Subclass 187- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa

The purpose of the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) is to promote the economic development of regional Australia by encouraging skilled migrants to settle in these areas. The scheme is designed to assist employers in regional Australia who are unable to meet their skilled workforce needs from the local labour market.

Temporary Residence Transition Stream

The minimum requirements for the Temporary Residence Transition stream of this visa are set out below:

Employer

The business seeking to employ you must:

• be actively and lawfully operating in a regional area
• genuinely need you to work in the nominated position under its direct control, and have the capacity to employ you in this position for at least two years

Position

The position to be filled must:

• be full-time and available for at least 2 years from the time your visa is granted
• be an occupation included on the current Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) OR the Regional Occupation List (ROL)

• have a salary that is:
  • at least $53,900 per year (excluding any non-monetary benefits) AND
  • at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for your nominated occupation

• be subject to conditions of employment (other than earnings) that are no worse than those that apply (or would apply) to Australians performing equivalent work in the same location

Visa Applicant

As the visa applicant, you must:

• be a transitional 457 worker meaning you held a subclass 457 Temporary Work (Skilled) visa, granted under the Standard Business Sponsor Stream, any time on or after 18 April 2017 and still hold this visa (or subsequently hold a subclass 482 visa in the Short-term stream) OR
• be a transitional 482 worker meaning that on 20 March 2019 you held a subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in the Medium-term stream or you were an applicant for this visa and it was subsequently granted AND
• have held one of the above visas to work on a full-time basis in the nominated position (or a very closely related position) for the nominating employer in Australia for at least 3 years during the last 4 years

NOTE: If on 18 April 2017 you held (or had applied for, and were subsequently granted) a subclass 457 visa, then you only need to meet the above criteria for 2 years during the last 3 years.

COVID-19 event concessions may apply to reduced work arrangements for sponsored employment periods after 1 February 2020.

• be genuinely performing the tasks of your nominated occupation
• have competent English i.e.
  • hold a valid passport issued by the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland (and you are a citizen of that country) OR
  • an IELTS test score of at least 6 in EACH test component OR
  • an OET test score of at least B in EACH test component OR
  • a TOEFL iBT test score of at least 12 for listening, 13 for reading, 21 for writing and 18 for speaking OR
  • a PTE test score of at least 50 in EACH test component OR
  • a CAE test score of at least 169 in EACH test component

• be under 45 years of age (unless exempt from this requirement)
• NOTE: If on 18 April 2017 you held (or had applied for, and were subsequently granted) a subclass 457 visa, then you must only be under 50 years of age.

• meet any mandatory licensing, registration or professional membership requirements
• satisfy the relevant health and character criteria