About this visa

This visa is a three (3) year provisional visa for overseas students and certain visa holders who are unable to meet the criteria for a permanent skilled visa. You will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after you have lived for two (2) years, and worked at least 12 months, in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.
See: Specified regional areas

This visa requires you to be either:

• nominated by a participating State or Territory government agency
  or
• sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia.

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.

Who is this visa for?

This visa is for you if you are in Australia and you are one of the following:

• an overseas student 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 is also for existing holders of a provisional skilled visa who have abided by the conditions on their visa and who need further time to meet the residence and/or employment criteria to apply for a permanent visa.
See: Existing provisional visa holders

You must:

• be under 45 years of age
• have good English language skills
• have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and your nominated occupation is classified as either:
  • a 60 point occupation
    or
  • a 50 point occupation

The SOL is a list of skilled occupations that are in need in Australia. Each occupation listed on the SOL is allocated a points value for use in the visa assessment process.
See: Form 1121i Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List (ENSOL) (129KB PDF file)

How much does this visa cost?

You must pay the relevant visa application charge when you lodge your visa application.
See: Professionals and other Skilled Migrants

What does this visa let me do?

This visa:

• allows you to remain in Australia for up to three (3) years and requires you to live and work in a Specified Regional Area in Australia
• allows accompanying secondary applicants to work and study, but only in a Specified Regional Area of Australia
• provides a pathway to permanent residence.
  See: Pathways to permanent residency