Pros and Cons of the New Regional Visas of Australia

Are you planning to move to Australia? If so, here is good news with the new regional visas of Australia. There are two immigration routes to live and work in a regional area. If the requirements are met, then the door opens to obtain permanent residence. After a few years, you can also apply for citizenship. If you want to live, work and study in Australia with your family, look for Visa 491. Applying by yourself increases the risk of refusal, so it is best to engage an experienced migration agent like Work Visa Lawyers. We assist you with the right kind of information and help you to get the visa as quickly as possible. Here are the pros and cons of the new regional visas of Australia. 

The two new visas:

1.     Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional): Subclass 494

This visa is aimed at skilled workers sponsored by an employer from a regional area of Australia. You will be eligible if you are nominated by an approved work sponsor and have the relevant occupational skills.

2.               Skilled Work Regional (Provisional): Subclass 491

If you are skilled in work and want to stay and work in Australian regional areas, look for the subclass 491 visa. It allows you to live, work and study in Australia for five years. To be eligible, you must be nominated by an Australian state or territory or sponsored by a family member who lives in Australia.

The pros

·        The government has simplified the definition of regional Australia. Except for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, all other parts of Australia are classed as regional Australia for migration purposes.

·        This means skilled migrants can settle in satellite cities such as Wollongong, Geelong or Newcastle, near Sydney or Melbourne. Other options include Gold Coast, which is an hour’s drive from Brisbane.

·        Migration agents say that these satellite cities will benefit the most from the new changes, while the migrants get exposed to different cultures and opportunities.

·        Regional visa holders are eligible for Medicare and can enjoy free access to medical facilities.

·        Children of regional visa holders will get a free public education. Free education for children and free medical facilities lowers the cost of living in Australia significantly.

·        International students who graduated from a regional university will get an extra year on their post-study work permit. In addition, certain international students are eligible for two additional years.

·        The main benefit of applying for a new Regional visa of Australia is that the visa holder who completed their stay for three years in Australia is eligible to apply for Australian permanent residence (PR).

Cons:

·        The Australian government has included some critical rules in the visa policy that is mandatory for those who want to get Australian PR.

·        As a regional visa holder, you must earn a minimum of AUD 53,900 a year for three consecutive years to meet the income threshold criteria.

·        Also, there is an issue that the skilled migrants aren't able to find the relevant jobs that they are searching for in the regional area.

·        Researchers say the employees without relevant work experience may face trouble finding the job they want.

Wrapping it up

If you have any doubts regarding the 491 South Australia application process, speak with an experienced immigration lawyer or migration agent at Work Visa Lawyers. We will make your visa process hassles free, and you will have peace of mind.