Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187)

This visa is for skilled workers from outside Australia or skilled temporary residents who live and work in regional Australia. It has three streams.

• The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years and their employer wants to offer them a permanent position.
• The Direct Entry stream is for people who have never, or only briefly, worked in the Australian labour market.
• The Agreements stream is for people sponsored by a employer through a labour or regional migration agreement.

People can apply for this visa if they:

• want to live and work in regional Australia, meaning not in the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne
• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer located in regional Australia
• are younger than 50 years of age
• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements.