Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa — Now Closed to New Applicants

Subclass 489 Visa – Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa Australia

⚠ Important Notice — Visa Closed to New Applications

The Subclass 489 Is Closed to New Applicants

The Subclass 489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa was closed to new applicants on 16 November 2019. It has been replaced by the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa, which provides a similar regional migration pathway with updated features, a five-year visa period, and a permanent residency pathway through the Subclass 191 instead of the Subclass 887.

If you are looking to apply for a new regional provisional visa, the Subclass 491 is the current pathway. You can learn more on our Subclass 491 page.

If you are an existing Subclass 489 holder — or if you are still waiting on a Subclass 489 application that was lodged before the November 2019 closure — this page is for you. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents continue to assist existing Subclass 489 holders with compliance advice, transitional planning, and Subclass 887 permanent residency applications.

Existing Subclass 489 Holder? Your Regional Journey Needs Expert Guidance

The Subclass 489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa was a four-year temporary visa designed to encourage skilled workers to live and work in regional and low-population-growth metropolitan areas of Australia. It was part of Australia's General Skilled Migration (GSM) program and operated under a points-tested system with two sponsorship pathways.

While no new Subclass 489 visas are being granted, thousands of holders remain within their visa period or are transitioning to the Subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa. The compliance questions, the updated 2025 remote work guidance on Condition 8579, and the Subclass 887 application requirements remain directly relevant today.

At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents assist existing Subclass 489 holders with compliance assessment, regional evidence preparation, and Subclass 887 permanent residency applications — ensuring the final stage of your regional migration journey is handled correctly.

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Regional Australia landscape representing the Subclass 489 Skilled Regional Provisional Visa regional commitment and pathway to permanent residency through Subclass 887

Migration Republic — Expert guidance for existing Subclass 489 holders navigating Condition 8579 compliance and the Subclass 887 permanent residency pathway

4 yrs

Visa Duration
Provisional regional visa

Minimum Points
Points-tested pathway

887

PR Pathway
Subclass 887 permanent visa

Visa Streams
State/Territory & Family

Visa Overview

What Was the Subclass 489 Visa?

Introduced as a way to address skills shortages outside Australia's major cities, the Subclass 489 required holders to live and work in a designated regional area for the duration of the visa. It came with Condition 8579 — which required holders to live, work, and study only in a designated regional area while in Australia. In exchange for this regional commitment, the Subclass 489 provided a pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa.

The Subclass 489 was closed to new applications from 16 November 2019 and replaced by the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa — replacing the Subclass 489 state/territory and family sponsored pathways — and the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa — replacing the former Subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme. Transitional arrangements were put in place for applications lodged before the closure and for existing holders whose pathway targeted the permanent Subclass 887 visa.

Key Features of the Subclass 489 Visa (Historical Reference)

Four-year provisional visa — live, work, and study in regional Australia
Points-tested — minimum 65 points required
Required state/territory sponsorship or eligible family sponsorship in a regional area
Condition 8579 — must live, work, and study in a designated regional area
Permanent residency pathway through the Subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa
Could be applied for from inside or outside Australia
Family members could be included in the application
Regional areas defined as everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane — Perth and Gold Coast were classified as regional
Closed to new applications on 16 November 2019 — replaced by the Subclass 491

Visa Streams

The Two Streams of the Subclass 489

Stream 1 — Government

State or Territory Sponsored Stream

For skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory government. The nominated occupation needed to be on the relevant skilled occupation list for that state or territory. State-sponsored stream holders have permanent residency requirements that vary depending on which state or territory nominated them and what their nomination conditions specified.

Stream 2 — Family

Family Sponsored Stream

For skilled workers sponsored by an eligible relative who was an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and who was living in a designated regional area of Australia. The applicable occupations list for the family sponsored stream was the same as for the Skilled Independent visa. Family-sponsored stream holders must have lived in a designated regional area for two years and worked full-time there for at least 12 months to qualify for the Subclass 887.

Who This Page Is For

Who Does This Page Apply To?

The Subclass 489 is no longer available to new applicants. However, there are several groups of people for whom understanding the Subclass 489 framework remains directly relevant in 2025 and 2026:

Existing Subclass 489 Holders Still Within Their Four-Year Visa Period

If you were granted a Subclass 489 before the November 2019 closure date, your visa remains valid for the full four-year period from the date of grant. If it has since expired and you have not yet applied for permanent residency, you may be on a Bridging Visa while completing your regional requirements or while your Subclass 887 application is being processed.

