3 new regional visas have been introduced for the subclass 491 visa as well as the existing General Skilled Migration visas. 

According to the Federal Government, there will be 23,000 extra regional visa spots where skilled workers will be eligible to apply for permanent residency after living and working in regional Australia for three years. 

Under the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019, the government introduced New Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa, New Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa, and New Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) visa. 

While the first two new visas will be available from 16 November 2019, the last Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa will be available for application three years after, from 16 November 2022. 

The previous Subclass 489 visa will be closed and superseded by the new Subclass 491, and the Subclass 187 visa will also be closed and superseded by Subclass 494. 

The new regional provisional visas will include all areas of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. 

In addition, working holiday maker visa holders will be eligible to apply for a third visa from 1 July 2019.

Working holiday maker either on their second Working Holiday (subclass 217) visa or Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa may be eligible to apply for a third visa once they carry out 6 months of specified work in regional areas. 

The 6 months of work must commence from 1 July 2019, and applications can be lodged from January 2020. 

Eligible types of work and regional areas for the third visa will be the same with the requirements for the second visa. 

More information on the new Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019 can be viewed here: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2019L00578/Explanatory%20Statement/Text?fbclid=IwAR0Z3Vnz859DorJrgQcr6aLQgJI7EpcifDqsMKm5YdwZimy8B2ccA1CfIwk 

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