Regional Australia. Where is this?

Meanwhile, these regional visas include some “benefits” that are not allowed on other similar visas, such as Medicare, extra points, lower English level, or work experience requirements. As a result, such regional visas become the best solution for migrants who are ready to stay in the region.

Honestly, it is not so bad… Most locations of Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane) are classed as designated regional areas for migration purposes. It means, that even Canberra counts as a region.

The regional definition is comprised of 2 categories:

‘Cities and Major Regional Centres’ of Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart have access to the following regional incentives:

• Priority processing of regional visas
• Access to the Regional Occupations List – more jobs compared to non-regional lists
• International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access additional year in Australia on a post-study work visa

‘Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas’ will also have:

• access to the dedicated regional places and the Regional Occupations List,
• priority processing of regional visas
• International graduates with a bachelor or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution will be eligible to access an additional 2 years in Australia on a post-study work visa.

There is a special postcode list on Department’s website, to help applicants to determine designated regional arias.