Regional Sponsored Visa
The Regional Sponsored visa allows employers in regional Australia to sponsor skilled overseas workers to address labour shortages.
What is the Regional Sponsored Visa?
The Regional Sponsored visa allows businesses located in designated regional areas of Australia to sponsor skilled overseas workers for positions that cannot be filled locally.
The visa helps regional employers address workforce shortages while providing skilled migrants with opportunities to live and work in regional Australia.
It may also provide pathways to permanent residency after meeting specific requirements.
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✔ Have a job offer from a regional Australian employer
✔ Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
✔ Meet the required skills and qualifications
✔ Meet English language requirements
✔ Meet health and character requirements -
• Work in regional Australia for an approved employer
• Opportunity to live and work in growing regional communities
• Potential pathway to permanent residency
• Bring eligible family members to Australia -
Regional employers must:
✔ Be an approved sponsor
✔ Offer a genuine full-time role
✔ Meet the market salary requirements
✔ Demonstrate labour market testing where required -
✔ Eligibility assessment
✔ Employer sponsorship preparation
✔ Visa application preparation
✔ Lodgement and monitoring
✔ Ongoing support until decision -
Yes. Many regional sponsored visa holders may become eligible for permanent residency after working and living in regional Australia for a required period and meeting the visa conditions.
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Regional Australia generally refers to all areas outside the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Many cities and towns across Australia are classified as regional for migration purposes.