Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa (187 Visa)

This migration scheme visa is for skilled employees who have an Australian employer willing to sponsor them to live and work in a regional area permanently. 

How do I get this visa? 

There are two streams for this visa: the Temporary Residence Transition stream and the Direct Entry stream. Your employer will nominate you under the appropriate stream, after which you can apply for that stream. Both streams require that:

• You have an employer who is Australian and who wants to sponsor your permanent migration for working in a specified regional area.
• You are younger than 45 when you apply (although there are exemptions in certain circumstances).
• You can demonstrate competent English by passing an approved English language test or by being a citizen of Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
• You show you are genuinely qualified and experienced to be nominated to undertake the job.
• You meet health and character requirements.

For the Temporary Residence Transition stream, you must also:

• Possess a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) or a Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) (not granted under labour agreement arrangements) or a related associated Bridging visa.
• Have been employed in the nominated position by the sponsoring employer for a certain number of years, dependant on your current visa.

If you don’t meet these requirements, your employer may still be able to nominate you under the Direct Entry stream. 

Are there any other conditions?

Yes. You must start working for your Australian employer within six months of arriving in Australia, and you must stay in your job for at least two years.

What are the features and benefits of this visa?

For you:

• It is a permanent visa for regional Australia. You can migrate to Australia indefinitely, but you must live and work in a specified regional area.
• You are entitled to access Medicare, Australia’s subsidized universal health care scheme.
• You can travel freely to and from Australia for up to 5 years, after which you will need a Resident Return visa (RRV) to re-enter Australia.
• You may be eligible to apply for citizenship.

Depending on which state or territory nominates you, you may have to fulfil other obligations to them.

For your family:

• Your immediate family members, including your partner and your or your partner’s child or step-child, will enjoy precisely the same benefits and rights as you do.
• Your children are entitled to free primary and secondary education.
• You can apply to sponsor the migration of eligible relatives to join you in Australia.