Australian Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa

Australian Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa

The Skilled Regional Sponsored visa is a provisional work visa for individuals who have the qualifications and skills required to address Australia's skill shortage, but cannot meet the pass mark required to obtain a Skilled Independent visa.

Skilled Regional Sponsored visa applicants are required to obtain a minimum of 65 points on a points assessment and must either obtain sponsorship from an eligible relative living in a Specified Regional Area of Australia or nomination from a participating State or Territory government.

The assessment is such that applicants are required to be under 50 years of age and be able to demonstrate that they possess a qualification or the skills of an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

Applicants for an Australian Skilled Regional Sponsored visa must be prepared to live for two years and work for at least twelve months in a Specified Regional Area of Australia. A Skilled Regional Sponsored visa is valid for up to three years and provides a pathway to permanent residence.

Employers seeking to sponsor or employ overseas workers can sign up for Australian Corporate Immigration Services.

Australian Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa Basic Requirements

In order to satisfy labour market shortages, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has set specific basic requirements for people who are interested in applying under the Skilled Migration Stream.

To qualify for skilled migration, applicants (or their partner) must be able to satisfy the basic visa requirements related to age, English language ability, occupation, skills, qualification, recent work experience, health and character. In addition, applicants for a Skilled Regional Sponsored visa must obtain sponsorship from a participating State or Territory government and pass a points test. Points can be claimed in areas related to age, English language ability, specific work experience, spouse skills and other bonus categories.

The current pass mark for the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa is 65 points


To be sponsored by a relative, an applicant's relative must live in a Specified Regional Area of Australia* and be either:

  • an Australian citizen;
  • an Australian permanent resident; or
  • an eligible New Zealand citizen.

The applicant (or their spouse) must be related to their sponsor as either:

  • a non-dependent child - including a natural, adoptive or step-child;
  • a parent - including adoptive or step-parent;
  • a brother or sister - including adoptive or step-siblings;
  • a niece or nephew - including adoptive or step-niece or nephew; or
  • an aunt or uncle - including adoptive or step-aunt or uncle.

*The definition of Specified Regional Area of Australia depends on whether the applicant is sponsored by a relative or nominated by a State or Territory government. As a general indication, the following areas are considered regional:

  • New South Wales - everywhere except Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong;
  • Northern Territory - everywhere;
  • Queensland - everywhere except the greater Brisbane area and the Gold Coast;
  • South Australia - everywhere;
  • Tasmania - everywhere;
  • Victoria - everywhere except the Melbourne metropolitan area; and
  • Western Australia - everywhere.

To be nominated by a State or Territory government, applicants must satisfy specific criteria, as set by the particular State or Territory. These may include:

  • having an occupation on the skills shortage list in that State or Territory; or
  • demonstrating specialised skills in an area of need.

Australian Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa Entitlements

The Australian Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa is a temporary (provisional) visa which entitles the holder and their accompanying family to live and work or study in a Specified Regional Area of Australia for up to three years. This visa also provides a pathway to permanent residence.

All factors considered, the SRS scheme is similar to the existing SS scheme (as expected) bar obviously a few major differences e.g.

1.The visa is initially a provisional visa.

?* This means it is in effect a temporary residence visa (with no or limited access to e.g. social security)

2.The visa holder must reside in a designated area

3.Condition 8539 must be imposed on the visa. This condition requires you to live, work (and study if applicable) in a low population growth metropolitan or regional area of Australia.*

4.Condition 8515 may be imposed (applicant may not marry - if single when application was made - before entering Australia)

?* a low population growth metropolitan area or regional Australia means: " one with a population growth rate between the last two censuses of less than 50% of the national average. This includes: NSW - except Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coats and Wollongong; QLD - except Brisbane and the Gold Coast; Vic - except Melbourne; WA - except Perth, SA, Tasmania and NT - entire states


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What can you do, where and how long do you have to enter Australia ?
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Similar to most other visas, after visa grant, you have to make an initial entry (all members of the family unit included in the application) to validate the visa. This entry is normally made before the medicals and police clearances expire (they are valid for 12 months in most cases, or medicals for 6 months if the applicant has a minor medical condition).
  • On your first entry, you can stay a day, a week, a month or for the validity of the visa.
  • The visa is initially valid for 3 years
  • In the initial 3 years, you must progress to a permanent residence visa (described below)
  • You have to live in a regional for at least two years in the 3 years before applying for your PR visa
  • You, or your spouse should work in a regional area for at least 12 months in the 3 years before making application for your PR visa
  • You have to have your own private medical insurance (no Medicare cover)
  • Your kids can attend any schools (and you have to keep record of their enrolment and attendance at a school in a designated area !)
  • The main applicant should work in his nominated occupation (if you are to progress to a PR Visa under this scheme) OR participate in a business that meets the business skills criteria for residence *
  • The spouse of the main applicant can work in any occupation (unless the spouse points are required for the subsequent PR application)
  • The time in Australia on this visa does NOT count towards the time required (2 years as a PR visa holder) to apply for Australian citizenship (and an Aus passport)
  • You are free to travel to and from Australia as often as you want during the validity of the visa
  • You can NOT sponsor other family members for a visa while on this visa (as you are a temporary resident). We are still looking at the option to sponsor a spouse while on this visa - and will advise on this shortly.
  • As part of your application, you will be required to sign a declaration acknowledging that you understand and accept the terms of the SRS (provisional) visa if granted.
  • Can you work in a regional area while your family lives in a main city ? NO. The family unit must reside in a designated area - this is verified by amongst other ways - by providing evidence of dependent children attending local schools in the designated area.
  • The main applicant for the PR visa can work for multiple employers i.e. as long as the main applicant works for at least 12 months in the 3 years in a designated area, you can progress to PR.