Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187)

Direct entry stream

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For Applicants

For Sponsors

Overview

This visa is closed to new applications.

Stay

Permanently

Cost

N/A

Processing times

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

With this visa, you can

live, work and study in Australia indefinitely
sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia
if eligible, become an Australian citizen

See all conditions

Check your eligibility

You must

have an occupation on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations
have an Australian employer nominating you to work in a position in regional Australia
depending on your occupation, demonstrate you have at least 3 years of relevant work experience
depending on your occupation, have a skills assessment
agree to remain employed with your nominating employer in regional Australia for a minimum of 2 years

Process

About this visa

This visa is closed to new applications.

With this visa, you can

How long you can stay

Include family

Apply from

Processing times

Your obligations

Travel

Visa label

With this visa, you can

stay in Australia indefinitely
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years
if eligible, become an Australian citizen

Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

How long you can stay

This is a permanent visa – it lets you stay in Australia indefinitely.

You become a permanent resident on the day the visa is granted.

Your permanent residency for citizenship purposes starts:

on the day the visa is granted if you are in Australia
on the day you enter Australia on this visa if you are outside Australia

Include family

You can:

include family members in your application when you apply
add family members to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa

For this visa, your family members are:

your partner
your dependent child or stepchild
your partner's dependent child or stepchild
the dependent child or stepchild of your or your partner's dependent child or stepchild

You can also include someone who holds a subclass 457 visa or subclass 482 visa if we granted them that visa on the basis they are a member of your family.

Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members who do not apply for the visa with you might also have to meet the requirements.

You might have to pay an extra charge for family members 18 years old or older who have less than Functional English. This charge is called the second instalment.

Apply from

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa. If you are in Australia you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C.

You can be in or outside Australia when we decide on your application.

Processing times

Your application can take longer to process if:

you do not fill it in correctly
you do not include all the documents we need or we need more information from you
it takes us time to verify your information

We can't process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge. We will notify you if this is the case and if necessary return your application.

Your obligations

You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.

We expect that you will work for your nominating employer in regional Australia for at least 2 years. If you don't, we might cancel your visa.

You must begin your employment within 6 months of:

entry to Australia if you were granted the visa outside Australia
the visa grant date if you were granted the visa in Australia

Travel

From the date we grant this visa, you can travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years.

After that period, you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

If you leave Australia after the expiry date of your travel facility, without being granted another permanent visa with a valid travel facility, for example a Resident Return (RRV), you might not be able to return to Australia as a permanent resident.

To see when your travel condition ends, use VEVO.

Visa label

Australian visas are digital. You will not get a label in your passport.

Eligibility

This visa is closed to new applications.

Have an eligible occupation

You must be nominated by an employer for this visa. We can only approve your nomination if your occupation is on the relevant list of skilled occupations.

Have relevant work experience

Unless exempt, most applicants need to have at least 3 years relevant work experience in their occupation.

Exemption

You are exempt from the 3 year work experience requirement if you currently hold a Special Category visa (subclass 444) or New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461).

Have a positive skills assessment

You must have a positive skills assessment if your occupation is listed on IMMI 12/096 Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities. The assessment will show us you have the skills to work in the nominated occupation.

Learn more about skills assessments.

Exemptions

You don't need a skills assessment if you:

currently hold a Special Category visa (subclass 444) or New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461) visa, and
have worked for the employer who nominated you, in the nominated occupation, for at least 2 years in the 3 years immediately before you apply

You also don't need a skills assessment if:

your occupation was not listed on IMMI 12/096 Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities, or
you obtained your qualification in Australia

In this case, you must:

have the ANZSCO-listed qualifications needed to perform the occupation's tasks
have been employed in the occupation full-time for at least 3 years, at the level of skill required for the occupation

Licensing, registration or membership

You must be licensed, registered or a member of a professional body if it is mandatory in the state or territory you intend to work in.

Be nominated

You must be nominated by an Australian employer whose business is actively and lawfully operating in Australia.

You must apply for the visa within 6 months of the nomination being approved.

Find out if your employer is eligible to nominate you.

