Point Based visas

Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489)

Overview

• The Skilled-Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) is for skilled workers and their families to live, work and study in specified regional areas in Australia for four years.
• There are two pathways for this visa:
  A. the Invited Pathway
  B. the Extended Stay Pathway – you must hold a provisional visa in subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496.
  

For family members who are included in your visa application (in either visa pathways), they must be a family member of someone who already holds this visa (subclass 489) or a provisional visa in subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496.

Who could get this visa?

You might be eligible to apply for this visa if invited and you are either:

• Nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency, or
• Sponsored by an eligible relative living in a Designated area of Australia.

When we sent your letter of invitation, you must also have:

• Been nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area
• Nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list
• A suitable skills assessment for that occupation,
• Not yet turned 45 years of age
• Achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based on the factors in the points test
• At least competent English