​The Government will extend Skilled Regional (Provisional) (subclass 489, 491 and 494) visas by 3 years if the visa holder was affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

We will extend visas for Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa holders if the primary visa holder was outside Australia at any time between cipf-es.org 1 February 2020 and 14 December 2021 (inclusive) as the holder of a valid Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa.

Affected Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa holders will then have time to make travel plans to start or resume living and working in regional Australia. For more information see the COVID-19 and the border – regional Australia page.