News reaches us that the definition of the postcoded regional areas in Qld for the purpose of a subclass 489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa is to be changed in the near future.

This is likely to remove locations on the Sunshine Coast as a place where subclass 489 visa holders will be permitted to live and work.

The new postcodes in Qld where a subclass 489 visa holder will be permitted to live and work are expected to be 4350 to 4498, 4570, and 4580 to 4899.

Intending subclass 489 visa applicants who want to live close to the Sunshine Coast may therefore want to consider Hervey Bay, Maryborough, and Gympie as possible places to live.

Technical note: State and Territory sponsored subclass 489 visas have condition 8539 attaching. This condition requires the visa holder to live and work in a regional area of Australia, as defined.

Compliance with condition 8539 is checked by the Department of Immigration when a permanent residency visa application under subclass 887 is being assessed.