Eligibility Quiz
Requirements
Eligible Provisional Visas
You must currently hold, or have previously held, one of these visas:
- Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional Provisional)
- Subclass 495 (Skilled Independent Regional Provisional)
- Subclass 496 (Skilled Designated Area-sponsored Provisional)
- Subclass 475 (Skilled Regional Sponsored)
- Subclass 487 (Skilled Regional Sponsored)
- Bridging Visa A or B, granted after a valid application for subclass 489, 495, or 487
If you held an eligible visa that expired while you were outside Australia during the COVID-19 concession period (19 September 2020 to 25 November 2023), you may still qualify under certain circumstances.
Residence Requirement
You must have lived for a total of at least 2 years in a designated regional area while holding one or more eligible visas. The specific area depends on how you were nominated:
- If state or territory nominated you for your eligible visa, you must have lived in a regional or low-population growth metropolitan area.
- If a family member sponsored you for your eligible visa, you must have lived in a designated area (which includes all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane metropolitan areas).
The 2 years does not need to be continuous — periods can be added together.
Work Requirement
You must have worked full-time for at least 12 months (minimum 35 hours per week) in the same regional or designated area while holding an eligible visa. Your work does not need to be:
- In your nominated occupation — you can work in any field
- In a single job — you can combine multiple jobs
- Continuous — gaps are acceptable as long as total hours meet the threshold
English Language Requirement
At the time the Department makes a decision on your application, you must demonstrate functional English (minimum IELTS average 4.5 or equivalent). You can meet this by:
- Providing IELTS test results (4.5 in each section)
- Holding citizenship of the UK, USA, Canada, or New Zealand
- Completing a degree, higher degree, diploma, or trade certificate in an English-speaking institution (in or outside Australia)
- Having paid the second instalment of the visa application charge for your eligible visa
- Being willing to pay the second instalment charge when requested
Health and Character Requirements
You and any family members aged 16 or over must:
- Meet health requirements (medical examination may be required)
- Meet character requirements under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958
- Provide police certificates from all countries where you spent 12 or more months in the last 10 years since turning 16
Compliance and Debts
- You must have complied with all conditions of your eligible visa throughout the entire period you held it
- You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government (including taxes or healthcare fees)
- You must sign the Australian Values Statement if you are 18 or older
Visa Cancellation or Refusal History
If you have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused, you may not be eligible. However, in some circumstances you may still apply — seek advice if this applies to you.
Location at Time of Application
You must be in Australia and hold an eligible visa when you apply. (COVID-19 concessions that allowed applications from outside Australia ended on 25 November 2023.)
Conditions & Warnings
Processing times are significantly extended: 75% of applications take 21–24 months, 90% take 24–28 months. As of 2022, some applicants had been waiting 4+ years for decisions due to a substantial backlog.
You must be in Australia and hold an eligible provisional visa (489, 495, 496, 475, 487, or Bridging Visa A/B) at the time you apply. COVID-19 concessions allowing applications from outside Australia ended 25 November 2023.
No skills assessment, points test, or sponsorship is required — but you must prove 2 years continuous residence and 12 months full-time work (35+ hours/week) in the same regional or designated area.
Family members must be included at the time of application; they cannot be added after lodgement. If any family member aged 18+ lacks functional English, a second instalment charge of AUD $4,890 will be payable.
New Zealand passport holders: inform the immigration officer at the border that you hold a Subclass 887 visa and do not want a Special Category visa (444), as grant of a 444 visa will cease your permanent visa.
Qualifications
Functional English (IELTS 4.5 average or equivalent); can be satisfied by citizenship of UK, USA, Canada, or New Zealand, or completion of degree/diploma/trade certificate in English-speaking institution
Fees
Main applicant AUD $505. Partner AUD $240–$475, dependent children under 18 AUD $120 each. Second instalment charge of AUD $4,890 applies if any family member aged 18+ lacks functional English (payable when Department requests, typically at visa grant).