Subclass 489 Holders Approaching or Meeting Subclass 887 Eligibility

The permanent residency pathway for Subclass 489 holders is the Subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa — not the Subclass 191 that applies to Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 holders. If you are approaching eligibility, professional migration advice is strongly recommended before lodging.

Applicants Who Lodged a Subclass 489 Before the Closure and Are Still Waiting

Applications lodged before 16 November 2019 that were not finalised by the closure date continue to be processed under the transitional arrangements. If you submitted a Subclass 489 application before that cutoff and have not yet received a decision, your application is still being assessed and you remain in the processing pipeline.

People Researching the History of Regional Migration Pathways

Given the volume of searches for the Subclass 489, many people are researching the regional migration pathway framework — either because they are considering the current Subclass 491 and want to understand how it evolved, or because they are advising someone whose visa history includes a Subclass 489.

Visa Comparison

What the Subclass 489 Offered — And What Replaced It

Understanding what the Subclass 489 provided helps clarify how the current regional migration framework compares and what improvements were introduced when the Subclass 491 replaced it.

Closed — 16 Nov 2019

The Subclass 489 — Key Features

Four-year provisional visa (not five years like the Subclass 491)
Required state/territory sponsorship or eligible family sponsorship in a regional area
Points-tested — minimum 65 points required
Condition 8579 — must live, work, and study in a designated regional area
Permanent residency pathway through the Subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa
Could be applied for from inside or outside Australia
Family members could be included
Regional areas: everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane

Current — Active from 16 Nov 2019

The Subclass 491 — What Changed

Five-year provisional visa (extended from four years)
Same sponsorship model — state/territory government or eligible family member in a regional area
Age limit unchanged — under 45 at time of invitation
Updated points allocation — specifically 15 points for regional nomination/sponsorship (increased from 10 points for the 489)
Permanent residency pathway changed from Subclass 887 to Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)
Subclass 191 requires three years of regional work and meeting income thresholds
Condition 8579 remains — must live, work, and study in a designated regional area

The core concept is the same — regional commitment in exchange for a visa pathway — but the Subclass 491 offers a longer provisional period, updated points, and a different permanent residency mechanism.

Current Holders — 2025–26 Updates

For Existing Subclass 489 Holders — What You Need to Know in 2025–26

If you currently hold a Subclass 489 — or if your Subclass 489 has expired and you are on a Bridging Visa while pursuing permanent residency — there are several important developments in 2025–26 that directly affect your situation.

The Subclass 887 — Your Permanent Residency Pathway

Unlike Subclass 491 holders, who transition to permanent residency through the Subclass 191, Subclass 489 holders access permanent residency through the Subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa. The Subclass 887 remains open and available.

Visa Grant

Subclass 489

4-year provisional visa. Begin regional employment. Condition 8579 applies.

→

2 yrs residence + 12 mths work

Subclass 887 Eligible

Apply for permanent residency. No income threshold — but regional evidence required.

→

PR Granted

Subclass 887

Full permanent residency. No geographic restrictions. Live and work anywhere in Australia.

To qualify for the Subclass 887 from a Subclass 489, family-sponsored stream holders must have lived in a designated regional area of Australia for at least two years while holding the Subclass 489, and worked full-time in the designated regional area for at least 12 months while holding the Subclass 489. State-sponsored stream holders have requirements that vary depending on which state or territory nominated them, and what their nomination conditions specified. If you are approaching Subclass 887 eligibility and are unsure which requirements apply to your specific nomination, professional migration advice is strongly recommended before lodging.

Updated 2025 Policy — Condition 8579 and Remote Work

Updated Remote Work Guidance — Condition 8579 Clarified in 2025

One of the most practically significant updates for Subclass 489 holders in 2025 is the Department of Home Affairs' updated policy guidance on Condition 8579 and remote work. Released in 2025, this guidance clarifies how visa holders subject to Condition 8579 — including Subclass 489 holders — can meet their regional living and work requirements in the modern labour market.

✅ Compliant

Remote work is compliant with Condition 8579 when the visa holder maintains a primary residential address in a designated regional area and routinely performs their work duties from within that area — even if their employer is based in a metropolitan city or overseas.

✅ Compliant

Working from home in a regional area for a metropolitan-based employer is explicitly confirmed as compliant. Working remotely for an overseas employer is compliant, provided the remuneration is paid into an Australian bank account and income tax is payable in Australia.

✅ Compliant — Transport Workers

Transport workers — such as truck drivers or delivery drivers — may travel between regional and non-regional areas in the course of their duties without breaching Condition 8579, provided they live and primarily work in a designated regional area.

