The Morrison Government has stepped up its commitment to regional Australia by ensuring our migration system encourages skilled migrants to live and work in our smaller cities and regions.
In March this year, the Government announced it would reduce the permanent migration cap from 190,000 to 160,000 places, and within that set aside 23,000 places for regional visas.
The biggest news is that Perth and the Gold Coast will no longer be classified as major cities, ensuring they remain an attractive destination for skilled migrants and international students.
The new definition of Regional Australia will come into effect on the 16th of November.
Locations outside of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane will have access to the 25,000 visa places, priority processing and international university graduates who live in these locations will be eligible to apply for more time in Australia on a post-study work visa.
The new system is a key pillar of the Government’s Population Plan. It will ease the pressures in our three largest capital cities, while providing incentives for migrants to live and work in regional Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “We’re using our migration programme to back our regions to grow to take the population pressure off our major capital cities and by supporting strong regions we’re creating an even stronger economy for Australia.
“Almost 70 per cent of our population growth in recent years has been into Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, increasing the pressures being felt across our major cities,” Minister Tudge said.
Migration definitions
| Definition | Locations | Regional Incentives |
| Major Cities | Sydney Melbourne Brisbane | N/a |
| Cities and major regional centres | Perth Adelaide Gold Coast Sunshine Coast Canberra Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Wollongong/Illawarra Geelong Hobart | – Access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places. – Priority processing on regional visas. – Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International students studying at regional universities will be eligible to access an additional year in Australia on a post- study work visa. |
| Regional centres and other regional areas | All other locations | – Access to the dedicated 25,000 regional places. – Priority processing on regional visas. – Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists. – International students studying atregional universities will be eligible to access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa. – Priority in negotiating region- specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs). |
If you are looking for more information surrounding your visa options, please get in touch for an initial free consultation with one of our migration agents here.
Original press release published here.