Designated Regional Areas

Overview 

The Department of Home Affairs classified Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as designated regional areas for migration purposes.

There are 2 categories in Designated regional areas and provides the following incentives for skilled migrants:

Category 2 – Cities and Major Regional Centres

This category includes Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong and Hobart that 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

Category 3 – Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas

This category will have access to the dedicated 11,200 regional places, priority processing and the Reginal Occupations List. Category 3 also includes additional incentives such as:

  • 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.

  • Priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs)

Postcode list

State or TerritoryCategoryPostcodes
New South WalesCities and major regional centres2259, 2264 to 2308, 2500 to 2526, 2528 to 2535 and 2574
New South WalesRegional centres and other regional areas2250 to 2258, 2260 to 2263, 2311 to 2490, 2527, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2739, 2753 to 2754, 2756 to 2758 and 2773 to 2898
VictoriaCities and major regional centres3211 to 3232, 3235, 3240, 3328, 3330 to 3333, 3340 and 3342
VictoriaRegional centres and other regional areas3097 to 3099, 3139, 3233 to 3234, 3236 to 3239, 3241 to 3325, 3329, 3334, 3341, 3345 to 3424, 3430 to 3799, 3809 to 3909, 3912 to 3971 and 3978 to 3996
QueenslandCities and major regional centres4207 to 4275, 4517 to 4519, 4550 to 4551, 4553 to 4562, 4564 to 4569 and 4571 to 4575
QueenslandRegional centres and other regional areas4124 to 4125, 4133, 4183 to 4184, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4552, 4563, 4570 and 4580 to 4895
Western AustraliaCities and major regional centres6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 6558
Western AustraliaRegional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in Western Australia not mentioned in 'Cities and major regional centres' category above
South AustraliaCities and major regional centres5000 to 5171, 5173 to 5174, 5231 to 5235, 5240 to 5252, 5351 and 5950 to 5960
South AustraliaRegional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in South Australia not mentioned in 'Cities and major regional centres' category above
TasmaniaCities and major regional centres7000, 7004 to 7026, 7030 to 7109, 7140 to 7151 and 7170 to 7177
TasmaniaRegional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in Tasmania not mentioned in 'Cities and major regional centres' category above
Australian Capital TerritoryCities and major regional centresAll postcodes in the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital TerritoryRegional centres and other regional areasNone
Northern TerritoryCities and major regional centresNone
Northern TerritoryRegional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in the Northern Territory
Norfolk IslandCities and major regional centresNone
Norfolk IslandRegional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in Norfolk Island
Other TerritoriesCities and major regional centresNone
Other TerritoriesRegional centres and other regional areasAll postcodes in a Territory other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island

The listed of postcode identified as designated regional areas gives access to apply for the following visas:

Regional visas

Skilled visas

Employer-sponsored visas

Business investment visas

Accreditation

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