We can't grant you a visa if:

we are aware of adverse information about your nominator or any person associated with them, unless it is reasonable to disregard this information, or
the nomination is withdrawn, or
the position is no longer available

We can’t link a new nomination to your existing visa application. If this happens one possible option is to withdraw your first visa application and submit a new visa application in relation to the new nomination.

You might be eligible for a refund of the visa application charge depending on the circumstances.

Be this age

Usually, you must be under 45 years of age when you apply.

You are exempt from this criteria if any of the following applies to you:

you are nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level B, C D or E) by a university in Australia
you are nominated as a scientist, researcher or technical (scientific) specialist at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 by an Australian scientific government agency
you currently hold a Special Category visa (subclass 444) or New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461) visa and have worked for the employer who nominated you, in the nominated occupation, for at least 2 years in the last 3 years immediately before you apply. The 2 years excludes periods of unpaid leave

Meet our health requirement

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.

Other family members will also need to meet the requirement.

Meet our character requirement

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.

Other family members will also need to meet the requirement.

Sign the Australian values statement

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:

have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia booklet and
sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws

Have this level of English language

You must have at least Competent English to be granted this visa.

Have paid back your debt to the Australian government

If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.

Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused

You might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia. Check if visa cancellation affects your eligibility.

Meet all these criteria? Check how to apply in our step by step guide.

Step by step

This visa is closed to new applications.

Step 1

Before you apply

Get your skills assessed

Get a skills assessment if you need to. The assessment will prove you have the right skills and qualifications to do your job.

Organise English exams

Make sure your English test results are current for this visa. Have English exams if necessary

Organise health exams

You need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply or you can wait until after you apply.

Find out the examinations you need and how to arrange them if you want to have them before you apply.

Get help with your application

You don’t have to use a migration agent to apply for any visa. But if you want to, see how to find a registered migration agent.

Anyone can help you fill out forms or give you general help with your application. But you must let us know if you want someone to:

receive your correspondence
provide immigration assistance and act for you

Get the Nomination TRN

Make sure your employer has submitted a nomination application. They will receive a nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN) when they do.

Ask your employer for the TRN. You need it to apply for the visa.

Your rights and your employer's responsibilities

Criminal and civil penalties can be applied to anyone who asks for, receives, offers or provides a benefit in exchange for visa sponsorship. Learn more about work visa scams.

New step description

Step 2

Gather your documents

Provide accurate information

Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide true information.

Identity documents

Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.

Also provide:

a national identity card, if you have one
proof of change of name

Documents that prove a change of name include:

a marriage or divorce certificate
change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
documents that show other names you have been known by

Licencing, registration and membership

Provide evidence of any licence, registration or professional membership mandatory to perform the nominated occupation in the state or territory you intend to work in, if applicable.

If you are a doctor, provide one of these certificates issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as proof of full registration:

unconditional or general medical registration
conditional specialist registration which allows you to practise only in your particular specialty with no further training or supervision requirements

If you are a barrister or solicitor, provide proof of admission to practise as a lawyer in the relevant state or territory.

Skills and qualifications documents

Provide either:

documents that prove your skills and qualifications
documents to prove you are exempt from proving your skills and qualifications

Proof of your skills and qualifications

Provide all of the following:

a positive and valid skills assessment, if required. We don't accept a skills assessment obtained for a subclass 485 visa
your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume
qualifications and proof of work experience such as employment references, if required
registrations, licences and professional memberships required to work in your occupation in the state or territory in which you will be working, if applicable
documents from relevant Australian authorities that show you hold necessary registrations or licences, or will be able to meet, necessary registration and licensing requirements

If you are a doctor, provide one of these certificates issued by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency as proof of full registration:

unconditional or general medical registration
conditional specialist registration which allows you to practise only in your particular speciality with no further training or supervision requirements

If you are a barrister or solicitor, provide proof of admission to practise as a lawyer in the relevant state or territory.

Proof you are exempt

If you are exempt from having a skills assessment, provide proof of this.

