Which Areas Are Considered Designated Regional Areas For Priority Visa Processing?

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Which Areas Are Considered Designated Regional Areas For Priority Visa Processing?

Employer-Sponsored Visas for regional work are being prioritised for Government processing in 2024, according to the latest Ministerial Direction. This includes applications for a 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) Visa, 494 Skilled Regional Visa or a 186 Permanent Residence Visa for applicants working in a ‘Designated Regional Area’.

Written by Sheila Woods (MARN: 0533879) of Interstaff 27 February 2024

With cities such as Perth being listed as ‘Designated Regional Areas’, read on to find out more.

Designated Regional Areas and Visa Options
Regional Incentives
Visa Eligibility and Sponsorship

Designated Regional Areas and Visa Options

The Department of Home Affairs considers most locations of Australia outside its major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) to be ‘designated regional areas’ for visa and migration purposes.

The Government’s definition of Designated Regional Areas can be further classified into two categories:

Category 2 – ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’
Perth
Adelaide
The Gold Coast
The Sunshine Coast
Canberra
Newcastle/Lake Macquarie
Wollongong/Illawarra
Geelong
Hobart
Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’ – this includes all other areas outside of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Category 2 cities and major regional centres.

This broad definition of ‘Designated Regional Areas’ allows eligible migrants to access the benefits of a 494 Skilled Regional Visa for work in cities that many people may not consider ‘regional’ – such as Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart and other densely populated areas in Australia.

Some of the main benefits of a 494 Visa has historically been its provision for a 5 year visa period and a more certain pathway to PR after 3 years, however since November 2023 the 482 TSS Visa now provides a PR pathway after 2 years of work with an employer.

Other regional incentives are also available and migrants seeking to work in a Designated Regional Area may wish to seek professional advice when comparing Regional and Standard (non location-specific) Skilled Visa options.

It’s also important to note that following the Government’s December 2023 Ministerial Direction, 494 Visa applicants, 482 TSS Visa applicants, and Subclass 186 Permanent Residence Visa applicants working in Designated Regional Areas may be able to access priority visa processing.

Designated Regional Areas | Regional Incentives

Different regional incentives are available for skilled migrants who migrate to locations classified as Category 2 ‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ compared to Category 3 ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’.

Migrants who work in Category 2 locations may have access to the following regional incentives:

Priority processing of Regional Visas
Access to the Regional Occupations List (ROL) – there are more occupations that are eligible for a visa on the ROL compared to non-regional lists, which could open up the opportunity to migrate or work in Australia under your occupation
International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution may be eligible to access an extra year in Australia on a post-study work visa

Migrants who work in Category 3 – ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’ locations may have access to:

Greater availability of skilled visa placements with 11,200 regional places devoted to the program, priority processing of regional visas, and access to the Regional Occupations List.
International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution may be eligible to access an extra 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa.

In addition, employers in Category 3 areas may have priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs), which allow for concessions when engaging visa holders for work in Australia.

Visa Eligibility and Sponsorship

With the Government prioritising the processing of employer-sponsored visas in Designated Regional Areas in 2024, it may be a good time to discuss sponsorship options and consider a visa eligibility assessment for prospective candidates.

For an eligibility assessment or other professional visa, sponsorship or migration advice, we encourage you to contact Interstaff’s Migration Agents and get in touch here. Our team assist both individuals and employers with the visa and migration process.

Established in 1988, Interstaff has over 35 years of Australian visa and migration experience and provides strategic immigration advice to businesses and individuals Australia-wide and internationally. MARN: 0533879.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.