If you were planning to use the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) as your pathway to regional Australia, you need to know this upfront: the invited pathway is closed to new applications. That changes your planning significantly, so read on before you spend time gathering documents.
The subclass 489 was designed for skilled workers who wanted to live and work in regional Australia. It was a temporary visa — but with a valuable feature: if you were granted one, you might have been able to apply for the Skilled Regional (Permanent) visa (subclass 887) afterwards. That permanent residency pathway made the 489 attractive for many Filipinos eyeing a regional route to PR.
What the three pathways actually mean
The subclass 489 had three distinct pathways, and their status differs — so it matters which one applies to your situation.
- Invited pathway — This is the main entry route for new skilled applicants. It is now closed to new applications. If you have not yet applied, this door is shut.
- Extended stay pathway — This is for skilled workers who already hold a subclass 475, 487, 495, or 496 visa and want to extend their stay in regional Australia. The stay granted is 4 years from the date your current skilled visa was granted. You must live, work, and study in specified regional areas of Australia.
- Subsequent entry pathway — This is for family members of someone who already holds a subclass 489, 475, 487, 495, or 496 visa. Your stay lasts until the visa your family member holds ends. You must also live, work, and study in specified regional areas of Australia.
If you already hold a qualifying visa
If you currently hold a subclass 475, 487, 495, or 496 visa, the extended stay pathway may still be relevant to you. Likewise, if your spouse or a close family member holds one of those visas — or a subclass 489 — the subsequent entry pathway could apply to your situation. These are the two scenarios where the subclass 489 still has practical meaning in 2024.
The subclass 489 invited pathway is closed to new applications — but if you hold a qualifying visa, two other pathways remain available.
Processing times and costs
The source page does not specify exact processing times or visa costs at the time of writing. The Department of Home Affairs directs applicants to its visa processing time guide tool for an indication of recently decided applications — and notes clearly that the tool is a guide only, not specific to your application.
What to do now
If you were counting on the subclass 489 invited pathway, you will need to explore alternative skilled migration routes. The closure of this visa is a real shift in the regional skilled migration landscape, and the right next step depends heavily on your occupation, your points score, your English level, and whether you have a state or territory nomination. This gets tricky quickly — which is exactly why talking to a registered migration agent before you commit to any pathway is worth the investment.
The page was last updated on 23 September 2024.
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First published by the Department of Home Affairs — Immigration and citizenship Website. Read the full source at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-regional-provisional-489
This is general information, not migration advice. For your specific case, consult a MARA-registered agent — find one in our directory.
