Regional Points in the EOI: Study and Work in Regional Areas

Two kinds of regional points in the EOI

In the SkillSelect EOI points-based system, “regional points” actually refers to two separate allocations with different conditions:

1. Points for studying in regional Australia (5 points): For applicants who have completed at least 2 years of study at a regional educational institution and met the Australian Study Requirement.
2. Work experience points while holding a subclass 491 visa: Some applicants confuse the two — this is in fact a separate allocation within the framework of Australian work experience while you hold a subclass 491 visa.

This article aims to clarify both kinds.

Points for studying in a regional area (5 points)

Specific conditions

To earn these 5 points, you must:

• Complete at least 1 course of 2 years or more (or several courses adding up to 2 years) at a regional educational institution in Australia.
• The educational institution must be registered on CRICOS (the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students).
• The course must be at a level of at least AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) Level 5 (Diploma) or above — that is, it does not apply to language courses or short-term certificates.
• You must have stayed in the regional area during your study.

What counts as a regional area for study purposes

For study points, a “regional area” is defined by the postcode list maintained by the Department of Home Affairs. Broadly, the following areas are usually treated as regional:

• All of South Australia (including Adelaide).
• All of Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the ACT.
• Western Australia (outside metropolitan Perth).
• Queensland (outside Greater Brisbane — but Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, and Townsville are usually eligible).
• New South Wales and Victoria: only the areas outside Greater Sydney and Greater Melbourne.

Important note: The ACT (Canberra) is treated as a regional area for these study purposes — something many people do not realise. Universities in Canberra such as ANU and the University of Canberra both count as regional.

A regional study strategy

If you are considering studying in Australia and have not yet decided on an institution, choosing a regional educational institution rather than one in Sydney or Melbourne can bring 5 valuable EOI points. Practical considerations:

• The cost of living in regional areas is usually lower than in major cities.
• Employment opportunities after graduation may be more limited in some areas.
• It combines well with a subclass 491 pathway if you want to seek a state nomination.

Australian work experience points while on a subclass 491 visa

A separate allocation — sometimes informally called “regional work points” — is in fact part of the Australian work experience allocation: an applicant holding a subclass 491 visa who has work experience in regional Australia is scored on the Australian work experience scale.

The important thing is not to be confused: there is no fully separate standalone item called “regional work experience points”. Australian work experience (including work in a regional area while holding a subclass 491 visa) is counted together within the Australian work experience scale (up to 20 points for 8–9 years).

A combined pathway: regional study + subclass 491

The optimal strategy for regional points is to combine both:

1. Study for 2 years in a regional area: +5 EOI points.
2. Seek a subclass 491 nomination from that state.
3. Work in the regional area after obtaining the subclass 491 visa: accumulate Australian work experience.
4. After 3 years: become eligible to lodge a subclass 191 (PR) application.

This pathway is longer but more realistic for many applicants with 65–75 points that are not competitive for the subclass 189.