Australia Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)

The Australian Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) allows skilled workers to live and work in an Australian region with low population growth. With this visa, a candidate can live in Australia for up to 4 years.

Eligibility to Apply for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 489)

The eligibility criteria that candidates need to meet to apply for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) are as follows:

• An Australian state or territory must either nominate you or a relative must sponsor you. You can choose which state or territory you are interested in under the Expression of Interest (EOI)
• In case your relative sponsors you, you must ensure that your occupation is on the in-demand occupations list
• You must also present your skills assessment that shows you have the required skills and qualifications to work in the occupation
• You must meet the minimum eligibility points criteria by scoring a minimum of 60 points
• You must be below the age of 45 at the time of receiving an Invitation to Apply
• You must also prove your proficiency in the English Language by presenting your English competency test scores
• You must provide a medical fitness certificate validating your good health
• You should not have any previous criminal records
• You must pay off the debt, if any, to the Australian government
• You will not be eligible to apply for the visa if your last visa filing was refused or cancelled.

Process to Apply for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 489)

The process to apply for this visa begins with:

• A candidate creating his Expression of Interest (EOI) in the online SkillSelect program; the candidate will also have to mention whether his family member is sponsoring him or wishes to be nominated by the Australian state or territory
• Post this, the candidate needs to wait for their Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)
• After receiving the invitation, the candidate will submit their documents and apply for the visa

Processing Time

The general processing time for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) is approximately 5 months, which can be extended up to 8 months.

What is an Expression of Interest (EOI)

The Expression of Interest (EOI) provides the Australian immigration authorities with your basic information, which includes your educational, professional and personal details.

Your EOI lasts for two years, which means that your EOI will remain with the Australian immigration authority for two years. People willing to apply for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) must submit an EOI, taking into account that they are below the age of 45.

After you submit your EOI, you will become part of a pool with similar candidates, and the one ranking higher will be sent an invitation to apply for the visa.

You need not pay any fee for the creation of EOI. You can create your EOI either while being in Australia or overseas.

Points Allocation Criteria…

The points you score depend on the following factors:

• English Language Proficiency
• Skilled Employment
• Educational Qualification
• Australian Study Requirements
• Specialist Education Requirement
• Other Factors

Your educational qualifications and work experience will be assessed by specific assessment bodies, which evaluate particular profiles. Some of the famous assessing bodies are:

1. Engineers Australia
2. Vetassess
3. Australian Computer Society
4. CPA
5. AIMS

What does the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) allow you to do

The Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) allows you and your family to:

• Live in Australia for up to 4 years
• Live, work and study in a specified region of Australia
• Be eligible to travel to and from Australia several times
• Apply for permanent residency after completion of two years of stay in Australia

Cost

The cost to apply for the Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489) is AUD 3,670. You may also pay the additional payment for skills assessment and the counselling fee (if you hire a consultant).

There is an additional fee for extra family members who accompany you to Australia.

The Second Instalment: The Second Instalment is the fee paid for a family member who is over 18 and has limited English proficiency. This fee is also referred to as VAC2 or the second VAC. This instalment is paid after all the visa requirements have been met.

You may have to pay an additional fee for health assessment, police clearance and biometrics.