Visas & migration

New South Wales will sponsor applicants with skills required in regional areas of the State under the Skilled Regional Sponsored 475/487 visa program. This visa requires sponsorship from a State Government or a Regional Certifying Body.

An overview of opportunities in regional NSW (PDF).

Selection Criteria

To qualify for the Skilled Regional Sponsored Migration visa you must meet several selection criteria including:

• you must be under 50 years of age
• have competent level of English. For details on the International English Language Testing System visit www.ielts.org
• attain 65 points on the DIAC skills test
• be prepared to live and work in regional NSW
• have had your skills assessed by the appropriate Australian assessing authority in the skills or occupations shown below.

For more information to see if you qualify click here (PDF).

For more information on overseas qualifications and skills recognised in Australia go to www.immi.gov.au/asri

Regional Certifying Bodies in New South Wales will consider applications for sponsorship for Skilled Regional Sponsored Migration visas in the skilled occupations in those regions listed below. If you have qualifications recognised in Australia in the listed occupations and are interested in migrating to regional NSW you can apply to the Regional Certifying Bodies shown.

Sponsorship does not guarantee you a job. However, your job prospects in the listed occupations should be good as these skills are in short supply in these regions.

If your skill or occupation is not listed below then please do NOT contact the Regional Certifying Body as they will not sponsor your visa application. This site will be updated periodically with new or additional skills required in regional NSW.

For further information on living in regional NSW see the Regions of NSW section of this website.

Regions inviting applications

The following regions are inviting applications:

• Northern Inland Region
• Riverina
• Orana (Suspended till further notice)
  
• Murray

Read the summary of Skilled Regional Sponsored occupations.

For more information on living and working in the Riverina and Murray regions of NSW visit www.virtualcareers.com.au/countrychangebureau.

How to Apply

To apply for sponsorship from one of these regions complete NSW Form R and send it with a copy of your skills assessment and application fee to the regional office.

You will be sent a result letter that will advise the outcome of your application.  If your application is successful, your application form will be stamped and signed by the authorised officer from the regional office.

You must complete and return the form enclosed with the result letter with your DIAC application (TRN/BCC) reference number within 90 calendar days from the date of your sponsorship.  If you do not reply within this time your sponsorship will lapse.

Case Studies

Read case studies of skilled migrants who have successfully settled in regional NSW.

• Jacques Booyens
• Frederick Groenewald
• Mark Scott
• Dan Mahon
• Jonathon Davis
• Pauline Hammans
• Jon Isbell
• Tony Tong

Paths to permanent residence

The Skilled Regional Sponsored Migration visa is a provisional visa valid for three years.

Regional employers can sponsor provisional regional visa holders for permanent residence immediately under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) i.e. they do not have to wait for two years on a provisional visa.

Provisional regional 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.

Provisional regional visa holders who start a business in regional NSW can apply for permanent residence under the Business Owner (Residence) visa program.

Note:

NSW will not sponsor applications for the Skilled Regional Sponsored Migration visa for the Mid North Coast, Northern Rivers, Far Western, Central West, Southern Inland, Hunter or Illawarra regions of NSW.