Additional points for studying in regional Australia
Effective from 16 November 2019, ‘regional’ will be defined as any area excluding Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. An important change is that Perth and the Gold Coast are now classified as regional areas. Regional areas include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart, and Canberra.
To gain an additional 5 points, you must have at least one degree, diploma, or trade qualification from an Australian educational institution that meets the Australian study requirement, and this qualification must be obtained while living and studying in an eligible area of regional Australia.
To meet the Australian study requirement and be eligible for these points, your educational qualification must:
- Be obtained while living and studying at a campus located in one or more of the areas designated as regional Australia or a low population-growth metropolitan area.
- Not include any study undertaken through distance education.
This information applies when applying for the following skilled visas:
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – State and territory-nominated applicants via the Invited pathway
- Skilled Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887)
Regional Areas and Postcodes by State:
- New South Wales: Everywhere except Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, and Wollongong
- Postcodes: 2311 to 2312, 2328 to 2411, 2420 to 2490, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2594, 2618 to 2739, 2787 to 2898
- Northern Territory: Entire territory
- Postcodes: All postcodes
- Queensland: Everywhere except the greater Brisbane area and the Gold Coast
- Postcodes: 4124 to 4125, 4133, 4211, 4270 to 4272, 4275, 4280, 4285, 4287, 4307 to 4499, 4515, 4517 to 4519, 4522 to 4899
- South Australia: Entire state
- Postcodes: All postcodes
- Tasmania: Entire state
- Postcodes: All postcodes
- Victoria: Everywhere except the Melbourne metropolitan area
- Postcodes: 3211 to 3334, 3340 to 3424, 3430 to 3649, 3658 to 3749, 3753, 3756, 3758, 3762, 3764, 3778 to 3781, 3783, 3797, 3799, 3810 to 3909, 3921 to 3925, 3945 to 3974, 3979, 3981 to 3996
- Western Australia: Everywhere except Perth and surrounding areas
- Postcodes: 6041 to 6044, 6083 to 6084, 6121 to 6126, 6200 to 6799
If you would like assistance with applying for General Skilled Migration, you may want to book an appointment with one of our advisors. They can evaluate your eligibility and provide written advice on the most suitable migration pathways for your situation.