Visas & permanent residency
Compare skilled, employer-sponsored and regional routes into Australia — then understand what each one asks of your occupation, your age and your points.
General information only, not legal advice. Visa rules, occupation lists and point values change regularly — always confirm current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
Visa categories
Each pathway below has a different purpose and a different set of requirements. Read the structure first, then confirm the detail on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Subclass 189
A permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer or nominated by a state or territory. Applicants are invited through SkillSelect based on points, occupation and demand.
Subclass 190
A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory government. Nomination adds points and commits you to living and working in the nominating state or territory.
Subclass 491
A five-year provisional visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia. It can lead to permanent residency after meeting regional residence and income requirements.
Subclass 494
A five-year provisional visa allowing regional employers to sponsor skilled workers for occupations in demand. It can lead to permanent residency after qualifying regional employment.
Subclass 482
A temporary skilled visa sponsored by an approved Australian employer. Streams and eligibility settings change periodically, so current departmental guidance should always be checked.
Subclass 186
A permanent employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer. Several streams exist, each with different evidence and eligibility requirements.
Subclass DAMA
A DAMA is not a visa. It is an agreement between the Australian Government and a designated region that allows employers to sponsor workers under tailored settings, including possible concessions.
An employer-sponsored framework, not a standalone visa.
Subclass 191
The permanent residency step for eligible holders of a 491 or 494 visa who have met regional residence and income requirements over the qualifying period.
Subclass 887
A legacy permanent residency pathway for eligible holders of older regional provisional visas. Current availability and settings should be confirmed with the Department of Home Affairs.
Comparison
This table summarises broad structure only. It does not list eligibility criteria, charges or occupation requirements, all of which change and must be confirmed with official sources.
| Subclass | Visa | Pathway type | Sponsorship / nomination | Regional requirements | General age considerations | Potential PR route | Official |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 189 | Skilled Independent | Points-tested skilled migration | No employer or state nomination required | Not region-restricted | Standard age limit applies (under 45 at invitation) | Permanent residency granted directly | Home Affairs |
| 190 | Skilled Nominated | Points-tested skilled migration with state nomination | Nomination by an Australian state or territory | Nomination may be for a specific state; living conditions apply | Standard age limit applies (under 45 at invitation) | Permanent residency granted directly | Home Affairs |
| 491 | Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) | Points-tested regional provisional migration | State or territory nomination, or eligible family sponsorship | Regional Australia only | Standard age limit applies (under 45 at invitation) | Possible later through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) pathway | Home Affairs |
| 494 | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) | Employer-sponsored regional migration | Employer sponsorship with regional certification | Regional Australia only | Standard age limit applies, with limited concessions in specific arrangements | Possible later through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) pathway | Home Affairs |
| 482 | Skills in Demand | Employer-sponsored temporary skilled migration | Employer sponsorship required | Available in metropolitan and regional locations | Age requirements depend on the stream and any later permanent pathway | Temporary visa; some holders may later access employer-sponsored permanent pathways | Home Affairs |
| 186 | Employer Nomination Scheme | Employer-sponsored permanent migration | Employer nomination required | Available nationally, including regional employers | Standard age limit applies, with limited exemptions | Permanent residency granted directly | Home Affairs |
| DAMA | Designated Area Migration Agreements | Employer-sponsored labour agreement framework | Employer sponsorship under a specific designation | Only in the designated region covered by the agreement | Concessions may be negotiated within a specific agreement | Some agreements include a pathway to permanent residency | DAMA info |
| 191 | Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) | Regional provisional to permanent residency | No new sponsorship required | Based on prior regional residence and employment | Requirements apply at time of application | Permanent residency granted directly | Home Affairs |
| 887 | Skilled Regional (Classic) | Legacy regional provisional to permanent residency | No new sponsorship required | Based on prior regional residence and employment | Requirements apply at time of application | Permanent residency granted directly | Home Affairs |
No government charges, points thresholds or occupation lists are shown here because they change frequently. Always confirm current settings on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Compare pathways
Every route into regional Australia begins with one question: does your occupation get you there on points, through an employer, or through a region that nominates you?
Pathways where your occupation, age, English, qualifications and experience generate points. No employer needed.
A permanent visa for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or a family member. You are assessed on your occupation and your points score.
Who it suits: People with an in-demand occupation on the relevant skilled list and a strong points profile.
A permanent visa that requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government. Nomination adds points and usually comes with a commitment to live and work in that state for a period.
Who it suits: People whose occupation appears on a state nomination list, or who want to target one region.
A five-year provisional visa to live and work in regional Australia, nominated by a state or territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member living in a regional area.
Who it suits: People building towards permanent residency through regional work and study.
Pathways where an approved Australian business sponsors you for a specific role. Usually the fastest route when you already have an offer.
A temporary skilled visa tied to an approved sponsor and an eligible occupation, with streams based on salary and occupation lists. Many holders later move to permanent residency.
Who it suits: People with a confirmed job offer from an approved Australian business.
A five-year regional visa for people sponsored by an employer in a designated regional area, with a pathway to permanent residency after meeting work and income requirements.
Who it suits: People with a regional job offer who intend to settle outside the major capitals.
A permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer, through the direct entry or temporary residence transition stream.
Who it suits: People who already hold a temporary sponsored visa, or have a permanent job offer.
How regional provisional visas convert into permanent residency — the step most people planning a regional move are working towards.
The permanent step for eligible holders of a 491 or 494 visa, granted after living and working in a designated regional area for the required period and meeting the income threshold.
Who it suits: Regional provisional visa holders ready to convert to permanent residency.
Not a visa on its own — a labour agreement between a regional area and the Australian Government. It sits under employer-sponsored visas and can offer concessions on age, English, salary and occupation lists for that region.
Who it suits: People whose occupation or circumstances do not meet the standard stream requirements.
The points test
Points-tested visas rank applicants rather than passing them. You need to reach the minimum score to be invited, and a higher score moves you up the queue.
Indicative values only. The points table, age limits and minimum score are set by the Australian Government and change from time to time — confirm the current figures before you plan around them.
Age
Scored in bands, with 25–32 years attracting the highest score. Most pathways require you to be under 45 at invitation.
English language
Competent English is the minimum. Proficient and superior test results add points.
Skilled employment in Australia
Points increase with years of relevant experience gained in Australia.
Skilled employment overseas
Overseas experience in your nominated occupation also scores, at a lower rate than Australian experience.
Qualifications
A doctorate scores highest, then a bachelor degree or higher, then a diploma or trade qualification.
Partner or single status
Points apply where your partner meets skill and English requirements, or where you are applying without a partner.
Specialist education
A research masters or doctorate in a science, technology, engineering or maths field completed in Australia.
State or regional nomination
State or territory nomination adds 5 points; nomination or sponsorship for a designated regional area adds 15.
Nomination points are additional to the factors above. The minimum score to be invited in the points-tested streams is 65.
Over 45
Most points-tested skilled visas apply a standard age requirement, and that does not change because someone wants it to. But standard requirements and negotiated regional arrangements are not the same thing, and the difference is worth understanding before you assume your options have closed.
Standard age limits are real
Most points-tested skilled visas generally require applicants to be under 45 when invited. RegionalOZ does not suggest otherwise, and no article on this site overrides the requirements of a specific visa.
Some arrangements differ
Certain employer-sponsored arrangements, including some Designated Area Migration Agreements, may negotiate different age settings for specific occupations. Whether that applies depends on the agreement, the region and the occupation.
Concessions are specific, not general
A concession in one agreement does not create a general rule for another region, employer or occupation. Each agreement is negotiated separately and can be varied or closed.
The useful next step is research
Identify your occupation, the regions that employ it and whether a relevant agreement covers it. Then confirm the detail with the Department of Home Affairs and a registered migration agent.
The sequence
Most delays come from starting in the wrong order. This is the sequence that keeps evidence, tests and nominations valid when you apply.
Start with the occupation lists and see which stream your role appears on, and which assessing authority judges it.
Book your skills assessment and an English test early. Together they usually take the longest, and both expire.
Work out your points, then decide whether state nomination, regional nomination or an employer offer improves them.
Some pathways need an expression of interest first, others an application. Evidence and timing matter more than speed.
State and territory nomination
Each state and territory runs its own nomination programme with its own occupation lists and criteria. The region that nominates you is usually the region you will live in.
Riverina, New England, Central West and the Far West.
Grampians, Goulburn Valley, Gippsland and the Mallee.
Wide Bay, Darling Downs, Central and Far North Queensland.
South West, Wheatbelt, Goldfields and the Kimberley.
Riverland, Limestone Coast, Eyre Peninsula and the Flinders.
The whole island is designated regional for migration purposes.
The whole Territory is regional, including Darwin.
The whole Territory is regional for migration purposes.
Nomination criteria are set individually by each state and territory and are updated throughout the year. Regional boundaries are also reviewed — check the postcode list attached to the visa you are considering.
Common questions
These are the general answers. Your own circumstances — occupation, age, family, where you settle — change what applies to you.
RegionalOZ is not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs and does not provide immigration assistance. Information here is general and may not reflect the most recent changes. For advice about your own application, use a migration agent registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. Read the full disclaimer.
Free research account
Save the visa pathways that apply to your occupation, compare them with regional opportunities and costs, and keep the questions you still need answered in one place.
General information only. Eligibility depends on your individual circumstances.
