Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187)

Requirements for Visa Applicants:

• The applicant must be a minimum of 18 years of age and a maximum of 45 years of age at the time of application.
• Applicants from a native English-speaking country such as the United States are not required to take an English language competence test.
• The applicant must meet health and character requirements.
• The applicant must possess one of the following: a subclass 457 visa that they have held as their primary visa on or after April 18, 2017, a subclass 482 visa in the medium-term stream that they must have held as their primary visa on or after March 20, 2019, or a related bridging visa A, B, or C.
• The position or proposed job is equivalent to the one held while on subclass 457 or TSS (482) visa. The applicant must have a 457, TSS (482), or related bridging visa A, B, or C.
• If an applicant has a 457 visa or had one in the past, they may be eligible to transfer to permanent residence after an eligibility period of two years, even if they are now on a TSS visa.
• If the applicant has never had a 457 visa and their first visa was a TSS (482) visa, they must have worked with the same approved Australian employer on the visa for a minimum of three years before applying for another visa. The employer must provide the visa holder with a long-term position in the same field as the 457 or 482 visas.

If you are older than the maximum age requirement of 45 years of age, you may still be eligible for a regional-sponsored migration scheme if you meet the following requirements:

• You are under the age of 50 and are applying through the Temporary Residence Transition stream, hold a Subclass 457 visa, or have applied for a Subclass 457 visa that was approved by April 18, 2017.
• You are chosen as a senior academic by an Australian university.
• You have been recognized by an Australian government scientific agency as a scientist, researcher, or technical specialist in the field of science.
• You are a medical professional with a Subclass 457 or Subclass 482 visa and have worked for your an approved Australian employer for a minimum of four years before applying.
• You are applying through the Temporary Residence Transition stream and have worked for your nominating employer as a subclass 457 visa holder for a minimum of four years immediately prior to application. During those four years, you must have been paid the Fair Work High-Income Threshold or more.

Requirements for Sponsoring Employers:

• Sponsoring regional employers must demonstrate that they have a regionally active business and have the financial ability to continue paying the visa applicant’s wage at the market salary rate.
• The nominated position while on subclass 457 or 482 visas must be comparable to the job or post.
• The employer should display a genuine need to hire overseas workers. Before being presented to a holder of subclass 457 or 482 visas, the job should have been publicized on Workforce Australia to equivalent Australian workers.
• Once the visa has been approved, the visa holder must have access to the position for a minimum of two years.
• The nominated position’s terms and conditions must meet the annual market salary rate for equivalent Australian workers, and they must also satisfy the $53,900 Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) requirements or provide an explanation of exceptional circumstances if the salary is less than the threshold.
• If the sponsoring employer’s annual revenue is under $10 million, a sum of $3,000 or $5,000, depending on the size of the business to satisfy the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) to support skilled workers.
• The employer must provide supporting documents that the position is valid and that there is a demand for it.