FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- NSW Sponsorship for Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa
- NSW Skilled Sponsored Visa
- NSW Sponsorship for Business Migration
A. New South Wales Sponsorhip for Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa
- What criteria do I have to meet to apply for a Skilled Regional Sponsored visa?
- Can I be sponsored by the NSW Government and live in Sydney?
- Where can I settle in regional area of NSW?
- Do I need to have specific skills to qualify for sponsorship for the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa?
- Skilled Regional Sponsored visa is a provisional visa. How do I qualify for permanent residence?
- How do I apply?
- How do I get my skills assessed by an Australian assessing authority?
1. What criteria do I have to meet to apply for a Skilled Regional Sponsored visa?
You need to be:
- under 50 years of age
- have competent level English language skills
- score 65 points on the DIAC points test
- have your skills recognised by the appropriate Australian assessing authority
- be prepared to live and work in regional NSW on a long term basis.
2. Can I be sponsored by the NSW Government and live in Sydney?
No. Under the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa program you commit to live and work in regional areas of NSW.
3. Where can I settle in regional area of NSW?
You can settle in regions of NSW that participate in the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa program. Currently the participating regions are Riverina, Orana, Murray and Northern Inland Regions. You cannot settle on the mid north coast or far north coast of NSW.
4. Do I need to have specific skills to qualify for sponsorship for the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa?
Yes. You need to be qualified with skills in short supply in regions of NSW. There are shortages in over 100 occupations listed in the Skilled Regional Sponsored notices supplied by NSW regions on the NSW Migration website.
5. Skilled Regional Sponsored visa is a provisional visa. How do I qualify for permanent residence?
Most Skilled Regional Sponsored visa holders in NSW will be sponsored by their employer for permanent residence under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). Regional employers can sponsor Skilled Regional Sponsored visa holders for permanent residence immediately, i.e they do not have to wait for two years on the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa.
Alternatively, Skilled Regional Sponsored visa holders who have lived and worked in regional NSW for two years can apply directly to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for a Skilled Regional 887 permanent residence visa.
NSW has delegated the sponsorship authority for this visa to each regional office. Follow the instructions on their notice, complete NSW Form R and pay the application fee.
7. How do I get my skills assessed by an Australian assessing authority?
See DIAC Form 1121i (www.immi.gov.au) for a list of Australian assessing authorities. Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) and Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS) are the assessing authorities for most skills.
B. New South Wales Skilled Sponsored Visa
- Can I live in Sydney?
- Do you support applications for occupations in all industry sectors?
- Do I need to have specific skills to qualify for NSW nomination?
- How do I apply?
- How do I get my skills assessed by an Australian assessing authority?
- Where NSW has listed ‘Experience’ as N/A (not applicable) on the skills in demand list do I still need to meet the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requirement for work experience?
- Is the International English Language Test System (IELTS) score required a minimum or band score?
- Can I move to another State after being nominated under Skilled Sponsored visa?
- Is Skilled Sponsored visa a provisional or permanent residence visa?
Yes. You can settle in Sydney or regional NSW.
2. Do you support applications for occupations in all industry sectors?
No. We support applications for occupations in the finance, pharmaceutical and biotechnology; information and communications technology (ICT); and sustainable environmental technologies.
3. Do I need to have specific skills to qualify for NSW nomination?
Yes. You need to have the academic qualifications, experience and English language skills described on the skills in demand lists on our web site.
You complete the application forms on our web site, attach all the necessary documents, pay the application fee and post or courier them to our office in Sydney to the attention of the Manager, Skilled Migration.
5. How do I get my skills assessed by an Australian assessing authority?
The appropriate assessing authority for each occupation is listed on the skills in demand lists. See DIAC Form 1121i (www.immi.gov.au) for full details of Australian assessing authorities.
6. Where NSW has listed 'Experience' as N/A (not applicable) on the skills in demand list do I still need to meet the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) requirement for work experience?
Yes. Unless you are an overseas student studying in Australia who qualifies for a waiver you must meet DIAC‘s work experience requirement. This is 12 months in the last 24 months working in a skilled occupation.
7. Is the International English Language Test System (IELTS) score required a minimum or band score?
It is a minimum score. For example, if the required score is 7.0, you must receive a score of at least 7.0 on each of the 4 IELTS tests (speaking, reading, writing and listening).
8. Can I move to another State after being nominated under Skilled Sponsored visa?
No. Under the Skilled Sponsored visa you commit to live and work in the State that nominates you for at least 2 years.
9. Is Skilled Sponsored visa a provisional or permanent residence visa?
It is a permanent residence visa.
C. New South Wales Sponsorhip for Business Migration
- Can I live in Sydney?
- Are there any businesses or sectors that the NSW Government prefers when considering applications from business migrants?
- Do I have to stick strictly to the business plan sponsored by NSW when I settle in NSW?
- What do you want to see in a business plan?
- Do I have to visit NSW on a research visit before applying?
- What are the benefits of NSW state sponsorship?
- Can I move to another State after being sponsored?
- Do I have to register a company or business in NSW before applying for a provisional visa?
- Do I need to use a migration agent to apply?
- How do I apply?
Yes. When you apply for NSW sponsorship you commit to establish a business or investment in Sydney or Regional NSW. There are separate thresholds for business migration to Sydney and Regional NSW.
2. Are there any businesses or sectors that the NSW Government prefers when considering applications from business migrants?
NSW will not sponsor business migrants in a limited number of excluded industry sectors for business migration to Sydney. There are no restrictions on any business sectors in Regional NSW.
3. Do I have to stick strictly to the Business Commitment sponsored by NSW when I settle in NSW?
Yes. Provisional visa holders sponsored by NSW who were granted their visa after 1 October 2009 must conduct business activity in accordance with the business commitment sponsored by NSW.
If you wish to change your proposed business activity you must seek agreement from NSW.
4. What do you want to see in a Business Commitment?
We are looking for substantial research into the proposed business. We look for a Business Commitment that is:
- within the applicant's financial resources to fund
- shows a strong commitment to enter into business in NSW
- includes projected revenue, costs, profit and capital expenditure.
5. Do I have to visit NSW on a research visit before applying?
Applicants for NSW sponsorship for all provisional visas must make one or more research visits to NSW in the 12 months before applying to prepare their business commitment. Applicants who use a consultant to assist in preparing their business plan should use a consultant who assists them in NSW during their research visits. An interview with NSW Trade and Investment to outline the applicant's business commitment at the end of their research visits is compulsory.
6. What are the benefits of NSW state sponsorship?
The business advisory and support services of NSW Trade & Investment are available to all migrants whether or not their migration applications have been sponsored by NSW. See www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au
7. Can I move to another State after being sponsored?
It is strongly advised that you obtain sponsorship at provisional stage from the State where you intend to establish your business and settle. If you were sponsored by another State and wish to move to NSW, you will need to obtain a letter of release from the first sponsoring state to obtain permanent residence based on a business in NSW.
8. Do I have to register a company or business in NSW before applying for a provisional visa?
No.
9. Do I need to use a migration agent to apply?
No. It is however recommended that you obtain advice specific to your circumstances from a licensed migration agent.
You complete the application forms on our website, attach all necessary documents, pay the application fee and post or courier them to our office in Sydney to the attention of the Manager, Business Migration
Talk to an expert
Business Migration
Phone: +61 (2) 9338 6692or send an email to:
Email:bizmigration@business.nsw bizmigration@business.nsw.gov.au