In November 2019 skilled professionals interested in immigrating to Australia will have access to two additional visas.  These visas are designed to address the skills shortage currently experienced in regional Australia.  What’s very exciting is that both these visa will enjoy preference processing which means your Aussie dream could be realized sooner than you thought!

Who is this visa for?

The new Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa will be for qualifying skilled migrants, and dependent family members, who want to live and work in regional Australia.

What is considered Regional Australia?

The definition of regional Australia for this purpose will be the same as the definition for skilled migration – all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

What are the conditions of these visas?

If you are successful at obtaining this visa you will have to commit to living and working in regional Australia. Visas will be granted with a validity period of up to five years.

It’s a pathway to Permanent residency!

Fantastic news is that holders of the new skilled regional provisional visas will be able to apply for a Permanent Residence visa. The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa will commence in November 2022.

More than 450 occupations are eligible to apply for this visa

Based on current occupation lists, the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa will have access to over 450 more occupations than closest non-regional equivalent visa, and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa will have access to over 70 more occupations than the closest non-regional equivalent visa.

Find out more

Your migration agent will be able to give you more information and confirm if your occupation and qualifications would qualify you to apply for this visa.

Source: News.com.au, Australia.gov.au, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au