The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) visa enables a regional employer to sponsor an overseas skilled worker for permanent residency in Australia.
The employer must be based in regional Australia. Regional Australia excludes the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne and, as of March 2017, Perth.
To be able to nominate a position for the RSMS subclass 187 visa, an employer needs to:
– actively and lawfully operate a business in regional Australia
– establish your need for an employee to fill the position
– offer a position in the skilled worker applicant’s field that is full time lasting for at least 2 years
– pay a market salary rate
– show that you comply with Australian immigration and workplace relations law
The steps involved are:
1. Nominate a position from the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
2. Elect one of the three streams of sponsorship. These are:
Temporary Residence Transition stream: If you are already employee on a 457 visa who has been residing in Australia for 2 years and has been has been carrying out the same occupation with your employer, you could use this pathyway to be nominated by your employer to go from a 457 visa to a 187 visas that grants permanent residency.
Your employer will need to accompany your nomination with specific supporting documents, such as pay slips, job descriptions. Our job is to make that process easier for both of you. We can advise you and your employer on what documents need to be included, double check the information is consistent with what the Department of Immigration and Border Protection requires, and lodge the nomination on your behalf. We can also represent you with dealings with the Department after lodgement.
Direct Entry stream: This is for employers looking to sponsor a candidate directly into a permanent position or sponsor a temporary resident who does not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream. Our experienced migration agents can guide you employers on meeting the nomination criteria and help you obtain the necessary skill assessments. We also represent both you, any dependents you may be including on your application, and your employer in dealings with the Immigration Department.
Agreement stream: this is for an employee who is a 457 visa holder that has been negotiated through a formal labour agreement.
3. The Immigration Department approves the nomination.
4. The candidate submits the visa application.
For a candidate to qualify for this visa, they must:
have an occupation that is included on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL);
show that they are qualified in the nominated occupation by presenting recognized qualifications and experience and/or having their trade skills assessed by the relevant assessment authority;
pass character, health, language and age checks.