Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)
Overview: The Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) grants eligible skilled persons temporary rights to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia. It is issued under statutory authority to applicants sponsored by an eligible relative or nominated by a State or Territory government. This visa may serve as a pathway to permanent residency.
The 489 visa allows skilled workers who are unable to meet the threshold for independent workers’ migration, or don’t have a job offer to work in regional areas of Australia, with state sponsorship.
Applicants must have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List in a particular state/territory and be sponsored by an eligible relative living in that area or the government or an employer in that area.
Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must have:
- been nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or sponsored designated area
- nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupations list
- a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
- not yet turned 50 years of age
- achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based the factors in the points test
- at least competent English