Skilled Regional (Subclass 489) Visa
The Skilled Regional (Provisional) Subclass 489 visa is a 4-year provisional visa which requires holders to live and work in a regional area to obtain permanent residence. To qualify, you would need be sponsored by either a relative living in a designated area or a State or Territory Government.
The Criteria
In order to qualify for a Subclass 190 visa, you would need to:
- Hold a suitable Skills Assessment in an occupation on the relevant Skilled Occupations List
- Lodge an EOI and be invited to apply
- Be sponsored by a relative living in a Designated Area or nominated by a State or Territory Government.
- Meet the pass mark in the skilled migration points test- currently 60 is the passing mark. State or Relative sponsorship gives you additional 10 points.
- Be aged between 18 and 49 inclusive
- Have at least competent English
- Meet health and character requirement
- Family members included such as partner, children and other dependant family members must meet English, health and character requirements.
- Sponsorship by a Relative Living in a Designated Area
You can apply for a Subclass 489 visa if you are sponsored by a relative living in a Designated Area. The relative must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or Eligible New Zealand Citizen. The following relatives can sponsor for the Subclass 489 visa: Parents, Siblings, Uncles and Aunts, Nephews and Nieces, first cousins and Grandparents.
What does this visa let me do?
This visa is provides temporary residence for 4 years. Whilst in Australia you and your included family members can only live, work and study in an approved regional/designated area. The approved regional areas vary depending on whether you are sponsored by a relative or by a State or Territory Government:
This visa provides a pathway to permanent residence through the Skilled-Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887). This permanent residency visa is specifically designed for people who held a Skilled Regional (Provisional visa) and who have lived and worked in specified areas of regional Australia.