Provisional to Permanent – Regional Visas

Australia is a large country (6th largest in the world) but sparsely populated. The Government of Australia hence welcomes immigrants from all over the world every year under its regulated immigration intake. One of the highest growth area earmarked for Australia in the coming years is Regional Australia.

Regional Australia is designated as the non-metropolitan areas of the country that lie outside of the major cities and its adjoining towns.

Today 67% of Australia’s national exports come from regional Australia, however only 32% of Australian population lives in these areas. 
Australian immigration program therefore encourages young, skilled, English speaking migrants to immigrate, live and work in Regional Australia.

Key features of Skilled – Regional visas are:

• Lower points threshold
• Broader skill shortage list for each region
• Relative Sponsorship available

Limitations of these visa include:

• Provisional to permanent pathway (2 to 4 years to gain PR)
• Live and work in Regional Australia

See more details of the two stage visa process to Australian Permanent residency:

• Skilled Regional (Provisional) (SC 489) – Provisional Visa for 2 to 4 years.
• Skilled Regional (Permanent) (SC 887) – Permanent Visa.