Australia offers incredible opportunities for skilled workers and their families. One option to consider is the Subclass 489 visa. This temporary visa allows you to live and work in regional Australia for up to four years. Even better, you can bring your family members along too.
In this guide, you’ll learn the key details of the Subclass 489 visa:
- The benefits it provides
- The pathways to apply
- The costs involved
- The conditions you must meet
You’ll also discover how the 489 visa can set you on the pathway towards permanent Australian residency. So let’s dive in!
An Overview of the Subclass 489 Visa
The Subclass 489 visa goes by the official name of “Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa.” As the name suggests, this temporary visa is for skilled workers who want to live in regional parts of Australia.
Regional areas offer a quieter pace of life compared to crowded cities like Sydney and Melbourne. They also often have job openings that need filling by workers with the right skills and experience.
With the 489 visa, you can stay in Australia for up to four years. During this time, you must live and work in an approved regional location. We’ll cover the details of where you can live shortly.
The 489 visa allows you to:
- Live, work, and study in regional Australia for four years
- Freely travel to and from Australia while your visa remains valid
- Include eligible family members in your application
- Transition to permanent residency if you meet certain criteria
Now let’s explore the exciting benefits this visa provides.
Why Consider the Subclass 489 Visa?
Beyond letting you live and work down under, the Subclass 489 visa offers several attractive benefits:
Temporary Australian Residence
The 489 visa gives you temporary residence rights in Australia for up to four years. This allows you to establish yourself in the country.
Regional Living
You’ll need to live in approved regional areas. These communities offer an affordable cost of living and welcoming way of life outside big cities.
Jobs in Demand
Regional Australia often has job openings well-suited to skilled visa holders. You can gain valuable work experience while filling roles in-demand.
Pathway to Permanent Residency
By living and working in regional Australia for at least two years, 489 visa holders can apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 887 visa.
Bring Your Family
You can add eligible family members to your 489 visa application. This allows them to migrate with you and also work in Australia.
As you can see, the Subclass 489 visa provides a supported pathway to build a new life in Australia along with your loved ones.
Now let’s look at the three main options to apply.
Applying for the Subclass 489 Visa
There are three pathways you can take to apply for the 489 visa:
1. Invited Pathway
The Invited Pathway allows skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory or sponsored by an eligible relative to apply. However, this pathway is currently closed to new applicants.
2. Extended Stay Pathway
If you already hold a different regional Australian skilled work visa, you may be able to extend your stay through the Extended Stay Pathway. The eligible visas include:
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)
- Skilled Regional visa (subclass 475)
- Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
- Skilled Designated Area-sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496)
This pathway lets you remain in regional Australia for another four years past the date your current skilled visa was originally granted.
3. Subsequent Entry Pathway
Finally, the Subsequent Entry Pathway allows family members of current 489 visa holders to join them in Australia. Your family members can live, work and study alongside you.
Each pathway has specific eligibility criteria you and your family members would need to meet. But it’s exciting to know you have options to apply either together or separately down the road.
Now let’s look at the costs involved.
What Are the Costs for the Subclass 489 Visa?
As with other Australian visas, you have to pay fees to apply for the Subclass 489 visa. Here is an overview:
- The base visa application fee starts at AU$4,770
- Additional fees apply for any family members you include
- Adult family members with less than functional English must pay a further installment fee of AU$4,890
While not insignificant, when you factor in the high wages in regional Australia these costs can be recovered fairly rapidly.
Processing times for 489 visa applications vary case-by-case based on individual circumstances. Most applicants receive a decision within 18 months. Additional documents like medical checks, police clearances and biometrics may be required.
What Are the Visa Conditions You Must Meet?
To keep your Subclass 489 visa valid, you’ll need to comply with certain ongoing conditions. These include:
Regional Living and Work
You must continue living and working in approved regional postcodes while holding the 489 visa. See the government website for the list of eligible areas.
Two Years of Work
To be eligible for permanent residency, you’ll need to complete at least two years of skilled regional work within your profession.
Travel In and Out of Australia
As a 489 visa holder, you can freely travel to and from Australia provided your visa remains valid.
Maintain Health Insurance
You need to maintain adequate health coverage for yourself and all family members joining you in Australia.
By following these conditions, you stay on track towards securing permanent residency.
How Can You Transition to Permanent Residency?
One of the best parts of the Subclass 489 visa is the clear pathway it provides to permanent residency in Australia.
After living and working in regional Australia for at least two years, 489 visa holders can apply for permanent residency under the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887).
To be eligible you must:
- Have held the 489 visa for at least two years
- Lived for two years and worked full-time for one year in regional Australia
- Meet health, character and security requirements
Once granted the Subclass 887 visa, you’ll have permanent residency and won’t need to leave Australia. After living for another two years in regional areas, you can then apply for Australian citizenship!
So in just four years, the pathway from the 489 visa can take you all the way to becoming an Australian citizen along with your family.
Start Your Exciting Future in Regional Australia
The Subclass 489 Skilled Regional Provisional visa offers a life-changing opportunity. Now is the time to take advantage if you have skills that align with regional Australia’s needs.
In just two years, you could transition from a temporary visa all the way to permanent residency and citizenship. Even better, you can bring eligible family members with you during the process.
Does a future in Australia sound exciting? The Subclass 489 visa opens the door for skilled workers and their families. Consider if regional living and working down under is right for you!
