The Australian Government is committed to supporting and strengthening regional Australia through the migration program with numerous benefits available to those who pursue this pathway. The Australian migration program has introduced a variety of measures to incentivise regional migration to facilitate the increase to the migration cap for regional visas. Such initiatives have been designed to present regional Australia as an attractive alternative to the more populous cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, while also addressing the skill shortages experienced by regional employers. These benefits and incentives are to be introduced in the paragraphs below.
Eligible Regional Areas
The regional definition is comprised of the following 3 categories:
- Category 1 – ‘Major Cities’ of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane do not receive any regional incentives
- Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart
- Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’
The regional definition offers regional incentives for skilled migrants who migrate to locations classified as Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ or Category 3 ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’.
Regional Migration and Designated regional areas
Most locations of Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) are classed as designated regional areas for migration purposes, including
– Gold Coast
– Sunshine Coast
– Adelaide
– Newcastle
– Canberra
Designated regional areas
The regional definition is comprised of 3 categories and offers regional incentives for skilled migrants who migrate to locations classified as Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ or Category 3 ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’:
- Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart have access to the following regional incentives:
- Priority processing of regional visas
- Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists
- International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access additional year in Australia on a post-study work visa
- Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’ will also have access to the dedicated 11,200 regional places, priority processing of regional visas, and the Regional Occupations List. Additional incentives include:
- International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa.
- Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs)
Top 3 Reasons of Applying Australia Regional Visas
Here are 3 reasons why you should consider regional Australia as your next destination.
1.New Australia Regional Migration Visas – 491 Visa & 494 Visa
The department of Home Affairs has published the legislation that introduces the new Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494. From 16 November,2019, these visas substituted the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Subclass 489 and the current Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Subclass 187 respectively.
In addition to the visas available under the General Skilled Migration Program, applicants may also qualify for the subclass 491 and subclass 494 visas and gain access to an increased number of eligible occupations on the Regional Occupational List (“ROL”). While both temporary visas, the 491 and the 494 provide a clear pathway to permanent residency with an initial validity period of five years. The definition of ‘regional Australia’ was expanded to accommodate the introduction of these visas and now includes all areas of Australia except for the metropolitan areas of Sydney, Melbourne and Sydney, thereby including Perth, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong and the New South Wales Central Coast as eligible regional areas.
Skilled Work Regional (provisional) Visa (subclass 491)
The 491 requires the nomination from a State or Territory Government or sponsorship from an eligible family member residing in regional Australia. Many of the requirements for the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) visa will apply to the 491 such as the minimum points threshold, English language and skills assessment criteria. The inclusion of the family sponsored stream may benefit those with an eligible family member already residing in regional Australia and eligible applicants may seek this sponsorship as an alternative to a State or Territory Government.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 494)
The 494 visa is an employer sponsored visa that provides a pathway to permanent residence after three years. This is an option for those who will be nominated by a regional employer, can demonstrate three years full-time experience in the nominated occupation and have obtained a positive skills assessment. The nomination must also be accompanied by the advice of the local Regional Certifying Body, who will conduct an independent enquiry into the role such as the genuine need for the position and the local labour market conditions.
The 494 is a provisional 5-year visa that provides a pathway to permanent residence after 3 years. You must work on the 494 visa with your nominating employer in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years before you are eligible for the permanent subclass 191 visa. During these 3 years, you must also demonstrate a salary of at least $53,900 to meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (“TSMIT”).
Benefits of 491 Visa and 494 Visa
Holders of the 491 and 494 visa will be eligible to enrol in Medicare, unlike most other temporary visas which do not permit the visa holder to enrol in Medicare. Those who have applied for a 491 or 494 visa will be granted full work and study rights on the associated bridging visa A while awaiting the outcome for these visas, another initiative of the Australian Government to further encourage regional migration.
2.Second 485 Visa (Post-Study Work Stream) Application
Graduates of regional institutions are eligible for a second Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa in the Post-Study Work stream, presenting a significant advantage for international students seeking to extend their post-study stay in Australia. This initiative allows current 485 visa holders in the Post-Study Work stream to extend their stay for an additional one to two years, provided they graduated with a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an Australian institution located in regional Australia.
The two primary requirements to be eligible for this second 485 visa in the Post-Study Work stream are
– Regional study;
– Regional residence.
Firstly, your current 485 visa must have been granted on the basis of you graduating with a degree in a CRICOS-registered course from an education institution based in a designated regional area of Australia.
Secondly, you must have resided in a designated regional area for at least 2 years immediately prior to applying for the second Temporary Graduate visa. The Department will likely request evidence of residence for this 2-year period such as lease agreements, utility bills and bank statements.
3.Additional Points for Skilled Migration
You may claim an additional 5 points on your Expression of Interest (“EOI”) by completing an eligible qualification at an education institution located in regional Australia. The qualification must be a CRICOS-registered course and meet the Australian Study Requirement, that is, it consists of at least 2 years academic study. The qualification may be a degree, diploma or trade qualification and must have been completed in no less than 16 calendar weeks.
The same definition of regional area will apply meaning the education institution may be located anywhere in Australia outside of Metropolitan Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. An additional 5 points could make the difference in securing an invitation from the State or Territory Government, demonstrating one of the many advantages to regional migration.
Australia’s Regional Migration Program
Regional migration poses many benefits to those seeking permanent residence in Australia, with an additional two visas available under the regional migration program. The Australian Government has and will continue to incentivise regional migration through initiatives such as a second 485 visa, Medicare for temporary regional visas and additional skilled migration points for regional study.
If you would like to know more about regional migration and your potential options, please contact No Borders Migration and speak with one of our immigration lawyers and migration agents.
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