Regional postcodes in 2026: key facts
- The postcode list below has applied since 16 November 2019 and is still the list Home Affairs uses in 2026.
- Australia is split into three categories: Category 1 major cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane), which are not regional; Category 2 cities and major regional centres (for example Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Hobart); and Category 3 regional centres and other regional areas.
- Category 2 and 3 postcodes count as designated regional areas for the 491, 494 and 191 visas, for the 5 points for regional study and for a second 485 visa.
- Working Holiday visa specified work uses separate regional postcode lists.
The Department of Home Affairs have released the list of postcodes considered as regional areas for the purposes of the below Australian visas lodged on or after 16 November 2019 namely:
- Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
- Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa
- Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated visa
For the 189 and 190 visas the regional postcodes matter mainly for the 5 points for regional study; these visas do not require you to live in a regional area.
& employer sponsored visas:
- Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
- Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa (replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024)
Regional Postcodes
| State or Territory | Category | Postcodes |
| New South Wales | Cities and major regional centres | 2259, 2264 to 2308, 2500 to 2526, 2528 to 2535 and 2574 |
| New South Wales | Regional centres and other regional areas | 2250 to 2258, 2260 to 2263, 2311 to 2490, 2527, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2739, 2753 to 2754, 2756 to 2758 and 2773 to 2898 |
| Victoria | Cities and major regional centres | 3211 to 3232, 3235, 3240, 3328, 3330 to 3333, 3340 and 3342 |
| Victoria | Regional centres and other regional areas | 3097 to 3099, 3139, 3233 to 3234, 3236 to 3239, 3241 to 3325, 3329, 3334, 3341, 3345 to 3424, 3430 to 3799, 3809 to 3909, 3912 to 3971 and 3978 to 3996 |
| Queensland | Cities and major regional centres | 4207 to 4275, 4517 to 4519, 4550 to 4551, 4553 to 4562, 4564 to 4569 and 4571 to 4575 |
| Queensland | Regional centres and other regional areas | 4124 to 4125, 4133, 4183 to 4184, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4552, 4563, 4570 and 4580 to 4895 |
| Western Australia | Cities and major regional centres | 6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 6558 |
| Western Australia | Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in Western Australia not mentioned above |
| South Australia | Cities and major regional centres | 5000 to 5171, 5173 to 5174, 5231 to 5235, 5240 to 5252, 5351 and 5950 to 5960 |
| South Australia | Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in South Australia not mentioned above |
| Tasmania | Cities and major regional centres | 7000, 7004 to 7026, 7030 to 7109, 7140 to 7151 and 7170 to 7177 |
| Tasmania | Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in Tasmania not mentioned above |
| Australian Capital Territory | Cities and major regional centres | All postcodes in the ACT |
| Australian Capital Territory | Regional centres and other regional areas | None |
| Northern Territory | Cities and major regional centres | None |
| Northern Territory | Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in the NT |
| Norfolk Island | Cities and major regional centres | None |
| Norfolk Island | Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in Norfolk Island |
| Other Territories | Cities and major regional centres | None |
| Other Territories | Regional centres and other regional areas | All postcodes in a Territory other than the ACT, NT, or Norfolk Island |
What each category means
| Category | Examples | What it gives you |
| Category 1: major cities | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Not a designated regional area. You cannot live here on a 491 or 494 visa. |
| Category 2: cities and major regional centres | Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Wollongong and Illawarra, Geelong, Hobart | Regional for the 491, 494 and 191 visas and for regional study points. A second 485 visa of 1 year for eligible graduates. |
| Category 3: regional centres and other regional areas | All other postcodes, including the whole Northern Territory | The same benefits as Category 2, with a second 485 visa of 2 years for eligible graduates. Many DAMAs cover these areas. |
How to check your postcode: step by step
- Find the postcode of the place where you will live, work or study.
- Look for it in the table above under your state or territory. If it is listed (or the row says all postcodes), it is a designated regional area.
- If it is not listed, it is in a Category 1 major city, which is not regional.
- For a 491 or 494 visa, make sure both your home and your job are in regional postcodes. For regional study points, the campus where you studied must be regional.
- Keep evidence of your address and work location, such as a lease, bills and payslips, because you will need it for the 191 visa.
Regional postcode FAQs
Is Perth a regional area for migration?
Yes. Since 16 November 2019 Perth has been a Category 2 regional area, so you can live and work there on a 491 or 494 visa. The same applies to Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Hobart.
Is Melbourne or Sydney regional?
No. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are Category 1 major cities. Some outer areas inside those states are regional, for example Geelong, the Mornington Peninsula and Newcastle, so always check the exact postcode.
Can I move to another regional area on a 491 visa?
Yes, you can move between designated regional areas anywhere in Australia, but you must keep living, working and studying in a regional area. If you were state nominated, you also agreed to live in that state for a period, so check your nomination obligations before you move.
Does the Working Holiday visa use the same postcodes?
No. Specified work for a second or third Working Holiday visa uses separate regional postcode lists that depend on the type of work, so check those lists before you start a job.
Which visas lead to permanent residence from a regional area?
After at least 3 years living and working in a regional area on a 491 or 494 visa, you may be able to apply for the 191 permanent visa. There has been no minimum income amount for the 191 since June 2023.
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