To attract skilled migrants, the Australian government has declared Perth and Gold Coast as new regional areas. With
this new addition, the list of regional areas now includes Gold Coast, Perth, Canberra, Sunshine Coast, Lake
Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, and Hobart. The change will bring more international
students and skilled workers to Gold Coast and Perth and is expected to boost economic growth.
Skilled workers trying to apply for regional visas, such as Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) and Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494), are likely to get significant benefits.
International students can also get an extra 5 points in the Skilled visa points grid for studying in a regional area
and an extra one year for the graduate 485 visa.
Australian areas fall under the following three categories:
Category 1:
‘Major Cities’ of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane do not receive any regional incentives
Category 2:
‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake
Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong, and Hobart
Category 3: ‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’
Considering the new change, the Temporary Graduate Visa (TGV) holders (post-study workstream) who have completed
their graduation from a regional educational institution and have lived in regional Australia on their first TGV are
eligible for a second TGV.
International graduates who have studied and lived in Cities and Major Regional Centres of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold
Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong, and Hobart may be eligible
for an additional year on a second
Temporary Graduate visa
International graduates who have studied and lived in regional Centres and Other Regional Areas may also be eligible
for an additional two years on a second Temporary Graduate visa.
As more students will come to study and live (post-study) in these regional areas, the diversity and prosperity in
regional Australia will flourish.
The change will not only boost the economy of these regional areas, but at the same time, it will help in reducing
infrastructure pressures in the major cities.
Top Universities in these Perth and Gold Coast Regions:
- Griffith University
- Southern Cross University
- Curtin University
- Edith Cowan University
These are some of the most prestigious universities in the country, offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate
courses to international students. They also have excellent scholarship opportunities available for international
students.
If you need more information about studying in regional universities and making the
PR pathway easier, you should
consult a professional education and
migration specialist at PFEC
Global. We have helped hundreds of students in achieving their dreams. Please reach out to us at 01730785457 or 096 09 800 300 for more details.