❌ Not Compliant

You will not meet Condition 8579 if you live in a regional area but frequently and routinely perform your work duties outside a designated regional area, or if your work duties are split between regional and metropolitan areas in a way that is regular and ongoing.

The Old 60/90 Day Guidelines Have Been ReplacedEarlier internal policy guidelines referenced arbitrary timeframes — no more than 60 consecutive days or 90 total days outside the regional area per year. These have now been replaced with the more practical standard of whether work duties are performed "frequently and routinely" outside the regional area. The question is no longer about counting days — it is about whether your primary work location is genuinely within the regional area.

What If Your Subclass 489 Has Expired?

If your Subclass 489 has expired and you have lodged a Subclass 887 application, you are likely on a Bridging Visa while the application is processed. During this bridging period, you must continue to comply with the conditions imposed on your Bridging Visa — including any continuation of Condition 8579. The requirement does not end when the provisional visa expires if you are still in the bridging phase before the permanent visa is granted. Non-compliance during the bridging period can result in refusal of the Subclass 887 even if your Subclass 489 period was compliant.

Document Checklist

Documents Required for the Subclass 887 from a Subclass 489

For Subclass 489 holders transitioning to the Subclass 887, the application requires evidence of regional residence and employment during the provisional visa period. The following documents are typically required:

Evidence of Regional Residence (Minimum Two Years)

Lease agreements or property ownership documents showing address in a designated regional area
Utility bills, council rates notices, or bank statements with regional address
Electoral roll registration confirming regional address
Medical and dental records from a regional provider

Evidence of Full-Time Regional Employment (Minimum 12 Months)

Employment contract confirming the regional location of the role
Employer reference letter on company letterhead describing the role, location, and employment dates
Payslips covering the relevant employment period
Tax returns and tax payment records confirming employment income
Superannuation statements

Compliance Evidence for Remote Workers

Employer letter confirming remote work arrangement and regional residential location
Evidence that remuneration was paid into an Australian bank account (for overseas employers)
Bank statements consistent with regional residence

Additional Documents

Valid passport and travel history records
Health examination results from a Department-approved panel physician
Police clearance certificates from all relevant countries
Identity documents for family members if included in the application

Bank Statements Can Work Against YouBank statements showing regular spending in Sydney or Melbourne, for example, could be used to challenge a claim of regional compliance. The Department assesses whether you have been in substantial compliance throughout your regional period — not just at the time of lodgement.

Migration agent preparing Subclass 887 permanent visa application for existing Subclass 489 Skilled Regional Provisional Visa holder

Complete, well-evidenced Subclass 887 applications — covering both regional residence and regional employment — are processed more efficiently and with greater confidence

How We Help

Our Visa Process for Existing Subclass 489 Holders

Compliance Assessment and Regional Period Review

We begin by reviewing your regional period in full — where you have been living, how you have been working, and whether your activities are consistent with Condition 8579 compliance under the updated 2025 policy guidance. We identify any gaps or risks before the Subclass 887 application is lodged, and advise on how to address them.

Remote Work and Employment Arrangement Assessment

For Subclass 489 holders who have been working remotely — whether for a metropolitan employer, an overseas employer, or through a contractor arrangement — we assess whether the arrangement is compliant with the updated Condition 8579 policy and what evidence will be needed to demonstrate that compliance to the Department.

Regional Evidence Preparation

We assist in compiling the complete set of regional residence and employment evidence required for the Subclass 887 application — ensuring that every document covers the right time periods, is properly dated and signed, and addresses exactly what the Department will look for when assessing the application.

Subclass 887 Application Lodgement

We prepare and lodge the complete Subclass 887 permanent visa application, ensuring all required evidence is included and the application is submitted correctly through the Department of Home Affairs.

Post-Lodgement Support

After lodgement, we monitor the application and respond to any requests for additional information. We also advise on Bridging Visa conditions during the processing period to ensure continued compliance with regional requirements where applicable.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still apply for a new Subclass 489 visa?

No. The Subclass 489 was permanently closed to new applications on 16 November 2019. If you are looking for a regional provisional visa today, the current pathway is the Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa — which replaced the Subclass 489 and offers similar regional migration benefits with a five-year validity period. We can assist with Subclass 491 applications on our dedicated page.

I already hold a Subclass 489 — what happens to my visa?

Your existing Subclass 489 remains valid for the full four-year period from your date of grant. Nothing about the closure of the program cancels existing grants. You continue to hold your visa and must continue to comply with Condition 8579 — living, working, and studying in your designated regional area. When you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for the Subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa as your permanent residency pathway.

