Sydney: designated regional area status for visas
Updated
Key facts
- Home Affairs category
- Major city, not a designated regional area
- Counts for the 491 and 494
- No
- Regional study points
- No
- Extra 485 time for regional study
- No
- State nomination for the 190
- New South Wales
State nomination
Sydney is in New South Wales, which decides whom it nominates for the 190 and 491 against its own criteria, published on its official skilled nomination page.
Visas this affects
Checking an exact address
Home Affairs defines designated regional areas by postcode. Its postcode list is the source for any address.
Other cities in the same category
No. Sydney is one of the three major cities, with Melbourne and Brisbane, that Home Affairs excludes from its designated regional areas, so living there does not meet the 491 or 494 regional requirement.
What it means for each visa
| Visa | In Sydney |
|---|---|
| 491 and 494 | Sydney does not count as a designated regional area |
| 190 | Nominated by New South Wales, against its own criteria |
| 189, 482, 186, 485 | No regional condition. Each visa's own requirements apply |
State nomination
Sydney is in New South Wales. New South Wales decides whom it nominates for the 190 and 491, against its own criteria and occupation list. See the New South Wales page on Settledin and its official skilled nomination page.
Living in Sydney
Checking an exact address
Home Affairs defines designated regional areas by postcode. Its designated regional areas page has the postcode list.
Common questions
Is Sydney regional for visa purposes?
No. Home Affairs classes most of Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as designated regional areas, so Sydney is not regional for migration.
Can I live in Sydney on a 491 visa?
The 491 requires you to live, work and study in a designated regional area, and Sydney is not one. Nearby areas may be: check Home Affairs' postcode list.
Which skilled visas let me live in Sydney?
Visas without a regional condition, such as the 189, the 190 with a New South Wales nomination, the 482, the 186 and the 485, have no rule against living in Sydney. Each visa has its own requirements.
Which state nominates for Sydney?
New South Wales. Its official skilled nomination page is linked on this page.