Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 487)

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 487)

Overview This is a three (3) year provisional visa for skilled applicants in Australia who are either overseas students, or holders of certain temporary visas. You must be either sponsored by a relative living in a designated regional area of Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government. This regional skilled visa program offers pathways to permanent residency by a two stage process: after living for two (2) years and working for at least one (1) year in a Specified Regional Area on a temporary visa, you may apply for a permanent visa (Subclass 887).
Who is eligible for a regional sponsored provisional visa?
1.    You must be either one of the following:
•    Overseas students who met the Australian study requirement in the last six (6) months; or
•    People in Australia holding one of these visas:
o    Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 497) and you have recently completed an Australian qualification which was two (2) years study duration; or
o    Skilled – Graduate (Subclass 485) and you have qualifications closely related to your nominated skilled occupation; or
o    Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Subclass 476) and you have qualifications closely related to your nominated skilled occupation; or
o    Working Holiday (Subclass 417) and you have held this visa for at least 6 months; or
o    Occupational Trainee (Subclass 442) and who have completed the traineeship or course for which that visa was granted.
2.    You must be under 45 years of age
3.    You must have good English language skills
4.    You must have skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (‘SOL’) and have completed a Skills Assessment
•    Your nominated occupation must be a 60 point or 50 point occupation on the SOL
5.    You are sponsored by an eligible Australian relative or State or Territory government agency
6.    You meet health and character requirements (see Public Interest Criteria)
7.    You are willing to stay and work in a regional area for the duration of your visa: this visa depends on you living and working in a designated regional area so you must tell the Department if you move between regional areas or out of a regional area.
For more information about sponsorship eligibility, see Family Member Sponsorship or State and Territory Nomination
How will my visa application be assessed?
You must meet the prescribed criteria for the grant of the visa. You will be assessed using the points test and required to reach at least 100 points.