What is the permanent visa pathway for Subclass 489 holders?

The permanent residency pathway for Subclass 489 holders is the Subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa. This is different from the Subclass 191 that applies to Subclass 491 holders. To qualify for the Subclass 887 from the family sponsored Subclass 489, you need to have lived in a designated regional area for two years and worked full-time there for at least 12 months while holding your Subclass 489.

Can I work remotely on my Subclass 489?

Yes — subject to the updated 2025 policy on Condition 8579. The Department of Home Affairs confirmed in 2025 that remote work is compliant with Condition 8579 when the visa holder lives in a designated regional area and routinely performs their work duties from within that area — even if the employer is based in a metropolitan city or overseas. The key test is whether your primary work location is genuinely within the regional area. Working weekly from a Sydney or Melbourne office would not be compliant, but working full-time from home in a regional area for a Sydney-based employer is now explicitly confirmed as compliant.

What evidence do I need to show regional compliance for my Subclass 887?

The Department will look for evidence of both regional residence — lease agreements, utility bills, bank statements with regional addresses — and regional employment — employment contracts, payslips, employer reference letters, and tax returns. For remote workers, employer letters confirming the remote arrangement and the regional location are particularly important. Bank statements that show regular spending patterns consistent with regional living will also be assessed.

My Subclass 489 has expired — am I still able to apply for the Subclass 887?

Yes — provided you have met the regional requirements during your Subclass 489 period and have not done anything that would disqualify you from the Subclass 887. If your Subclass 489 has expired and you have lodged a Subclass 887 application, you will likely be on a Bridging Visa while the application is processed. During the bridging period, you must continue to comply with any conditions attached to the Bridging Visa. Non-compliance during the bridging period can still result in Subclass 887 refusal even if your Subclass 489 period was compliant.

What is the difference between the Subclass 489 and the Subclass 491?

Both are regional provisional visas requiring state/territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship in a regional area, with a points test and Condition 8579. The key differences are: the Subclass 491 is valid for five years (the Subclass 489 was four years); the Subclass 491 transitions to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 (while the Subclass 489 transitions through the Subclass 887); and the points allocation for regional nomination/sponsorship is 15 points under the Subclass 491 (updated from the Subclass 489 framework). The Subclass 491 also explicitly updated the Condition 8579 regional area definition.

Why Migration Republic

Why Choose Migration Republic?

The Subclass 489 may be closed to new applicants, but it is very much alive for the thousands of people who still hold it or who are transitioning from it to the Subclass 887. The compliance questions, the remote work guidance, and the Subclass 887 application requirements are just as relevant today as they were during the Subclass 489's active years — and in some ways they are more complex, because the updated 2025 Condition 8579 policy applies to holders who may have made work arrangements years ago without the benefit of that guidance.

Our MARA-registered migration agents understand the Subclass 489 framework in detail — including how Condition 8579 has evolved, what the Department looks for when assessing regional compliance, and what evidence is needed to support a strong Subclass 887 application. We can also assess whether a Subclass 489 holder's compliance record is strong enough to support the Subclass 887 application, or whether there are risks that need to be addressed before lodgement.

If you are on a Subclass 489 and approaching your Subclass 887 eligibility — or if you are already on a Bridging Visa waiting for your Subclass 887 to be processed — we are here to make sure the final step of your regional migration journey is handled correctly.

Condition 8579 Compliance Expertise

We understand how Condition 8579 has evolved under the 2025 guidance and what the Department looks for when assessing remote work compliance — including for holders who made work arrangements years ago.

Transparent Process with Regular Updates

Experienced guidance for existing Subclass 489 holders and Subclass 887 applicants. Dedicated support through compliance assessment, evidence preparation, and visa lodgement.

Full Regional Journey Planning

From Subclass 489 compliance review through evidence compilation to Subclass 887 permanent residency application — we plan and support the complete final stage of your regional migration journey.

Already on a Subclass 489? We Can Help With Your Next Steps.

If you are an existing Subclass 489 holder, your regional journey is not finished — it is approaching its final stage. Whether you are still building your two-year regional residence period, approaching Subclass 887 eligibility, concerned about remote work compliance, or already on a Bridging Visa waiting for your permanent residency to be decided — the quality of the advice and application support you receive at this stage directly determines the outcome. The Subclass 887 is not automatic. It requires demonstrated compliance with Condition 8579, properly documented regional residence and employment, and a correctly prepared application. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents are here to assess your situation, review your compliance record, prepare the right evidence, and support you through every step of the Subclass 887 application — so that the permanent residency you have worked toward in regional Australia is secured with confidence.

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