You are exempt from the need to have a skills assessment if you:

currently hold a Special Category visa (subclass 444) or New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461) visa, and
have worked for the employer who nominated you, in the nominated occupation, for at least 2 years in the 3 years immediately before you apply

You also don't need a skills assessment if:

your occupation was not listed on IMMI 12/096 Specification of Occupations and Assessing Authorities, or
you obtained your qualification in Australia

In this case, you must:

have the ANZCO-listed qualifications needed to perform the occupation's tasks
have been employed in the occupation full-time for at least 2 years, at the level of skill required

Age exemption documents

If you are 45 years old or older, provide documents to show you are exempt from the age eligibility criteria.

You are exempt from this criteria if any of the following apply to you:

you are nominated as an academic (university lecturer or faculty head at Academic Level B, C D or E) by a university in Australia
you are nominated as a scientist, researcher or technical (scientific) specialist at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 by an Australian scientific government agency
you currently hold a Special Category (subclass 444) or New Zealand citizen's family member (subclass 461) visa and have worked for the employer who nominated you, in the nominated position, for at least 2 years in the last 3 years immediately before you apply. The 2 years excludes periods of unpaid leave.

See more about age, skill and English language exemptions in the relavant legislative instrument, IMMI 18/045.

English language documents

Provide documents that show you have Competent English.

Health documents

You do not need to provide health documents. If you have had medical exams, the results are sent to us by your doctor.

Character documents

Provide an Australian police certificate if you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16. We only accept complete disclosure National Police Certificates issued by the Australian Federal Police . We do not accept standard disclosure certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police. For immigration purposes, Australian police certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Also provide:

an overseas police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16
military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country

Tell us you are getting help

To nominate someone to:

receive your correspondence, use Form 956a Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
provide immigration advice, use Form 956 Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance
act for you but not provide immigration assistance, let us know in writing what they can do on your behalf (such as submit or withdraw an application for you). Upload your written notification in ImmiAccount

See more about getting help with your application.

Partner documents

Provide:

identity documents
character documents

Provide either:

your current marriage certificate or
enough documents to prove your partner has been in a de facto relationship with you for at least 12 months before you apply

Documents that prove a de facto relationship include:

joint bank account statements
billing accounts in joint names
joint leases or mortgages
documents that show you have both lived at the same address

Proof of Functional English

You must show that your partner has Functional English

If you can't prove Functional English

If you can't show that your dependant has Functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment when we ask you to.

Dependants under 18 documents

For every dependant under 18 years who is applying with you provide:

identity documents
proof of their relationship with you such as a birth or marriage certificate
character documents, if applicable

Parental responsibility documents

You must get consent for a dependent child to migrate to Australia from anyone who:

has a legal right to decide where the dependant lives and
is not coming to Australia with the dependant

They must complete either:

Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years
statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to migrate to Australia on this visa

Include a document with the contact details, signature and photo of the people who complete the form or declaration, such as a:

passport
driver’s licence

Alternatively you must provide evidence that you have the legal right to determine where the dependent child lives, such as a court order.

Dependants over 18 documents

For every dependant 18 years old or older who is applying with you provide:

identity documents
documents about other relationships, if applicable
character documents

Proof of dependence

You need to prove that this person is a family member and/or dependent on you. Provide:

a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over
proof of your relationship with the dependent such as a birth certificate or adoption papers

You must also prove this person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply. You could provide:

proof they live with you
their tax records
proof they are currently studying

For other family members, if applicable, provide evidence the person:

holds a subclass 457 or subclass 482 visa
was granted that visa because they were your family member and
is included in your application for this subclass 186 visa

Proof of Functional English

You must show that your family member has Functional English.

If you can't prove Functional English

If you can't show that your family member has Functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment when we ask you to.

Prepare your documents

Translate

Have all non-English documents translated into English.

Provide original and translated documents in your application.

Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:

full name
address and telephone number
qualifications and experience in the language they are translating

These details must be in English.

Scan or photograph

Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in colour.

The scans and photos must be clear.

If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.

Step 3

Apply for the visa

This visa is closed to new applications

Step 4

After you apply

See what you can and must do after you apply.

What will happen after you apply

We will let you know when we have received your application.

Status updates

We can’t give updates on applications within the time.

Wait for us to contact you.

