SKILLED WORK REGIONAL VISA (491)

The Skilled Work Regional Visa is a five-year temporary visa designed to allow skilled workers to live, work, and study in regional Australia, offering a direct and significant pathway to permanent residency after three years.

This is a Points-Tested, invitation-only visa for which applicants must meet a minimum score. To apply, candidates must secure either a nomination from an Australian State or Territory or be sponsored by an eligible family member residing in a regional area. The process for State/Territory nomination mirrors that of the Subclass 190, requiring adherence to the specific criteria of each jurisdiction, while the family-sponsored stream often requires high scores on the Points Test, similar to the Subclass 189.

Applicants must generally be under 45 years old, have a valid Skills Assessment for an eligible occupation, and satisfy minimum English language requirements. The visa provides  full work rights, multiple travel rights, and the ability to include family members. Furthermore, it allows for a path to permanent residency without needing to meet minimum income thresholds. All applicants must meet standard requirements related to health, character, and compliance.

Thinking about applying for this visa? Start your eligibility check today.‍

EMPLOYER SPONSORED REGIONAL VISA (subclass 494)

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) is a five-year temporary visa designed to bring skilled workers to designated regional areas of Australia to fill labour shortages. Crucially, this visa offers a direct and clear pathway to permanent residency via the Subclass 191 visa after the holder has lived and worked in a regional area for at least three years, provided they meet minimum income requirements during that period.

Applicants must generally be under 45 and have their occupation on a relevant skilled list. Key requirements include holding a valid Skills Assessment and having at least three years of relevant post-qualification work experience, along with meeting competent English standards, though exemptions may apply in limited circumstances.

The sponsoring employer, who must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor operating in a regional area, has substantial obligations. They must successfully conduct Labour Market Testing to prove no suitable local worker can fill the role. They must also pay the employee at least the Annual Market Salary Rate, a rate that must be certified by a Regional Certifying Body (RCB) to ensure it aligns with local market conditions. The employer must also pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Once granted, the visa holder can live, work, and study in the designated regional area, and travel to and from Australia freely, but they must only work in their nominated role for the sponsoring employer.

Thinking about applying for this visa? Start your eligibility check today.‍

DESIGNATED AREA MIGRATION AGREEMENT (DAMA)

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a regional migration framework (not a visa in itself) that allows employers in designated areas of Australia to sponsor overseas workers under expanded occupation lists and negotiated concessions where standard skilled migration settings don't meet local labour needs. DAMA arrangements sit alongside the Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494), and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa programs, and can offer a pathway to permanent residency depending on the specific agreement and occupation.

Individuals cannot access a DAMA directly. A worker must be sponsored by an employer operating within a designated region, in an occupation listed under that region's head agreement. Compared to standard pathways, DAMA settings can allow for concessions such as reduced English language requirements, adjusted salary thresholds, and higher age limits for permanent residency (commonly up to 55, rather than the standard 45), though the specific concessions available vary by region and occupation and must be confirmed against the current agreement.

The sponsoring employer carries substantial obligations under a DAMA. They must first secure endorsement from the relevant Designated Area Representative (DAR), demonstrating a genuine labour shortage (typically through Labour Market Testing), business viability, and workforce planning. Once endorsed, the employer enters into an individual labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs, which sets out the approved occupations, worker numbers, and applicable concessions. Employers must also meet ongoing compliance obligations, including paying at least the agreed market salary and complying with Australian workplace law.

Thinking about applying for this visas? Start your eligibility check today.

By Mondo Migration | Registered Australian Migration Agent (MARN 2619196)