Situations Where You Won't Qualify for Regional Australia Points for PR

Situations Where You Won't Qualify for Regional Australia Points for PR:

1. Study or Work Outside Regional Areas

   
   

   If your study or work prior to your PR application took place in non-regional areas like Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, you won’t be eligible for regional points.

2. Failure to Meet Residency Requirements

   
   

   You must live in a regional area for at least 12 months to qualify for points. If you haven’t resided continuously in a designated regional area for this period, you will not receive the points.

3. Incomplete or Ineligible Study in Regional Areas

   
   

   If your study in a regional area does not meet Australia's requirements, you won't get the points. This includes:

Courses not registered with CRICOS.

Study duration less than two years.

Completing your courses through online learning or distance education, especially if some of the courses were done overseas.

4. Cross-Campus Studies

   
   

   If you started your degree in a major city like Sydney and later transferred to a regional area, such as South Australia, you won’t meet the criteria for regional study points.

5. Less than 12 Months of Full-time Work

   
   

   To qualify for points, you need to work full-time in a regional area for at least 12 months. Part-time, unpaid, or volunteer work does not count.

6. Occupation Not on the Skilled Occupation List

   
   

   Your work experience in a regional area must be in a nominated occupation from the Skilled Occupation List. If your job isn’t on the list, you won’t get the points.

7. No Valid Work Visa

   
   

   If you worked in a regional area without a valid visa (like a 485 Temporary Graduate Visa), your work experience won't be counted for regional points.

8. Living Outside Regional Areas Despite Studying There

   
   

   If you study in a regional area like Geelong but live in Melbourne, you won’t be eligible for regional points. You must live and study in the designated regional area.

9. Interrupted Study or Work in Regional Areas

   
   

   If your regional study or work was frequently interrupted (e.g., moving in and out of regional areas), it may disqualify you from receiving regional points.

10. Online or Distance Learning

    
    

    To qualify, you must complete the entire course in a regional area. Online learning isn’t exempt, and unlike the 485 visa, there are no special waivers. You need to meet the whole course requirement in a regional area.

11. Credits or Exemptions from Overseas Study

    
    

    If you completed part of your study overseas and received credits that reduced your time in a regional area to less than two years, you won’t qualify for regional points. However, if you completed two years in a regional area even after exemptions, you may still qualify.

12. Courses That Don’t Meet Regional Points Requirements

    
    

    Some TAFE courses, like cookery or carpentry, can still earn you regional points, but they must meet all duration and location requirements.

Warning:

If you incorrectly claim regional points in your PR application, it will be considered over-claiming, which will likely result in your application being refused, and you may not be able to submit your visa application at all.