATO & Services Australia Rules for Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional)
How your visa subclass is treated under Australian tax legislation
Standard resident Stage 3 tax rates ($0 - $18,200: 0%, $18,201 - $45,000: 16%, $45,001 - $135,000: 30%) with 12% superannuation.
Subclass 491 visa holders are uniquely granted access to Medicare under Ministerial determination. Therefore, 491 visa holders pay the standard 2% Medicare levy.
Taxation Guide for Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional Visa Holders
The Subclass 491 visa is a 5-year provisional visa for regional skilled workers.
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1. Special Medicare Entitlement for Subclass 491
Unlike other provisional work visas (like the 482), Subclass 491 visa holders are explicitly eligible for Medicare from the date of visa grant under Australian health legislation.#
2. Pathway to Subclass 191 PR
Tax & Medicare Questions for Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional Provisional)
Q:Are Subclass 491 visa holders eligible for Medicare?
Yes! Subclass 491 visa holders are eligible for Medicare under Australian Department of Health regulations and pay the 2% Medicare levy.