Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489)
The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) is designed for skilled workers who aspire to live and work in regional areas of Australia. This visa allows you and your family to experience life in Australia's regional communities. The visa is temporary and valid for four years, with the possibility of applying for permanent residence through the Skilled—Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887) if you meet the eligibility criteria.
There are two main pathways for this visa:
- **Invited Pathway**: To be eligible, you need an invitation from the Australian government. You can express your interest by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect, indicating whether you have an eligible relative willing to sponsor you or if you prefer state or territory government nomination.
- **Nominated or Sponsored**: You must either be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative. Different requirements apply to each pathway, and it’s important to meet the criteria for your chosen pathway.
The cost of the subclass 489 visa is AUD4,640 for the main applicant. Additional charges apply for family members included in the application. You may also be required to pay a second installment charge if any applicant 18 years or older does not meet functional English requirements. This charge is only levied when the visa is ready to be granted. Be sure to use the Visa Pricing Estimator to determine the precise cost of your visa.
This visa comes with certain conditions. These include not marrying or entering into a de facto relationship before entry, living, studying, and working in a specified or designated area, and adhering to Australian laws. The specific conditions will depend on your nomination or sponsorship.
The processing time for the subclass 489 visa varies, with 25% of applications processed in approximately 43 months, and 90% in around 47 months. These times can fluctuate based on individual circumstances, including document completeness, response times to information requests, and the time needed for various checks.
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
– Be invited to apply
– Be nominated or sponsored by a state, territory, or eligible relative
– Be under 45 years old
– Have a suitable skills assessment
– Score at least 65 points
– Demonstrate Competent English language skills
– Have an occupation listed in the relevant skilled occupations list
– Have a clean immigration history without prior visa cancellations or refusals
Frequently Asked Questions
The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) provides a pathway to apply for the Skilled—Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887), which grants permanent residency in Australia.
While not mandatory, it’s advisable to have health insurance to cover unforeseen medical expenses in Australia. Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia, which may provide limited coverage.
: Yes, you can travel as many times as you want while the visa is valid. However, the time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa duration.
No, this visa is digitally linked to your passport, so you won’t receive a label in your passport.
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws. Depending on your specific circumstances, there may be additional conditions related to marriage, specified work, or study areas.
The processing time varies, with the fastest 25% of applications processed in approximately 43 months and the slowest 10% in around 47 months. The actual processing time depends on various factors, including document completeness and checks.
No, you cannot extend the subclass 489 visa. If you wish to stay longer in Australia, you should explore other visa options or consider applying for permanent residency through the subclass 887 visa.
Currently, there are no frequently asked questions available for the Aged Dependent Relative Visa (Subclass 114).