Regional and Agriculture Visas
Overview
Australia offers visa pathways for people who want to live and work outside the major cities. Most places outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are designated regional areas for migration purposes. The 2026–27 Migration Program includes 14,110 regional places.
Designated Regional Areas
- Category 2 (Cities and Major Regional Centres): Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Wollongong and Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart.
- Category 3 (Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas): all other regional areas.
Regional areas offer priority processing of regional visas and an extra year (Category 2) or two years (Category 3) of post-study work rights for eligible graduates of a regional campus.
Skilled Regional Visas
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491): for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory, or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area.
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494): for workers sponsored by an employer in a designated regional area.
- Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191): for holders of a 491 or 494 visa who have held it for at least 3 years and meet the income and compliance requirements.
Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM)
The PALM stream of the subclass 403 visa lets citizens of participating Pacific countries and Timor-Leste work for approved Australian employers, including in agriculture. Workers must be recruited and approved through the scheme.
Other agriculture visa arrangements change over time, so check the current status with the Department of Home Affairs before relying on them.
Closed Visas
The Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) is closed to new invited applications. Most people now apply for the subclass 491 instead.
Speak With Our Team
Every situation is different. Contact Sydney Migration Agents for advice from a registered migration agent about your options.
- Phone: (02) 5550 1234
- Email: hello@sydneymigration.example
- Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Visa and Migration
Check Official Sources
Visa rules, fees and income thresholds change regularly, usually on 1 July. Always confirm current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs before you apply.
Book a Consultation
Talk to a Registered Migration Agent
We’ll review your situation, explain your visa options and give you a fixed-fee quote before you commit.
