Skilled-Independent Regional (Provisional) Visas

Introduction

The Skilled–Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR) Visa is for skilled people who wish to live and work in a regional or low population growth area in Australia. The visa was developed in consultation with state and territory governments and is designed to assist regional areas, attract and retain skilled migrants to fill skill shortages, boost development in regional communities and counter the population decline in rural areas.

The SIR (Provisional) Visa is a temporary Visa valid for a period of 3 years.
Applicants for the SIR (Provisional) Visa will be required to sign an undertaking that they, and the members of their family unit, will live, work or study in regional Australia or a low population metropolitan centre for the duration of their SIR (Provisional) Visa.

Applicants for a SIR (Provisional) Visa must have State or Territory Government sponsorship. Through a two-stage Visa process, SIR Visa holders must live and work in or a low population growth metropolitan area for at least 2 years before they can apply for permanent residence.

Two Stage Process to Permanent Residence
Skilled applicants who are sponsored by a State or Territory Government and who can obtain 100 points on the general skilled migration points test can apply for permanent residence through a two stage process:

Stage 1 - SIR (Provisional) visa stage: Successful applicants will be granted a 3 year temporary visa to live and work/study in regional Australia.

Stage 2 - Permanent residence stage: SIR visa holders who have met the SIR visa conditions of:
• having lived in regional Australia for at least 2 years
• having been employed (including self employed) for at least 12 months in regional Australia; may apply for one of the following permanent residence visas:
 1. Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
 2. State/Territory Nominated Independent (SNTI)
 3. State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner

Note: If you are considering applying for the SIR (Provisional) visa, you should take every opportunity to find out about the employment opportunities and available services in the area where you are interested in living.

Priority Processing
SIR visa applications will receive priority processing through the Adelaide skilled processing centre. This means they will be processed ahead of other applications for general skilled migration.

Regional Australia
Living in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area means that SIR visa holders can live anywhere in Australia except in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the NSW Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne or the ACT.

Requirements for a SIR (Provisional) Visa

Introduction
All SIR (Provisional) visa applicants must meet the same basic requirements as other general skilled migration categories plus some additional requirements.

Basic Requirements - General skilled migration
For general skilled migration to Australia, you or your spouse must be able to satisfy all of the following basic requirements:
• You must be under 45 years of age when you apply.
• You must have sufficient ability in the English language for working in Australia, also known as 'vocational English'.
• A higher level of English is required for certain occupations where English ability forms part of the skills assessment. This information will be available from the relevant assessing authority. In the skilled–designated area and the skill matching visa categories, a lower level of English may apply. You are encouraged to have your English language ability tested before you apply. You will be able to claim 25 points if you sit the IELTS exam and score 7.0 in all four categories.
• You must have post-secondary (such as university or trade) qualifications (in a small number of occupations, substantial relevant work experience may be acceptable). Your skills must have been assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation.
• When you apply, you must nominate an occupation which fits your skills and qualifications. Your nominated occupation must be on the skilled occupations list (SOL). If your nominated occupation is 'Medical Practitioner', please refer migration of medical practitioners, under the general skilled migration program.
• If your nominated occupation is not on the SOL, you cannot apply.
• Recent work experience: This requirement is separate from the need to have your skills assessed as suitable for your nominated occupation before you apply.
• In the skill matching or skilled-designated area sponsored categories, you may be eligible with less work experience.
• You do not need to meet the work experience requirement if you meet the 2 years study in Australia requirement less than 6 months before lodging your visa application. This exemption cannot, however be used to waive any specific work experience requirement imposed by an assessing body as part of a skills assessment. If you intend taking advantage of this concession, you should note that the 6 month period begins from the date that you completed the qualification, not from the date the qualification was conferred.

Skills Assessment
Before you apply, you must have had your skills assessed by the relevant Australian assessing authority (as outlined on Form 1121i (PDF) Skilled Occupations List), for your nominated occupation. These assessment authorities are responsible for undertaking skills assessment for migration purposes, and are not employment agencies. They will not reply to requests for job placement. Nor can they give advice on the allocation of points. If you are unable to satisfy these basic requirements, you should NOT continue with a general skilled migration application.

Applicants can apply offshore or onshore. There are different requirements for each category. For specific requirements that must be met in each category, see:
• Applicants outside of Australia
• Applicants who have a 'pooled' Skilled–Independent visa application
• Overseas students applying in Australia
• Applying for a second SIR (Provisional) visa

Sponsorship
All applicants for the SIR (Provisional) visas must be sponsored by a State or Territory Government authority. Applicants must provide evidence of their sponsorship when they apply for a SIR (Provisional) visa. People wanting to apply for a SIR (Provisional) visa should contact the relevant State or Government authority where they are interested in living, to find out about the sponsorship requirements.

Participating State and Territory Governments
This is a list of State and Territory Governments participating in the SIR (Provisional) visa program. This information will be updated as required:
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria

Australia Skilled Migration Information
Skilled Migration
We highly recommend you to fill in the Online Detailed Assessment Form in order to find out your chances / options and best strategy.

The skilled stream of Australia's Migration (non-humanitarian) Program is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or abilities that will contribute to the Australian economy.

There are three types of categories under which you can apply for skilled migration to Australia:
• Independent Migrants: you must be highly skilled and have education, skills and employability, which will contribute to the Australian economy. You are not sponsored by an employer or relative in Australia. You must satisfy the basic requirements of the visa as well as pass the Points Test;
• Skill Matching: for those who may not be able to meet the pass mark of the Points test but are seeking to be nominated by a State and territory Government or an employer;
• Family Sponsored Migrants: you are selected on the basis of your skills, age, English-language ability and family relationship. You must be sponsored by a relative already living in Australia. An Assurance of Support is required. You must satisfy the basic requirements of the visa. If you apply under the Skilled Australian Sponsored category you must pass the Points Test.

Please note! - That if you qualify for the points test it doesn't mean that you are going to succeed in the process you still have to pass the skills assessment and to submit all the documents in the right way in order to have the best chances to achieve your goal. Many people are mistaken on this point; by thinking that if they qualify on the points test they will succeed for sure. That's exactly where professional representation comes into effect as a very important factor.