Alnet Migration Consulting

Subclass 491

Invited Pathway

You might be eligible to apply for this visa if invited. When we sent your letter of invitation, you must also have:

• been nominated by an Australian State or Territory government agency or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area

• nominated an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupations list

• a suitable skills assessment for that occupation

• not yet turned 45 years of age

• achieved the score specified in your letter of invitation based on the factors in the points test. New point test for General Skilled Migration (GSM).

• at least competent English

The application process for different regional development programs may vary from region to region. Our office can provide assistance in this application process.

The new regional visas will receive priority processing for complete applications. Applicants are strongly encouraged to front-end load medicals and to ensure that National Police Clearances for all relevant countries are lodged with their applications.

New Regional Postcodes

On 26 October 2019 the Hon. David Coleman MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs announced a change to the definition of regional Australia.

Specific postcodes can be found in  Migration (LIN 19/217: Regional Areas) Instrument 2019.

All applicants from outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be able to access regional points, for State and Territory Nomination and Family Sponsorship and for regional study purposes. The table below highlights the regional areas.

Table 1: Definition of Regional Areas in Australia

DefinitionLocationsRegional IncentivesMajor CitiesSydney
Melbourne
BrisbaneN/ACities and Major Regional Cities

Perth

Adelaide

Gold Coast

Sunshine Coast

Canberra

Newcastle

Lake Macquarie

Wollongong

Illawara

Geelong

Hobart

Access to the dedicated25,000 regional places.

Priority processing on regional visas.

Access to Regional Occupations Lists – more jobs compared to non-regional lists.

International students studying at regional universities will be eligible to access an additional year in Australia on a post-study work visa.

Regional Centres and other Regional areasAll other location

Access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places.

Priority processing on regional visas.

Access to Regional Occupations Lists – more jobs compared to non-regional lists.

International students studying at regional universities will be eligible to access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa.

Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area