Australia Subclass 489 Visa

The Australian Subclass 489 visa is a temporary option for skilled workers who want to live in Australia. However, it's not easy to secure this visa as the applicant has to meet various requirements before applying.

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What is Subclass 489 Visa?

The 489 Skilled Regional Visa, popularly known as Subclass 489 visa, is a temporary visa. It allows skilled workers or skilled migrants to work and live in Australia.

Please remember that subclass 489 has been recently closed by the Australian government. It has been replaced by subclass 491 visa (Skilled Work Regional Provisional Visa Subclass 491) effective from 16 November 2019.

Subclass 489 visa category is specially designed for applicants who possess

skills,
abilities, and
experience

These factors have to be in demand in specified regional areas/territories or some specific states of Australia.

Eligibility requirements of the Subclass 489 Visa

In order to be eligible to apply for a Subclass 489 Provisional Visa in Australia, you must fulfil the following conditions to satisfy the immigration law:

Your age has to be under 44 years.
Have relevant work experience in any of the nominated occupations in the eligible Skilled Occupation list in Australia.
You have to score a minimum of 65 points on the Australia Points Test System designed for immigration.
You must obtain a positive skills assessment from a relevant assessing authority.
You must possess experience that meets the state or territory requirements.
You must have the required level of English Proficiency from IELTS
You have to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
You must have an application for State Sponsorship
You need to meet the minimum health and character requirements to get a positive Police Clearance Report
You must live in a sponsoring regional area or state for 2 years after the visa is issued

The Subclass 489 visa is a four-year provisional visa that requires you to live in a regional area for at least two years and work full time (minimum 35 hours a week) for at least 12 months, before you become eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Documentation requirements of the Subclass 489 Visa

1. Passport

You need to enter your passport details along with your online visa application form. Be cautious while providing details like your passport number, date of issue, date of expiry, place of issue etc.

2. Proof of Identity and Civil Status

You can submit the following identity proofs.

Passport,
PAN Card,
Birth Certificate,
Voter ID Card and
Aadhar Card

3. Documents related to Work Experience

Following documents are considered as great evidence of your professional credentials –

Experience Letter from your present or previous employer
Reference Letter from your current or previous employer
Appointment Letter(s)
Relieving Letter from your previous employer
Salary slips from recent time
Membership with a recognized professional organization

4. Educational Qualification Documents

You also have to furnish the copies of your

degrees/diplomas,
certificates,
mark sheets and
transcripts

These will establish your educational qualification when you apply for a Skilled regional provisional Visa.

5. Language Proficiency Proof

Proof of English language proficiency is required to be submitted along with your visa application. IELTS score is the best to serve the purpose as it is preferred by immigration authorities across the world. A minimum score of 6 in each section is recommended.

6. Proof of Marriage and Dependent Child

A marriage certificate is enough to establish your relationship with your spouse and serve as proof of him/her being an eligible relative. You can also bring a dependent child if you have proper proof.

7. Medical Report

You have to take a medical examination at an approved clinic or hospital to obtain such a certificate

8. Police Clearance Certificate

The Subclass 489 Skilled Regional Provisional Visa applicant also needs to produce a Police Clearance Certificate from his/her home country. This certificate must not be older than 6 months from the date of visa application.

Application Process for the Subclass 489 Visa

You will have 60 days to apply for your subclass 489 provisional visa from the date of receiving an invitation.

We are mentioning the step-by-step guide to make you understand the application process.

Log into your Skill Select account.
Then press the ‘Apply for Visa’ button.
Now, you will be asked to create an ImmiAccount. Remember that the username and password of your ImmiAccount should be different from your Skill Select account.
Fill in the details in the required fields and attach the scanned images of your documents.
You will be directed to pay the visa application fees.
Do not forget to note down the Transaction Reference Number after successful payment. You may need this transaction ID/number for future references.
After submitting the visa application, you cannot check the status of your application but keep an eye on your email for any sort of communication.

Cost involved in the Subclass 489 Visa

The cost of Subclass 489 is variable and it depends on the pathway that the applicant has taken.

Here is a chart that explains the cost for each pathway :

Visa Application Charges

Visa Application Type	Charges
Invited Pathway	AUD 4,115
Extended Pathway	AUD 360
Subsequent Entry Pathway (Family Member – Extended Stay)	AUD 360
Subsequent Entry Pathway (Family Member – Invited Pathway)	AUD 4,115

This chart mentions only flat rates. You may have to bear additional costs to cover expenses for health assessment, biometrics, and police certification.

You can take the help of this Visa Pricing Estimator to have a better idea of the pricing for several types of Australian visas.

Processing Time for the Subclass 489 Visa

The Skilled Regional Provisional Visa or Subclass 489 is a temporary visa that allows skilled professionals to work and live in Australia. This visa comes with three different pathways that enable temporary 489 visa holders to secure permanent residence in Australia for up to 4 years with help of a state/territory/family sponsorship.

Here are the pathways and approximate processing time for each of them :

Invited Pathway (applicants nominated by state/territory/eligible relative to apply for the visa): 75% of the applications take 19 months while 90% applications take around 24 months. The processing time here includes the time required for Territory/State Nomination as well as Family-Sponsored streams.
Extended Stay Pathway (visa holders of subclass 475, 495, 487 or 496 visa): There is no standard processing time for this pathway.
Subsequent Entry Pathway (applicant’s eligible relative living in Australia and already holding 489, 475, 495, 487 or 496 visa): This type of visa application does not come with any standard processing time.

How Can The Gydance Help?

The Gydance is your go-to solution for visa and immigration services in Pakistan. We don’t just say it—we have the experience to back it up, having served over 20,000 customers with 3,000+ active cases.

Our Key Services:

Visit Visa: Travel for leisure or business anywhere in the world with The Gydance.
Study Visa: Study at globally recognized universities!
Work Visa: Work and settle in the world’s best cities.
Immigration Services: One-stop solution for all your immigration needs.
Permanent Residence: Secure PR and enjoy special benefits.

Customized Services:

Profile Evaluation: We assess your unique profile and match it with visa eligibility requirements, advising on the best visa options.
Resume Writing: We help create standout resumes tailored for immigration authorities.
Document Procurement: Assistance in arranging all necessary documents before applying for a visa.
Professional Guidance: From interview training, language courses (English/French), to templates for resumes and cover letters, we support you throughout.
Dedicated Case Officer: Personal assistance and a single point of contact for seamless communication.
Post-Landing Services: We assist you with settling down in your new country after you receive your visa, with services customized to your needs.

Expect comprehensive support from profile evaluation to post-visa services with The Gydance. If you’re unsure about your application process, feel free to contact us at info@thegydance.com.

Other Important FAQS

What facilities do you get with a Subclass 189 visa?

With Subclass 489 visa, the applicant can:

Stay in Australia for a time span of 4 years at a stretch
Work/study and live in any specified territory of Australia
Travel to and from Australia as many times as he/she wants to, provided the visa is valid
Travel with family (children and dependants)
Opportunity to apply for Australian citizenship

Can I apply for Permanent Residency (PR) from 489 Visa Subclass?

The 489 visa subclass is a 4-year provisional visa that entitles you to live in a specified regional area in Australia for a maximum of 4 years. It also allows you to work full time for a minimum period of 12 months. You are allowed to convert your subclass 489 visa into a Permanent Residence Visa only when you fulfil the following requirements:

You have a valid subclass 489 visa
You have stayed in a specific Australian region for at least 2 years
You have full-time work experience for a minimum of one year
You fulfill the health and character requirements set by the authority
You have enough funds to repay your debts (if any) to the Australian government