Travel after you apply

If you are in Australia, you don't have to tell us if you want to travel outside Australia while we process your application. This is because you can be outside Australia when we decide on your application.

But if you leave Australia, make sure you have a valid visa to return.

Learn about visa expiry.

Learn about Bridging visas.

Health exams

If you didn't have health examinations before you applied, we will let you know if you need them. Check ImmiAccount.

Biometrics

We might ask for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.

Attach more information

We might ask you to provide more information. Attach any additional documents we ask you for as soon as possible in ImmiAccount..

Stay lawful

Make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application.

When you apply for this visa in Australia, you are likely to be granted a bridging visa. If your current visa expires before we decide your application, the bridging visa will start. You can stay in Australia on the bridging visa while we process your new visa application.

Learn more about visa expiry.

Pay the second instalment

If you need to pay a second instalment, we will send you an invoice after you have met all other requirements for the visa. Pay the instalment after you get the invoice. Do not ask for the invoice.

Add family

You can add family members to your application after you apply but before we decide on your visa.

For the purpose of adding family members to this visa, your family members are:

your partner
your dependent child
your partner’s dependent child

Newborn children

Find out what to do if your child is born after you apply.

Mistakes on your application

Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.

Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers.

Help with your application

Let us know if you no longer want someone to:

receive your correspondence - complete Form 956a Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance
act for you - let us know in writing by uploading your advice in ImmiAccount

See more about withdrawing your nomination.

Tell us if things change

Tell us if things change after you submit your application but before we decide on your application.

Things you need to let us know about include:

you want to withdraw your application
changes to your phone number, address or passport
changes to your relationship status
the birth of a child

See what to do if your situation changes.

Step 5

Visa outcome

You can be in or outside Australia when we decide on your visa application.

We will let you know our decision in writing

About visa outcome

If we grant your visa, we will tell you:

your visa grant number
the date your visa starts
your visa conditions, if applicable

Keep a copy of the decision.

If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:

why we refused the visa
whether you have a right to a review of the decision

We will not refund the visa application charge if we refuse your application.

When you have this visa

This visa is closed to new applications.

Coming to Australia

In Australia

Leaving Australia

Coming to Australia

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have:

a valid visa to enter Australia
a valid passport or other travel document

At the Border

Completing an Incoming Passenger Card

All people arriving Australia must complete an Incoming Passenger Card. You will be given this card during your flight.

Leaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

New Zealand passport holders

If an immigration officer processes your clearance at our border, we recommend you tell them:

you have a permanent Australian visa
you do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444)

If you do not tell them, you might be granted the Special Category visa (subclass 444). Grant of a subclass 444 visa will override your permanent visa and might affect your eligibility for Australian citizenship.

In Australia

What you can do when you have this visa

This visa lets you:

stay in Australia indefinitely
work and study in Australia
enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia
travel to and from Australia for 5 years
if eligible, become an Australian citizen

Newly arrived residents may have to wait before they can access certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

What you must do on this visa (your obligations)

You and your family members must obey all Australian laws.

We expect that you will work for your nominating employer in regional Australia for at least 2 years. If you don't, we might cancel your visa.

You must begin your employment within 6 months of:

entering Australia if we granted you the visa outside Australia
the visa grant date if we granted you the visa in Australia

See how long you can stay

Permanently

Travelling on your visa

From the date we grant this visa, you can travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years.

After that period, you will need a Resident Return (RRV) visa to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.

To see when your travel condition ends, use VEVO.

Proving you have a visa

To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.

Working

When you work in Australia, you are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.

Bringing family

As an Australian permanent resident, you might be able to sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia.

To find a visa for your relatives, explore visa options.

Becoming an Australian citizen

After a certain time, you might be eligible for Australian citizenship. Find out more about becoming a citizen.

For citizenship purposes, your permanent residency starts on the day:

we grant the visa, if you were in Australia
you entered Australia on this visa, if you were outside Australia when we granted it

Leaving Australia

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.

Ensure your visa is still valid

Check your conditions and the expiry of your visa in VEVO.

See what you can and must do if your visa has expired or is about to expire.

At the Border

Leaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

After you leave

Proving you have been to Australia

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.