Regional Sponsored Visa (187)

Regional Sponsored Visa (187) Overview

Regional sponsored migration scheme visa (subclass 187) (direct entry stream) closes to new applications from 16 November 2019. With the introduction of the skilled employer-sponsored regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494), due to commence on 16 November 2019, the regional sponsored migration scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187) direct entry (DE) stream will close to new applications from 16 November 2019.Applicants intending to lodge an RSMS DE nomination and visa application, are reminded to not leave lodging online until the last minute due to possible system maintenance. Check the system maintenance page before lodging. Employers/migration agents are strongly encouraged to submit a request for assessment by a relevant regional certifying body (RCB) regarding local labor market conditions before 16 November 2019, if they intend to lodge an RSMS DE nomination and visa application with the department by 16 November 2019.

Basic Understanding

This migration scheme allows employers in regional or low population growth areas of Australia, to sponsor employees who are foreign nationals for a permanent visa to work in Australia who want to sponsor skilled workers to fill skilled vacancies in their business. The employees applying for a visa can be either skilled workers from overseas or skilled temporary residents currently in Australia. Visa applicants who are currently living and/or working in Australia on a qualifying visa can apply for the onshore RSMS (subclass 857) visa. If the applicant does not hold a qualifying visa, they may still be eligible to apply in Australia if they last held a qualifying visa no more than 28 days before lodging an application. Note: Applicants who do not hold a qualifying visa can apply for the offshore RSMS visa (subclass 119) and lodge their application in Australia. However, applicants must be outside Australia at the time of the visa grant. The RSMS visa allows you and any dependent family members included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia. Australian permanent residents can live and work permanently. They can study in Australia. They can receive healthcare through medicare and the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. They can access certain social security payments. They can also sponsor people for permanent residence.