New Visas Announced

On 19 March 2019, the Australian government announced that it will be introducing two new temporary regional visas, which will provide a pathway to permanent residence, as well as a new extension pathway for 485 visa holders. These will be introduced between November 2019 and November 2022. These visas are aimed at encouraging skilled migrants to live and work in country towns in a bid to ease congestion in major cities. The Australian government claims regional businesses need workers to fill vacancies. A high-level overview of these new visas is set out below. 1. Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa – For individuals sponsored by an employer in regional Australia – available from 1 November 2019 2. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa – For individuals who are nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in regional Australia – available from 1 November 2019 The new skilled regional provisional visas will be for skilled migrants, and dependent family members, who want to live and work in Australia. These applicants will need to live and work in regional Australia for at least three years before they are eligible to apply for permanent residence. 3. Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa – For individuals who have held a provisional skilled work visa (either subclass 1 or 2 above) and have lived and worked in a regional area for three years – available November 2022 4. Temporary Graduate Visa – For individuals who have graduated after studying at a regional campus and obtained a higher education or postgraduate qualification – available 2021 Benefits? Regional employers will have access to more occupations than the equivalent non-regional visas. Based on the current eligible skilled occupations list: • The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa will have access to over 450 more occupations than the non-regional equivalent visas (the visa will have more than 700 eligible occupations) • The Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa will have access to over 70 more occupations than the non-regional equivalent visa (the visa will have 500 eligible occupations) • Applicants will be given priority processing Furthermore, priority-processing arrangements will include all visa applications sponsored by regional employers and other visa applicants who live and work in regional Australia. What Is Regional Australia? It was announced that from November 2019, the definition of regional Australia for all skilled visas will be simplified to include all of Australia except for the following “metropolitan areas”: • Sydney • Brisbane • Perth • Melbourne • Gold Coast

Below is a chart outlining the current regional locations for employer sponsored, independent skilled and working holiday visas.

“Designated Regional Areas” for Employer Sponsored, Independent Skilled and Working Holiday Visas State/Territory Working Holiday Regional Sponsored Temporary Skill Skilled Migration Scheme Shortage independent Subclass 417 and 462 Visas Subclass 187 Subclass 482 Subclasses 189, 190 and 489* New South Wales All except Sydney, All except Sydney, All except Sydney, All except Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast Newcastle and Wollongong Newcastle and Newcastle and and Wollongong Wollongong Wollongong Victoria All except Melbourne All except Melbourne All except Melbourne All except Melbourne Queensland All except Brisbane and All except Brisbane and All except Brisbane All except Brisbane surrounding areas, and the surrounding areas, and the and surrounding and surrounding Gold Coast Gold Coast areas, and the Gold areas, and the Gold Coast Coast Western Australia All except Perth and All except Perth All except Perth All except Perth and surrounding areas surrounding areas South Australia All All All All Tasmania All All All All Tasmania All All All All Northern Territory Not eligible All All All Australian Capital All All All Not eligible Territory Norfolk Island All All All Not eligible

*The designated regional areas for the subclass 489 visa under the family nomination stream include a wider range of areas, with only major cities of Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong being excluded. Further Information If you have any questions regarding the new regional visas, please do not hesitate to contact our migration team.

Rachel Barnett Rosalie Cote Registered Migration Agent Registered Migration Agent T +61 8 9429 7493 T +61 8 9429 7683 E [email protected] E [email protected] MARN – 1800448 MARN – 1910267

The contents of this update are not intended to serve as legal advice related to individual situations or as legal opinions concerning such situations, nor should they be considered a substitute for taking legal advice.

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