489 Visa: Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)

PLEASE NOTE: The 489 visa has been replaced by the 491 skilled work regional (provisional).

 The information below does not apply to new applicants, as no further 489 applications can be lodged, but may be useful for current holders of the visa.

What is the 489 visa?

Like all skilled visa, the Skilled – Nominated or Sponsored (489) visa is a points-based visa. It is designed for applicants wanting to live in regional areas of Australia.

 

489-skilled-regional-visa

Do you qualify for a visa?

Free Assessment

Overview

There are two pathways for the 489 visa:

State sponsorship on a 489 visa

The Skilled Sponsored (489) visa requires sponsorship by an Australian state or territory.

Each state has unique skill shortages and occupations appear at different times on different lists.

Specific requirements vary. Some states require applicants to have higher English scores; others require more work experience or detailed evidence of the applicant’s assets.

You must live in a regional area of the state that sponsors you. This includes all part of South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Tasmania. If you are sponsored by Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia or New South Wales you must live and work outside the metropolitan area. The ACT does not have a Skilled Sponsored (489) visa program.

Relative sponsorship on a 489 visa

If your nominated occupation is on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) you can be sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area.

Your relative must be a permanent resident or citizen of Australia or an eligible New Zealand citizen. This includes your sibling, parent, child, aunt, uncle, cousin or grandparent. Your relative can be living in any part of Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania. If your relative lives in Queensland or New South Wales, they must live outside the metropolitan area.

You must live in the same designated area as your relative.

Pathway to permanent residency

The skilled nominated or sponsored (489) visa gives you and your partner full work rights and starts you on the pathway to permanent residency. It is a four-year provisional visa.

Once you have lived in the designated area for two years (and worked for 12 months of this), you are eligible to apply for permanent residency and live in any part of Australia.

Visa conditions

It is important that you abide by the conditions set out in your provisional visa grant letter. Failure to do so could impact future permanent residency applications.

Conditions include living in a regional area for two years and working full-time for at least 12 months before you lodge a PR application.

489 visa dependents must also live and work in the same regional area

Expression of interest

Under Australia’s SkillSelect (skilled migration visa) program, you are required to lodge an ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI). This places you in a pool to be invited to apply for a visa.

English test

Most skilled nominated or sponsored 489 visa applicants need to sit an English test to meet the score required for this visa.

 

Your visa eligibility

We can determine your eligibility for a visa. Please complete our online assessment form and we will provide information on the steps, fees and process.

Skill assessment

We have managed 489 visa applications for people working in various occupations including teachers, IT professionals, engineers, tradesmen and nurses. We manage the skill assessment as this is the first step in the skilled visa process.

The skill assessment is complex with some authorities requiring detailed reports of work projects or informal training references from the first years in your career. We work with you to make sure you will meet the requirements.

Get in touch now to find out how we can help you contact us