Navigating regional visa options: a guide for Australian business sponsors

The Australian government offers various regional skilled worker visas to address skill shortages and provide pathways to permanent residency. Employers benefit from a broader talent pool and streamlined hiring, while applicants gain quicker employment, flexibility, and enhanced career prospects in regional areas. Key visas include subclasses 491, 494, 482, and 191.

Regional Visa Options

1. Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491):

A points-based visa for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government to live and work in regional Australia for up to five years. The applicant must be under 45 years of age when they apply or this visa.

2. Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

This Employer Sponsored and Labour Agreement stream enables employers to sponsor skilled workers to work, live, and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years. The applicant must be under 45 years of age when they apply or this visa. It also provides a pathway to permanent residency after three years of service with the sponsoring employer.

3. Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (subclass 191):

For holders of subclass 491 or subclass 494 visas, this visa allows for permanent residence in Australia after meeting the conditions of their provisional visa for at least three years and satisfying income requirements. There is no age limit for this visa.

4. Temporary Skill Shortage visa – Regional stream (subclass 482)

This visa allows employers to sponsor and nominate suitable skilled workers to fill a position in regional Australia if the occupation is on the Regional Occupation List (ROL) for up to four years and requires meeting minimum English language proficiency standards. There is no age limit for this visa.

5. Permanent Residence (Employer Nominated – TRT) Visa (Subclass186)

For holders of a subclass 482 visa who have been employed with their sponsoring employer for at least 2 years whilst holding the subclass 482 visa. This allows employers to sponsor those employees who have held a subclass 482 visa (nominated for an occupation on the ROL).

Implications for Employers

Employers experiencing skill shortages can tap into a broader pool of potential candidates, facilitating business expansion. This approach allows them to quickly address labour gaps and benefit from international workers’ valuable contributions to their operations.

1. Access to a wider talent pool: enable employers in regional areas to access a range of skilled workers
2. Streamlined hiring process: benefit from faster visa processing, which helps address labour and industry gaps and shortens the time to hire skilled workers. This ensures that businesses grow and operate smoothly, as employer-sponsored visas are prioritised.
3. Increased regional development: employers contribute to regional areas’ economic growth and development by sponsoring workers for regional visas.
4. Government incentives and support for regional development: fosters community growth and stability by contributing to economic and social development in regional areas. Employers may also be eligible to apply for government incentives.

Implications for Applicants

Regional visas open doors for visa applicants with high potential but less extensive work experience, allowing a wider range of skilled workers to qualify for these visas.

1. Expanded pathway to employment: the regional program expands the list of eligible occupations for those persons wanting to live and work in regional Australia.
2. Opportunities for permanent residency: provides a clear pathway and greater employment opportunities for skilled migrants to settle in Australia.
3. Flexibility and mobility: offer flexibility to move between regional areas, providing more employment and growth opportunities.
4. Enhanced career prospects: explore career opportunities in regional areas and seize the chance to make a significant impact in growing communities

Other information:

1. Be an accredited sponsor for sponsoring skilled workers of 482 & 494 visa
   Requirements
   – Have a legally established and currently operating business
   ­-  Have no adverse information regarding the business
   –  Maintain a strong record or demonstrate a commitment to local labour employment
   –  A declaration for a company that is not engaged in discriminatory recruitment practices

Regional jobs and investment packages
The Australian Government has committed to the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages (RJIP) project in ten pilot regions, aiming to support these regions in seizing opportunities that will help secure their economic future.

2. Simplifies Genuine Temporary Entrant requirements for subclass 482

As of 2 August 2024, the updated Subclass 482 visa’s Short Term Stream policy has simplified the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirements. The policy now assumes GTE compliance unless specific concerns arise, with fewer factors considered against meeting GTE. However, previous records such as visa condition breaches, substantive application inconsistencies, and a history of migration fraud may still be detrimental to GTE compliance.

For more information and to arrange an online consultation, please contact our expert team at aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com.