Regional visas are a growing part of Australia’s skilled migration system. Broadly, these visas aim to encourage migrants to regional areas to: 

1. grow regional economies, including through meeting regional workforce needs
2. ease population pressures on major cities.

However this analysis finds many regional visa holders are not in places the public may think of as 'regional'. If the benchmark for success is retaining most of these migrants in regional areas after their visa expires to contribute to regional economic growth, then regional policy may not be having its desired effect.

Key findings

• Regional visas are a growing part of Australia’s skilled migration system, accounting for around 18% of permanent migration places in 2025, up from 8% in 2014. 
• Regional visa holders earn less than other skilled migrants – around 40% less than employer-sponsored migrants and 10% less than other skilled migrants. 
• Around 43% of these visa holders live in capital and major cities outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, while 32% live in regional or remote areas. 
• Of those who received a regional visa, around 45% of those who remained in Australia five years later were residing in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, while around 80% were living in capital cities more broadly.