Visa Entitlements

This visa:

• requires that you work and live in a Specified Regional Area in Australia and allows you to remain in Australia for a period of up to three (3) years
• allows secondary applicants included on your application to work and study in a Specified Regional Area of Australia
• offers an alternate way of gaining permanent residence in Australia

Eligibility

Eligibility for this visa requires that you meet the basic conditions and are able to pass the points test.

This visa is suitable for persons that are currently in Australia and are:

• either a current or former overseas student
• a holder of a Skilled – Graduate visa (subclass 485) or a Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)
• a holder of a Trade Skills Training visa (subclass 471)
• a holder of a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
• a holder of an Occupational Trainee visa (subclass 442)

This visa also applies to persons holding a current provisional skilled visa, who have complied with the conditions on their current visas and who require extended time to meet the employment and/or residence criteria in order to apply for a permanent visa.

You must:

• be under the age of 50
• posses competent at least competent English language skills
• posses qualifications and/or skills which meet the Australian standards for an occupation listed on the  Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

The SOL lists skilled occupations which are considered to be in demand in Australia. Each occupation the SOL lists is awarded a points value based on this perceived need, and these are taken into account in processing all visa applications.

Additional Information

Health & Character

If you are neither an Australian citizen nor an Australian permanent resident, but you intend to live in or visit Australia, both you and all secondary applicants listed in your application will be required to undergo a health examination and pass specific health requirements before a visa can be issued.

You and all secondary applicants are also required to be ‘of good character’ in order to live in or visit Australia. This is determined by Australian authorities and you may be asked to provide evidence such as police certificates for every country you have resided in since turning 16 years of age for 12 months or longer over the previous ten (10) years.  

Location

You and any secondary applicants that are included in your application must be in Australia both when you lodge your application for this visa and at the time that your application is decided upon.