Regional Visa Program – A Pathway for Permanent Residence

The Government’s Regional Visa program commenced on 16 November 2019, as part of the solution to populate regional Australia, away from the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. 25,000 visas were reserved this year for this program.

These Regional visas are designed to draw skilled workers to regional Australia by providing a pathway to permanent residence where there would otherwise not be one.

There are two different visas that form part of the program:

• The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, which allows employers to sponsor a wider range of skilled workers for positions located in regional Australia.
• The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, which requires the individual to demonstrate their skills (via points-test) in order to be nominated by a state or territory government agency to work in regional Australia. The visa applicant is required to score at least 65 points.

These temporary visas are granted for 5 years, with the ability to apply for permanent residency after 3 years of living and working in a regional area with a salary above $53,900.

Broadly speaking, the requirements for both visas are quite similar as all applicants must:

• Be under the age of 45 in order to apply (some exemptions may apply)
• Demonstrate Competent English at time of lodgement
• Have a positive skills assessment in their nominated occupation

The concern for most skilled workers is navigating the process to obtain the skills assessment as each skills assessment authority has their own specific requirements for each nominated occupation and some can be quite rigid and complex.

Contact us if you would like more information about the regional program and how we can help.

DISCLAIMER This information is current as of 29 June 2020 and subject to change. The information contained in this publication is of a general nature only. It should not be used as legal advice. To the extent permissible by law, Ajuria Lawyers and its associated entities shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, defects or misrepresentations in the information or for any loss or damage suffered by persons who use or rely on such information. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.