Can I Move to a Different Region on a Regional Visa (SC491 or SC494)?

Regional visa pathways are a popular choice for individuals looking to live and work in regional areas of Australia. These visas often come with specific geographic conditions and commitments, but one may be considering whether they can move to a different region after their regional visa is granted.

Australia has several regional visa options, such as the:

Can You Relocate to a Different Region?

The short answer is that it depends on your specific visa subclass and the conditions.

Most regional visas require "living, working, and studying " for a specified period in a designated regional area. This is often important to meet the residency requirements for the Skilled Regional Visa (subclass 191). Hence, moving to a different region may be restricted.

Moving within regional areas (e.g., from one regional town to another within the same state) is possible, but relocating to a non-regional or major city (such as Sydney or Melbourne) could breach your visa conditions and affect your immigration status, such as causing a visa cancellation or future visa options.

What Happens After the Subclass 191 is Granted?

Once granted the SC191 permanent visa, you are no longer limited to regional areas. You can choose to live anywhere in Australia, including major cities, without breaching visa conditions.

What if I Want to Move Sooner?

Relocating from a regional area to a major city (like Sydney or Melbourne) often breaches the conditions of regional visas if those conditions specify regional residency. However, suppose you wish to relocate to a non-regional area. In that case, you might need to apply for a different visa, such as a general skilled visa (subclass 189 or 190), or speak with an immigration lawyer to discuss a suitable pathway to meet your circumstances.

How Can Agape Henry Crux Help

Consider speaking with one of our immigration lawyers at Agape Henry Crux. The team work closely with two of our Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law. They will be able to assist you in exploring the best options to meet your visa goals. To seek professional advice on your next visa pathway, you may schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers or agents by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing us at info@ahclawyers.com.

We speak fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese. If this isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.

This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.

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