Subclass 489- Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa

The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa allows skilled workers live and work in specified regional areas of Australia for up to four years.

First Provisional Stream (also known as 'Invited Pathway')

If you wish to apply for this visa under the First Provisional stream (also known as the ‘Invited Pathway’), you must first obtain a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation, and then lodge an Expression of Interest. If this is successful, you will be invited to lodge a visa application.

The minimum requirements of the First Provisional Visa stream of this visa are set out below:

At the time that you are invited to apply for this visa, you must:

• be under 45 years of age
• nominate an eligible occupation that is included on the relevant Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) OR (if you are nominated by a State or Territory government agency) on the relevant Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or Regional Occupation List (ROL)
• have your skills assessed by the appropriate Australian skills assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation
• have competent English i.e.
  • hold a valid passport issued by the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland (and you are a citizen of that country) OR
  • an IELTS test score of at least 6 in EACH test component OR
  • an OET test score of at least B in EACH test component OR
  • a TOEFL iBT test score of at least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking OR
  • a PTE test score of at least 50 in EACH test component OR
  • a CAE test score of at least 169 in EACH test component

NOTE: In each case, the test must have been undertaken within the last three years (with the exception of the CAE test, which must be dated on or after 1 January 2015)

• score at least 65 on the relevant points test (which takes into account your age, English competency, qualifications and work experience, amongst other factors)
• be nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency OR be sponsored by an eligible relative who resides in a designated area of Australia