Regional Work Visas
These visas allow sponsored workers with the right skills to live and work in regional Australia.
Most locations outside of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
This is a temporary visa that allows skilled workers, who are sponsored by an employer, to live and work in regional Australia. It will commence from 16 November 2019.
Basic requirements
This visa requires people to work for 3 years in regional Australia before they can apply for permanent residency. ‘Regional Australia’ includes all of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
If a visa holder ceases employment with their sponsor, they will be given 90 days to find another employer.
Subclass 494 has two streams:
Employer Sponsored Stream
Up to 5 years
- Must be genuine, full time and likely to exist for five years
- Annual market salary rate (AMSR) must not be less than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT, currently $53,900)
- Terms and conditions must be no less favourable than for Australian employees
- Skilling Australian Fund charges: $3000 for businesses with turnover of less than $10 million, or $5000 for others
- If nominating an existing Subclass 494 visa holder, the Skilling Australian Fund charge is reduced on a pro rata basis, depending on the number of whole years that have elapsed since the visa was granted
- The new sponsor is expected to assume the sponsorship obligations for family members who already hold a Subclass 494
- Does not need to submit an expression of interest (EOI)
- No points test applies
- Must not have turned 45 at time of application
- Must have a skilled occupation on an applicable list and have valid, suitable skills assessment
- Must have been employed in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis and at level of skill required for the occupation
- Must have competent English
Labour Agreement Stream
Up to 5 years
Employers can source skilled workers in accordance with a labour agreement with the Commonwealth government.
- Does not need to submit an expression of interest (EOI)
- No points test applies
- Must not have turned 45 at time of application
- May be required to demonstrate they have the necessary skills to perform tasks of nominated occupation
- Must have work experience as specified in the labour agreement
- Must have English language skills suitable to perform the nominated occupation
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
This temporary visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member, to live and work in regional Australia. It will commence from 16 November 2019.
Basic requirements
This visa requires people to work for 3 years in regional Australia before they can apply for permanent residency. ‘Regional Australia’ includes all of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Subclass 491 has two streams:
State/Territory Sponsored Stream
Up to 5 years
Sponsor must be a State/Territory Government
- Must submit an expression of interest (EOI) through SkillSelect
- Must be invited to apply
- Must satisfy the points test
- Must not have turned 45 at time of application
- Must have skilled occupation on an applicable list and a valid, suitable skills assessment
- Must have competent English at time of application
- Must declare genuine intention to live, work and study in designated regional area
- Must meet various health and character requirements
Family Member Sponsored Stream
Up to 5 years
- Sponsor must be a family member who is over 18 and is an Australian Citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Sponsor must be usually resident in a designated regional area
- Sponsor must be related to the primary applicant or their spouse or defacto partner
- Family member is defined as parent, child or step-child, brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step‑brother or step‑sister; or an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step‑aunt or step‑uncle; or a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step‑nephew or step‑niece; or a grandparent; or a first cousin.
- Must submit an expression of interest (EOI) through SkillSelect
- Must be invited to apply
- Must satisfy the points test
- Must not have turned 45 at time of application
- Must have skilled occupation on an applicable list and a valid, suitable skills assessment
- Must have competent English at time of application
- Must declare genuine intention to live, work and study in designated regional area
- Must meet various health and character requirements
contact us
51 Albion Street,
Surry Hills,
Sydney NSW 2010
AUSTRALIA
Monday to Friday
9am - 5:30pm
(or flexible by appointment)
Abacus Visa Pty Ltd. ACN: 147099303
Abacus Visa & Migration Services Pty Ltd. ABN: 58169966036
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