For those looking for an opportunity to live and work in Australia, the state of New South Wales has revised the list of occupations that are eligible for temporary migration to the state’s regional areas.
The regional visa aspirants may apply for the skilled regional nominated (489) visa that allows visa holders to live and work in regional areas for up to four years.
The visa provides a pathway to permanent residency in Australia. To be eligible to apply for a permanent resident’s visa, an applicant must have lived for at least two years and worked for at least one year in a specified region of NSW.
Seven different regions of the state that participate in this visa program are Far South Coast, Mid North Coast, Murray, Northern Inland, Orana, Riverina and Southern Inland that deliver the 489 visa program in partnership with the state’s department of industry.
Though the participating regions determine their own list of eligible occupations and any additional eligibility criteria, the overall regional skilled occupation list is prepared by the department in consultation with the regions keeping in mind the needs of the regions.
Applicants are required to submit an expression of interest via the immigration department’s SkillSelect and apply to the relevant NSW regional authority for a nomination. Once the nomination has been approved, applicants can then apply to the Immigration Department for a visa.
An official of the state’s Department of Industry advised that the occupation list may change at any time without prior notice and that applicants should contact the specific regions to check whether any additional requirements apply to them.
