What is condition 8579 and can I continue to live overseas on my 491 visa ?

Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has provided a clarification in the Freedom of Information Request #FA 23/07/00752.

Condition 8579 is a mandatory condition that applies to all Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) holders.

Condition 8579 requires visa holders to live at a residential address which is located in an Australian designated regional area (DRA), and usually spend work hours routinely performing usual work duties on behalf of the employer from a work location which is in a DRA.

Under policy, further information may be sought from the visa holder on the reason for travel outside the DRA, where:

• the holder spends more than 90 days in total per annum outside the DRA; or
• the holder spends more than 60 continuous days outside the DRA.

What is the implication ?

Based on a reading of the FOI above, it is clear that: Living overseas on a continual and/or extended basis will not meet the requirements of condition 8579.