Moving to a new country is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. Regional Victoria is a great place to build your life in Australia, with a strong job market, welcoming communities, and a pace of life that makes it possible to achieve the work life balance you’ve been looking for. For skilled migrants, it also offers practical benefits in the visa system.
Your migration advantage
Living and working in regional Victoria can strengthen your visa application and expand your migration opportunities. Benefits include:
- Additional points under the Commonwealth Government’s skilled migration points test
- Access to regional-specific visa pathways
- Access to Victorian Government nomination through the Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
- Expanded opportunities for employer sponsorship
- Priority processing in selected visa streams
While these migration pathways provide an entry point, it’s the region’s thriving career opportunities, welcoming communities, and quality of life that make regional Victoria a place people are proud to call home.
Visa pathways and state nomination
The Victorian Government offers regional nomination for several skilled visa subclasses. Your eligibility depends on your occupation, English proficiency, age, and points score. The table below outlines the main pathways available to skilled migrants seeking to live and work in regional Victoria.
Visa subclass | Type | Key requirement for regional applicants | Benefit of regional nomination |
|---|---|---|---|
Subclass 190 | Permanent | State nomination (does not require employer sponsorship) must commit to living and working in Victoria | Direct permanent residency pathway |
Subclass 491 | Provisional (5 yr) | State nomination (does not require employer sponsorship, must live and work in a designated regional area | +15 points; pathway to permanent residency (subclass 191) after 3 years |
Subclass 191 | Permanent | Hold a 491 for 3 years; live and work regionally | Permanent residency for regional workers |
Visa requirements and occupation lists are updated regularly. Always confirm your eligibility with a registered migration agent or via the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs website.
Employer support
Employers across regional Victoria are actively recruiting skilled professionals and can support your migration through a range of visa options:
Standard employer-sponsored visas
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494)
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186)
- Skills in Demand (subclass 482)
Regional employer pathways (DAMAs)
Some regions in Victoria offer additional employer-sponsored options through Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).
Great South Coast (GSC) DAMA: south-west Victoria (e.g. Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton)
Goulburn Valley (GV) DAMA: north-central Victoria (e.g. Shepparton and surrounding areas)
These programs help regional employers address workforce shortages by allowing sponsorship across a broader range of occupations, with more flexible eligibility requirements in some cases.
Life in regional Victoria
Career opportunities
In fields like healthcare, education and engineering, regional roles can give you opportunity for career progression and a broad scope of practice. Regional Victoria's workforce grew by more than 13% between 2019 and 2024, with sustained demand across healthcare, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, construction, and professional services.
Affordable housing
For families, the practical case is strong. Median house prices in Ballarat (~$590,000-$670,000) and Shepparton (~$498,000) and Sale (~$525,000) are well below Melbourne (~$980,000). Commutes average 15-20 minutes in most regional centres. That's time and financial stability from day one.
Established multicultural communities
Established multicultural communities in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Shepparton mean cultural familiarity food, community organisations, places of worship, events, is part of regional life. Local settlement services and council newcomer programs help you and your family get established practically and socially.
A refreshing lifestyle
Jenica Mendoza moved from Makati in the Philippines. "Being in regional Victoria gives me time to enjoy my relationships with the people closest to me – the little things I didn't get to do in the city because of how fast-paced it was."