The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 119/857)

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The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) was created to allow employers in regional or low population growth areas of Australia to sponsor foreign workers for a permanent visa to work in the country.

There are two types of employees who are eligible for this scheme:

  • Skilled workers from overseas
  • Skilled temporary residents currently in Australia

If you are already living and/or working in Australia, you may be eligible to apply for the onshore RSMS (Subclass 857) visa. However, if you are outside Australia, the offshore RSMS (Subclass 119) is the correct one for you. Note that you can lodge your application for the offshore RSMS visa in Australia, but you do need to be outside Australia at the time the visa is granted.

Once you are granted an RSMS visa, you and the dependent family members included in your application are allowed to live as permanent residents in Australia. With this visa, you and your dependents can:

  • Live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
  • Study in Australia (regardless of the level of education, from primary school to university)
  • Receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
  • Access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
  • Be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to residency eligibility criteria)
  • Sponsor people for permanent residence

How do I apply?

You will need an Australian employer to sponsor your application. The employer will need to:

  • Nominate the position that they wish to fill
  • Arrange certification by the Regional Certifying Body
  • Seek approval of the nomination from the department
  • Recruit the overseas worker to fill the nominated position

After that, you will need to formally accept the offer of employment before you can apply for the visa.

To apply, you will need to fill out the Application for employer sponsored migration to Australia form and submit all the necessary documentation. You will also be required to pay a fee.

Obligations

Your employer will be obliged to provide you with a letter of offer of employment contract which states that you will be employed:

  • Full-time
  • For a minimum of two years
  • In a regional area

As an employee, you will be required to do the following:

  • Commence employment within six months of arriving in Australia or within six months of the visa grant if you are already in Australia
  • Remain employed in the nominated position in the regional area for at least two years.

Failure to comply with these obligations might result in the cancellation of your visa.

What next?

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