The Department of Home Affairs has recently announced a new policy objective for the Australian migration program. The new policy aims to encourage regional migration with new Regional Visas that lead to easier Permanent Residency outcomes. Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, David Coleman, outlined announced the changes in a media release. Minister Coleman noted that the primary population growth (roughly 70%) has occurred in just three cities, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Recent debates about Australia’s growing population has brought several issues to the policy forefront including how Australia manages regional and urban disparity and infrastructure upkeep in line with migration rates. The new policy aims to encourage settlement of skilled migrants in regional areas. Regional migration is targeted at alleviating population growth in capital cities and help address skills shortages in regional centres. 

The Government has opened up 25,000 places in this years’ migration program for migrants who are willing to commit to living and working in regional Australia. The new visas being introduced into the Australian migration program are the 491 Visa and 494 Visa. These visas have replaced the former 489 Visa and 187 Visa respectively. There are a number of changes with the introduction of the 491 Visa and 494 Visa. The key difference is that migrants are now required to live and work in a regional area to meet the eligibility criteria for Permanent Residency. Previously, 187 Visa applicants were immediately given Permanent Residency if they could meet the eligibility criteria. Other changes include: 

• An extra 5 points awarded for regional nomination (from 10 points to 15 points) (see General Skilled Visas for information about the points system); 
• Enhanced occupation lists; and
• Pathway to permanent residency for Employer Sponsored Visas, without being tied to the employer for the permanent stage (see Employer Sponsored Visas for more information).

There have been few changes to the 489 Visa, except that migrants will now be awarded further points for regional migration. This means that individuals who were not previously eligible for the 489 Visa, may now be eligible for the 491 Visa.