This visa allows skilled workers to live and work in regional or low- population growth areas, or designated area of Australia, for up to four years.

You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want with this visa. At the end of the visa, you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887).

If you are nominated by a state or territory government agency, you must live and work in regional or low-population growth metropolitan areas.  If you are sponsored by a relative, you can live in any designated area of Australia.

There are three pathways to the visa:

1. Extended stay pathway
2. Invited pathway
3. Subsequent entry pathway

Extended Stay pathway

This is for applicants who currently hold one of the following provisional visas, for at least two years before applying for this visa:

• Skilled—Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475)
• Skilled—Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487)
• Skilled—Independent Regional visa (subclass 495)
• Skilled—Designated Area Sponsored Provisional visa

(subclass 496)

Invited pathway

You need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) via SkillSelect with details of your preferred occupation, skills and qualifications, and if you will be sponsored by a family member, or wish to be nominated by an Australian state or territory.

Subsequent entry pathway

The subsequent entry pathway is for applicants who are a member of the family unit of someone who already holds a Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) or a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa. A member of your family unit must be the primary holder of a:- Skilled Regional (Provisional (subclass 489) – this visa- Skilled—Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475)- Skilled—Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487)- Skilled—Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)- Skilled— Designated Area Sponsored visa (subclass 496).There is no English language skill requirement for subsequent entrants, but if you are 18 years old or older and do not have functional English, you must pay an extra fee (called a second instalment).

To be able to get this visa, you must:

• hold a subclass 475, 487, 495 or 496 visa (Extended Stay pathway)
• be nominated by a state or territory government agency or be sponsored by an eligible relative (Invited pathway)
• be invited to apply (Invited pathway)
• have a relevant occupation
• have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
• meet the points test pass mark of 65 points
• be under 45 years of age at time of invitation
• have Competent English

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa and when a decision is made.

You can include your partner and your or your partner’s child or step-child in your application. Family members who are granted the visa have the same rights and can do the same things as you.