It is a points-based visa for overseas skilled workers sponsored by:

• a designated regional area of an Australian state or territory (intended to be any part of Australia excluding Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne) , or an eligible family member residing in a designated regional area of Australia

Designated regional area

For this stream, the applicant has to satisfy additional State requirements. As each State has its own occupation list, they can impose additional requirements such as a high level of English proficiency for specific occupations or work experience in your occupation to qualify.

Regional visa holders can live and work in any designated regional area and can move between designated regional areas.

Eligible Family Member

To be eligible, the sponsor must be:

• 18 years old or older
• usually resident in a designated area of Australia
• be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen
• be your or your partner’s eligible relative
  
  

An eligible relative can be:

• a parent
• a child or step-child
• a brother, sister, adoptive brother, adoptive sister, step-brother or step-sister
• an aunt, uncle, adoptive aunt, adoptive uncle, step-aunt or step-uncle
• a nephew, niece, adoptive nephew, adoptive niece, step-nephew or step-niece
• a grandparent, or
• a first cousin