489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – Invited pathway

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Skilled Regional (Provisional) 489
Status	Closed to new applications
Visa type	Temporary skilled regional visa
Stay	4 years from grant
Cost	From AUD6,140
Eligibility timing	Under 45 at invitation
Work rights	Any occupation, regional areas
Study	Permitted in required region
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health insurance	Recommended
Travel facility	Multiple entries while valid
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Permanent residence	Possible via subclass 887
Family sponsorship	Eligible relative may sponsor
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Application location	In or outside Australia
Processing	Guide tool only
English requirement	Competent English
Points requirement	At least 65 points

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Purpose

The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489), Invited pathway, was a temporary visa for skilled workers to live, work and study in regional Australia.

This visa is closed to new applications.

Stay and rights

The visa is valid for 4 years from grant. You can:

• Live, work and study in the required regional or designated area.
• Work for any employer and in any occupation, subject to visa conditions.
• Travel to and from Australia any number of times while the visa remains valid.
• Attend free English classes through the Adult Migrant English Program, if eligible.
• Apply for the Skilled Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887), if eligible.

You cannot extend this visa. Time outside Australia does not extend its validity.

Regional residence requirements

You and family members holding the visa must live, work and study in the applicable area.

State or territory nominated applicants

• Visas granted before 16 November 2019: regional and low population growth metropolitan areas.
• Visas granted on or after 16 November 2019: designated regional areas.

Eligible-relative sponsored applicants

You must live, work and study in the specified designated area, regardless of grant date.

Your state or territory nomination must not be withdrawn before grant. Relative sponsorship must be accepted before grant.

Eligibility

Applicants needed to:

• Be invited to apply after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect.
• Be nominated by a state or territory government agency, or sponsored by an eligible relative.
• Be under 45 when invited.
• Have an eligible skilled occupation for the relevant pathway.
• Have a suitable skills assessment at invitation.
• Score at least 65 points; the invited score may be higher.
• Have at least Competent English at invitation.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Repay, or arrange repayment of, Australian Government debts.
• Sign an Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over.
• Meet immigration-history requirements.

A cancelled visa or previous visa refusal may affect eligibility.

Skills assessment

The skills assessment must generally:

• Be obtained within 3 years before invitation.
• Still be valid if issued for a shorter period.
• Be from the assessing authority specified for the occupation.

Medical practitioners may provide specified Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency registration. Barristers and solicitors may provide admission to practise law in an Australian state or territory.

Nomination or relative sponsorship

State or territory nomination

State and territory agencies set their own nomination criteria. If nominated, you receive an invitation to apply.

Eligible-relative sponsorship

The sponsor must:

• Be aged 18 or over.
• Usually live in a designated area of Australia.
• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Be your or your partner’s eligible relative.

Eligible relatives include parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandparents and first cousins, including specified adoptive and step-relatives.

Family provisions

You could include family-unit members in the application, including dependent children added after lodgement but before a decision.

Family applicants must meet health and character requirements. Non-migrating family members may also need to meet these requirements.

Applicants aged 18 or over needed functional English or payment of the second instalment charge when requested.

After grant, eligible family members who were not included may be able to apply as subsequent entrants.

Cost

The main applicant charge was from AUD6,140, with additional charges for family members.

A second instalment of AUD4,890 may apply for each family member aged 18 or over without functional English. It is payable only if requested before grant.

Other possible costs include:

• Health examinations
• Police certificates
• Biometrics
• Skills assessment

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa charge applies to eligible applicants holding valid passports from specified Pacific Island countries or Timor-Leste, including eligible family members.

Application process

Because this pathway is closed, new applications cannot be lodged. The former process was:

1. Check occupation, skills assessment, English and points eligibility.
2. Submit a free EOI through SkillSelect.
3. Obtain state/territory nomination or indicate eligible-relative sponsorship.
4. Receive an invitation to apply.
5. Apply within 60 calendar days of invitation.
6. Upload supporting evidence through ImmiAccount.

An EOI was not a visa application and did not provide a bridging visa. Applicants needed to remain lawful while waiting for an invitation.

An EOI could be updated before invitation. If an applicant did not apply after two invitations, the EOI was removed.

Required evidence

Applicants needed evidence supporting all EOI claims and visa criteria, including:

• Passport identity pages and name-change evidence.
• Skills assessment or accepted professional registration.
• Competent English evidence.
• Points-test evidence, such as qualifications and skilled employment.
• Health examination results, if requested.
• Police certificates and character forms.
• Evidence of family relationships and dependency.
• Sponsor declaration and sponsor eligibility evidence, if relative-sponsored.
• Child consent documents, court orders or relevant legal evidence where required.

Non-English documents must be translated into English. Original and translated documents must be provided. Clear colour scans or photographs are required.

Character documents

An Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate was required if the applicant spent 12 months or more in Australia during the previous 10 years after turning 16.

Overseas police certificates were required for each country where the applicant spent 12 months or more during that period. Military service records were required where applicable.

Required forms included:

• Form 80 — Personal particulars for character assessment
• Form 1221 — Additional personal particulars information

Application location and decision

Applicants could be in or outside Australia when applying and when a decision was made, but not in immigration clearance.

Applicants in Australia needed to hold a substantive visa or specified bridging visa for a valid application.

Processing times vary by application completeness, response times, required checks and information from external agencies. The processing-time guide is indicative only.

If granted, the Department provides the visa grant number, start date and conditions. If refused, the Department advises reasons and any review rights. Visa application charges are not refunded following refusal.

Obligations and conditions

Visa holders and family members must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

You must tell the Department about changes including:

• Address, telephone number, email or passport.
• Relationship status.
• Birth of a child.
• Application mistakes or withdrawal.

Visa conditions and validity can be checked through VEVO.

Travel and visa record

The visa permits unlimited travel while valid. Before travelling, ensure you hold a valid passport and remain able to re-enter Australia.

The visa is digitally linked to the passport; no visa label is issued.

New Zealand passport holders should tell border officers they hold subclass 489 and do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444), as a subclass 444 grant may affect subclass 887 eligibility.