Skilled Regional Sponsored Provisional Visa
(subclass 475)
This is a three year provisional visa for those unable to fulfil the criteria for Skilled – Independent category. The candidate in this case must be either sponsored by an eligible Australian relative living in a designated area of Australia or nominated by a participating state or territory. After living for two years and working for at least one year in a specified regional area, the candidate may apply for a permanent visa. Any secondary applicants included in the visa application can live, work and / or study in a Specified Regional Area in Australia.
This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market. The number of points required for this visa is currently 100.
This visa requires that the candidate is sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government.
Compliances
Main applicant and secondary applicant obligations
The candidate and any accompanying dependants must live and work or study in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.
If sponsored by a relative, the relative sponsor is required to sign a sponsorship undertaking to provide accommodation and/or financial assistance as required to meet their relatives living needs during their first two years in Australia. The sponsor must also be in a position to provide any other support such as child care or to enable their relatives to attend English language classes. The two year period starts from the date the applicant enters Australia as a holder of this visa.
The candidate and any accompanying dependants must live and work or study in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.
If sponsored by a relative, the relative sponsor is required to sign a sponsorship undertaking to provide accommodation and/or financial assistance as required to meet their relatives living needs during their first two years in Australia. The sponsor must also be in a position to provide any other support such as child care or to enable their relatives to attend English language classes. The two year period starts from the date the applicant enters Australia as a holder of this visa.
Main Applicant Eligibility
Age - Applicants must be at least 18 years old and younger than 45 at the time of application.
English language - In most cases, applicants must have "vocational" or “competent” English. This means that they must speak English well enough to communicate in a work environment in Australia.
Nominated occupation – In order to apply for a skilled visa, applicants must have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) Once applicants nominate an occupation, they must have their skills assessed by a government appointed Australian Assessing Authority in order to determine if their skills are appropriate for this visa type.
Qualifications - To qualify for most kinds of skilled visas, applicants must have either university or trade qualifications. There are some exceptions where substantial work experience might suffice. The relevant Skills Assessment Authority will assess all certificates and work experience skills.
Recent work experience - Applicants are required to have recent work experience in their nominated occupation at the time the visa is lodged. However, this requirement is waived for students with Australian qualifications (generally onshore applicants).
Recent work experience exemption - Applicants who have studied for at least two years in Australia may have the work experience requirement waived if they lodge their skilled visa application within six months of completing their studies.
The applicant must pass all health and character requirements.
In most cases secondary applicants will need to meet requirements of location, English language ability, health and character. These requirements may vary depending on the type of visa. Any applicant aged 18 years or over will have to sign an Australian values statement.
English language - In most cases, applicants must have "vocational" or “competent” English. This means that they must speak English well enough to communicate in a work environment in Australia.
Nominated occupation – In order to apply for a skilled visa, applicants must have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) Once applicants nominate an occupation, they must have their skills assessed by a government appointed Australian Assessing Authority in order to determine if their skills are appropriate for this visa type.
Qualifications - To qualify for most kinds of skilled visas, applicants must have either university or trade qualifications. There are some exceptions where substantial work experience might suffice. The relevant Skills Assessment Authority will assess all certificates and work experience skills.
Recent work experience - Applicants are required to have recent work experience in their nominated occupation at the time the visa is lodged. However, this requirement is waived for students with Australian qualifications (generally onshore applicants).
Recent work experience exemption - Applicants who have studied for at least two years in Australia may have the work experience requirement waived if they lodge their skilled visa application within six months of completing their studies.
The applicant must pass all health and character requirements.
Secondary applicant eligibility
Secondary applicants that may be included in a permanent or provisional visa application are spouse / interdependent partner / dependent child of main applicant or spouse or interdependent partner / dependent relative of main applicant or spouse.In most cases secondary applicants will need to meet requirements of location, English language ability, health and character. These requirements may vary depending on the type of visa. Any applicant aged 18 years or over will have to sign an Australian values statement.