Are you wishing to work and live in Australia? The Australian Government is providing you a pathway to work and live temporarily peacefully through the Skilled Regional Provisional Visa, under Subclass 489.
This visa is now closed for new applications, but it’s still valid for many people:
- who already hold a 489 visa,
- and wish to settle permanently through the Subclass 887 visa,
- Or need help understanding visa rules and documents.
Let’s break it all down in a super simple way.
🌟 What Was the 489 Visa?
The 489 visa allowed skilled workers to live temporarily:
- It lets you live, work, and study in regional areas, outside the major cities of Australia.
- Bring family members,
- Later, you can apply for PR through other visas, such as Subclass 887.
👨👩👧👦 How You Could Get It:
- Be nominated by a state/territory,
- Or be sponsored by a family member living in a regional area.
✅ Who Could Apply?
To get this visa, you needed to:
- Be under 45 years old
- Need to do the job which is listed on the Skilled Occupation List
- Pass a skills assessment
- You need to aim a minimum of 65 points on the points system
- Meet English requirements (IELTS score of 6 in each section or similar)
- Get nominated or sponsored
- Pass health and police checks
🎯 How the Points System Worked
You needed points to demonstrate your skill. Here’s how they were counted:
| What It’s Based On | Points Given |
|---|---|
| Your age | Up to 30 |
| English level | Up to 20 |
| Work experience | Up to 20 |
| Education qualifications | Up to 20 |
| Partner skills or study | Up to 10 |
| Regional nomination/sponsor | 10–15 |
👉 You needed 65 points or more to apply. The higher, the better.
🪜 Step-by-Step: How It Was Done
- Check your job on the skilled list.
- Get a skills assessment from the right authority.
- Take an English test such as IELTS or PTE, etc.
- Submit an EOI online.
- Get nominated by a state or sponsored by a family.
- Receive an invitation to apply.
- Apply for the visa online.
- Do health and police checks.
- Wait for the decision.
- If approved — move to regional Australia!
📋 What Documents Were Needed?
Here’s a list of documents you had to prepare:
👤 Personal:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if married)
💼 Skills & Work:
- Skills assessment result
- Job reference letters
- Pay slips or tax documents
🎓 Education:
- Degree or diploma certificates
- Transcripts (grades)
🗣️ English Proof:
- IELTS/PTE/TOEFL test result
👪 Sponsorship:
- State nomination letter
- Or proof of relationship with the sponsoring relative
✅ Health & Police:
- Medical reports
- Police clearance from countries you lived in
💵 Visa Fees and Time
| Applicant Type | Fee (Approx. in AUD) |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | $4,115 |
| Adult family member | $2,055 |
| Child under 18 | $1,030 |
⏱️ How Long It Took:
Usually between 9 to 14 months, but this depended on the case.
💰 How Much Money to Show
| Your Family Size | Suggested Funds |
|---|---|
| Just you | $20,000 |
| You + partner | $30,000 |
| You + partner + 1 child | $35,000–$40,000 |
👉 You could show this money through bank statements, savings, or fixed deposits.
🎁 What Were the Good Things?
- ✅ Live in safe, less crowded regional areas
- ✅ Work and study freely
- ✅ Bring your family
- ✅ Travel in and out of Australia
- ✅ Apply for PR later (through visa 887)
⚠️ What Were the Limits?
- ❌ You had to stay in regional areas
- ❌ Couldn’t move to big cities until you got PR
- ❌ Limited access to some benefits
- ❌ Needed to live in the region for 2 years + work full-time for 12 months before applying for PR
🌐 Important Links and Contact
- Visa Info: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- NSW: nsw.gov.au
- SA: migration.sa.gov.au
- QLD: migration.qld.gov.au
Need help? Connect with a Trusted Immigration Consultancy Services: Visas Abroad
📞 Call: +91 9990744666
📧 Email: info@VisasAbroad.com
📂 Sample Document Formats
Skills Assessment Letter
Work Reference
❓ Most Commonly Asked Questions
Q: Am I eligible to get PR if I hold 489 visa?
Yes! You can get PR through an 887 visa if you have lived in a regional area for 2 years and worked full-time for 1 year.
Q: Can my partner also work?
Yes, your partner and family can also work and study.
Q: What if I move to the city before getting PR?
That could affect your PR eligibility. Always follow visa rules.
💬 Expert Tips
📝 “Keep all documents like payslips, leases, and tax records — they’ll be needed when you apply for PR.”
– Registered Migration Agent
📍 “Stay in the regional area for at least 2 years and work full-time for 12 months — that’s key to your PR.”
– Visa Consultant
📈 “Choose your occupation and state wisely. It can impact how fast you get invited.”
– Skilled Migration Advisor
✅ Final Thoughts
The 489 visa helped thousands of people start their Australian journey. If you already have this visa, make sure to:
- Follow all visa conditions,
- Prepare all your documents,
- whenever you are eligible then apply for an 887 visa.
Need help? It’s always a good idea to speak to a registered migration agent. Your Trusted Immigration Consultant Services: Visas Abroad