Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa to Australia

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa is to give support to employers that live in regional areas to find skilled workers. This visa is primarily to aid employers and is not provided by DIMIA for the benefit of prospective employees. As a migrant applicant you must live in an area of low population or slow economic growth. If the employer is not regionally based then you must apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme. 

The RSMS process is comprised of three stages:

• Certification of the position;
• Nomination by the employer; and
• The candidate's visa application.

1. Certification of the position

The employer needs to be able to demonstrate:

• that the position is a genuine full-time position;
• is available for at least two consecutive years;
• it requires skills at a minimum of an Australian diploma (including Australian trade certificates);
• the position must not be able to be filled from the local labour market; and employment and remuneration is in accordance with Australian industrial laws; and
• there is an employment contract/letter of appointment confirming and outlining the position.

2. Nomination by the employer

The completed and certified nomination signed by the Certifying Body needs to be forwarded to the relevant Business Centre which must be satisfied that the nomination has been certified.

3. The candidate's visa application will be assessed against the following:

• The candidate has the relevant qualifications equivalent to at least an Australian diploma;
• The candidate is able to satisfy any mandatory licensing, registration or professional membership requirements;
• The position is for a fixed term of at least two years supported by evidence of an employment contract;
• The candidate is under 45 years of age;
• The candidate has functional English language ability; and
• The candidate and all family members meet the health and character requirements..

ASSISTANCE WITH THIS VISA OR OTHER VISAS?

Each visa candidate must meet the full requirements of the visa. The help of a migration agent is strongly advised. Here is our general link to the Migration Agents Registration Authority so that you can better understand what migration agents do with regard to visas, their responsibilities and your rights as a member of the public in regard to Australian Visas and Citizenship.