From 16 November 2019 the direct entry stream visa will be closed to new applications.
This visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia. It allows you to work in Australia under one of two streams:
- the Temporary Residence Transition stream
- the Direct Entry stream.
Eligibility
You must:
- be nominated by an approved Australian employer for a job in regional Australia
- be under 45 years of age
- meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements
- meet the other requirements of one of the streams of this visa.
Length of stay
- Permanently
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
This stream may be available if your employer wishes to sponsor you for permanent residence.
You may be eligible under this stream if you are the holder of a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) or a Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) (not granted under labour agreement arrangements) or a related associated Bridging visa and you have worked for your employer for at least:
- three out of the previous four years (before the nomination is made) in the same position that they have nominated you for or
- two out of the previous three years before the nomination is made, if transitional arrangements apply because you either held, or were an applicant for, a subclass 457 visa (which was subsequently granted) on 18 April 2017.
Direct Entry (DE) stream
If you do not meet the requirements under the TRT stream (for example, because you have never, or only briefly worked in Australia), this stream may then be available if your employer still wishes to sponsor you for permanent residence.
Eligibility – All streams
Who could get this visa
You might be able to get this visa if you:
- have been nominated by an Australian employer in regional Australia and this nomination has been approved within six months before you apply – see Employers
- are under the age of 45 years at the time of application
- at time of application lodgement, have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for – including holding (or being eligible for) any mandatory registration, license or professional membership
- at time of application lodgement, have appropriate English language skills
- meet health and character requirements
- meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply.
Nomination
You can apply for this visa only after you have been nominated by your employer in Australia. You must lodge your application within six months of the nomination being approved. You must apply for the visa in the stream and occupation in which your employer nominated you, or your application could be refused.
Age
Even if you older than 45 years of age, you can still apply for this visa in certain circumstances
Important: you may also be able to apply for a visa under the TRT stream if you are over 45 years of age but under 50, if transitional arrangements apply because you either held, or were an applicant for, a subclass 457 visa (which was subsequently granted) on 18 April 2017.
English language requirements
You can show that your English is adequate by providing evidence at the time of application
Skills, qualifications and experience
You must have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for
Important: These requirements are different depending on the stream that you are nominated for.
