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Skilled Regional Work Visas
Regional sponsored migration visas allow skilled workers and their families to move to Australia permanently and live and work in designated regional areas. These visas offer a number of benefits, including the ability to apply for permanent residence after 3 years, access to Medicare – Australia's comprehensive health care system, and the opportunity to live and work in some of the most beautiful and diverse parts of Australia.
Features of the Skilled Regional Work Visa
Live and work permanently in regional Australia.
Access to Medicare – Australia's comprehensive health care system.
No minimum income requirement to be eligible for permanent residency.
Must have a skilled occupation on the relevant occupation list.
Must meet the English language requirements.
Must be nominated by a state/eligible relative (sc491), or sponsored by an employer in a designated regional area (sc494/sc187)
Do You Qualify?
Please answer the below section to check your eligibility for a Skilled Regional Work Visa:
Types of Skilled Regional Work Visas
Temporary visas
Subclass 491
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
This visa allows skilled workers to live, study and work in designated regional areas of Australia for a period of 5 years. To be nominated for a 491 visa, you must be nominated by a state or territory government or an eligible relative. After 3 years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence.
Subclass 494
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
This visa allows skilled workers to be sponsored by an employer in a designated regional area of Australia to live, study and work in that area for a period of 5 years. After 3 years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence.
Permanent visas
Subclass 187
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa
The RSMS visa was closed to new applications on 16 November 2019. An application for a Subclass 187 visa lodged on or after 16 November 2019 will only be valid if it is made in the Temporary Residence Transition stream and if the applicant is a transitional 457 worker or a transitional 482 worker at the time the application is made.
Subclass 191
Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Regional provisional stream)
This visa allows people who have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia on an eligible visa (An eligible visa is a subclass 491 or subclass 494 visa), live and work in Australia permanently. Applicants must have complied with the conditions of their eligible visa. The visa is not sponsored by an employer.
Visa Eligibility
Learn more about permanent work visa sponsorship, nomination and visa application criteria below:
SubclASS 491
Eligibility
Eligibility
To be eligible for a 491 visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must have a skilled occupation on the relevant occupation list.
- You must have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation.
- You must meet the English language requirements.
- You must be nominated by a state or territory government or an eligible relative.
- You must be aged under 45 to be invited to apply for the visa.
- You must be able to pass health and character assessments.
SubclASS 494
Eligibility
Eligibility
To be eligible for a 494 visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must have a skilled occupation on the relevant occupation list.
- You must have a positive skills assessment in your nominated occupation.
- You must meet the English language requirements.
- You must be sponsored by an employer in a designated regional area.
- You must be employed to work in the nominated occupation and in a position within the sponsoring business or an associated entity of that business, located in a designated regional area of Australia.
- You must have relevant skills, qualifications and work experience.
- You must be able to pass health and character assessments.
SubclASS 187 TRT
Eligibility
Eligibility
- The TRT stream is for TSS visa holders or Subclass 457 visa holders who have worked in the position for their employer for at least the last three years out of four years before being nominated and the employer wants to offer them a permanent position.
- held a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa (TSS visa) in the Medium-term stream; or
- was an applicant for a TSS visa in the Medium-term stream that was subsequently granted.
SubclASS 191
Eligibility
Eligibility
To be eligible for the sc191 visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must have lived and worked in a designated regional area for at least 3 years in the past 5 years.
- You must have complied with the conditions of your eligible visa when in Australia.
- You must provide notices of assessment issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa.
- You must be able to pass health and character assessments.
Skilled Regional Work Visa Timeline
It typically takes several months to process an application.
Here is a table summarizing the process and timeline for the RSMS visa:
Step 1: Eligibility Assessment
Check your eligibility for the RSMS visa.
Timeline: Varies
Timeline: Varies
Step 2: Sponsorship
Find a sponsor who is willing to employ you in a designated regional area of Australia.
Timeline: Varies
Timeline: Varies
Step 3: Application
Complete an application form and provide supporting documentation.
Timeline: Varies
Timeline: Varies
Step 4: Processing
The Department of Home Affairs will assess your application and make a decision.
Timeline: Several months
Timeline: Several months
Step 5: Visa Grant
If your application is successful, you will be granted an RSMS visa.
Timeline: Several months
Timeline: Several months
Current processing Time
Here is a table summarizing the current processing time for the 491 and 494 visas:
Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
75% of applications: 2 months
90% of applications: 3 months
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
75% of applications: 3 months
90% of applications: 4 months
Here is a table summarizing the current processing time for the 187 and 191 visas:
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)
Not available
Skilled Independent Regional (subclass 191)
75% of applications: 12 months
90% of applications: 18 months
Important: The processing time for a visa can change at any time. It is always best to check the Department of Home Affairs’ website for the most up-to-date information.
No, you can only work for your sponsoring employer.
No. This visa requires that your sponsored employee work at least 30 hours per week. However, COVID-19 concessions may apply.
Yes. If you find another employer to sponsor you, the company can apply for you to be nominated for the same occupation.
Yes, you can include members of your family unit, such as your spouse/partner and dependent children to your visa application.
If your current visa (substantive or bridging visa) does not have a condition that restricts you from working, you can work in Australia.
If you are eligible, and your employer is willing to sponsor you, you can apply for a permanent work visa.
No. Currently, there is no minimum income requirement for sc191 visa. However, you must provide notices of assessment issued by the ATO for 3 income years out of the 5 years of your eligible visa (sc491 or sc494).
You cannot apply for an onshore Partner visa or other PR skilled visa for 3 years if you are currently a holder or if your last substantive visa was a sc491 or sc494 visa.
What Our Clients Think
We are most proud of our client relationships… Satisfied clients are the most important thing for us – so here’s what they have to say….
Very professional and prompt. Will highly recommend their services. Special shout-out to Calvin for helping me through this tedious process
Calvin and Alfe were extremely professional and quick with their responses. We were very happy with their services helping us with our 408 visas. From a grateful Canadian
Applied under 482 visa, guiding you step by step until your visa is granted. I would highly recommend them.
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Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Further, this info is subject to constant change based on any changes in the law, and therefore, is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute a solicitor-client relationship. The reader should consult with an immigration lawyer prior to lodging any application as each lawful case may be different.
