Work Visa Program

Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 496)

Holders of a Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496) who have lived in a designated area of Australia in the same state or territory as their sponsor for at least two (2) years, and worked full-time for a total period of at least 12 months, can apply for a Skilled - Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887).

If you hold a Skilled – Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496) and you need more time to meet the residence and/or employment criteria for a permanent visa, you can apply for a Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487), which will extend your provisional visa for a further 12 months.

If you currently hold a Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496), your spouse, dependent children and other dependent relatives can still apply to accompany you in Australia if they were not included in your original application. They should apply for a Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496) using Form 47ST.

Note: This form can only be used by spouses and dependants of Skilled - Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) (subclass 496) visa holders and Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) (subclass 495) visa holders.

Cost

Your spouse, dependent children and other dependent relatives need to be sponsored by the same eligible Australian relative that sponsored you. Form 40 must be completed and submitted with your family member’s application to be added to your Subclass 496 visa if they were not included in your original sponsorship.

Second Instalment

Family members who are added after a visa has been granted (also know as subsequent entrants), must pay the full first instalment Visa Application Charge (VAC) of their application.

Subsequent entrants may be liable to pay a second instalment VAC if they were aged 18 years or over at the time of application and do not have at least functional English.

If the case officer notifies you that the second instalment VAC is due, it must be paid before the visa can be granted.

Subsequent entrants must lodge their visa 496 application by posting or couriering the application to the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre.

Your family members can be in or outside Australia at the time they apply to be added to your subclass 496 visa and in or outside Australia when their visa is granted.

Before lodging an application, please read all related eligibility requirements.