Regional Migration in Australia

An overview of regional visa pathways for skilled migrants

Regional migration is a central pillar of Australia's immigration policy. The government actively encourages skilled migrants to live and work outside major metropolitan areas — Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane — to address labour shortages in regional communities and distribute the economic benefits of migration more broadly.

For skilled workers, regional pathways can offer advantages including lower points thresholds, additional occupations not available on metropolitan lists, and a structured pathway to permanent residency.

What is "regional Australia" under migration law?

For migration purposes, "regional Australia" is defined by Designated Regional Areas. These areas include all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. This means cities such as Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, and Wollongong are classified as regional for migration purposes, along with all rural and remote areas.

The specific postcodes that qualify as designated regional areas are set out in legislative instruments and can be verified on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Why regional migration exists

Australia's regional areas face persistent skills shortages across many industries. Employers in regional towns struggle to attract qualified workers, particularly in healthcare, aged care, hospitality, trades, agriculture, and education. The regional migration program exists to:

• Direct skilled migrants to areas where their skills are most needed
• Support regional economic development and population growth
• Reduce the concentration of migration in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane
• Provide employers in smaller communities with access to the skilled workers they need

Regional visa subclasses

Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)

A points-tested provisional visa for skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory government, or sponsored by an eligible family member in a designated regional area. Valid for 5 years. The holder must live and work in a designated regional area. After 3 years of living and working regionally (and meeting an income threshold), the holder can apply for permanent residency via the Subclass 191 visa.

The 491 visa attracts 15 additional points in the points test, which can make the difference for applicants who fall short on the standard 189 or 190 pathways.

Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)

An employer-sponsored provisional visa for skilled workers nominated by an employer in a designated regional area. Valid for 5 years. Like the 491, the holder must live and work in the regional area and can transition to the 191 visa after 3 years.

The 494 is the regional equivalent of the Subclass 482. For employers in regional areas who cannot find local workers, this visa offers a structured pathway to permanent residency for the worker, which can be a significant advantage in attracting candidates.

Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)

The permanent residency visa available to holders of the 491 or 494 who have lived and worked in a designated regional area for at least 3 years and met the minimum taxable income threshold. This is the end-point of the regional pathway — once granted, there are no geographic restrictions on where the holder can live.

Subclass 407 — Training Visa (regional and metropolitan)

The 407 Training Visa is available for structured workplace training across both regional and metropolitan Australia. While not exclusively a regional visa, many 407 applications come from regional employers seeking to train overseas workers in occupations with acute skills shortages.

Benefits of the regional pathway

• Lower points thresholds — the 491 attracts 15 bonus points, which can bring an applicant above the invitation threshold when the 189 or 190 are out of reach
• Broader occupation lists — some states offer additional occupations on their regional nominated occupation lists that are not available for metropolitan pathways
• Priority processing — some regional visa applications receive faster processing
• Pathway to permanent residency — both the 491 and 494 lead to the 191 permanent visa after 3 years
• Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) — some regional areas have DAMA agreements that offer further concessions on salary, age, and English language requirements

Challenges and considerations

• Geographic restriction — holders of the 491 and 494 must live and work in a designated regional area for the full 3-year qualifying period. Moving to Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane during this period can jeopardise the pathway to permanent residency.
• Income threshold for 191 — the transition to permanent residency requires meeting a minimum taxable income threshold (currently $53,900 per year for at least 3 years). Part-time work or periods of unemployment can delay this.
• Employment market — regional areas may have fewer employers and less diverse job markets. Workers should research the employment landscape in their target region before committing.
• Services and infrastructure — some regional areas have limited access to services, public transport, and amenities compared to capital cities. This is improving but remains a consideration for families.
• State nomination requirements vary — each state and territory sets its own criteria for 491 nomination, including occupation lists, work experience requirements, and English levels. These change frequently.

The transition from provisional to permanent residence

The Subclass 191 visa is available to holders of the 491 or 494 who have:

• Held the provisional visa for at least 3 years
• Lived and worked in a designated regional area for the qualifying period
• Met the minimum taxable income threshold ($53,900/year for at least 3 years)
• Complied with the conditions of their provisional visa

Once the 191 is granted, there are no further geographic restrictions. The holder can live and work anywhere in Australia as a permanent resident.

Common pitfalls

• Moving outside a designated regional area before completing the 3-year qualifying period
• Not meeting the income threshold due to part-time work or career changes
• Applying for state nomination without checking the state's current occupation list and requirements
• Underestimating the processing time for the 191 transition — apply well before the provisional visa expires
• Assuming all regional areas are equivalent — the employment market, lifestyle, and community support vary enormously between different regional centres

Further information

For official information about regional visa pathways, visit the Department of Home Affairs website. For information about state and territory nomination programs, visit the relevant state migration authority.

If you'd like to discuss regional migration pathways, please contact us or call 02 8188 1887. MARN 1576536.