1. What criteria do I have to meet to apply for a Skilled Regional Sponsored visa?
2. Can I be sponsored by the NSW Government and live in Sydney?
3. Where can I settle in regional area of NSW?
4. Do I need to have specific skills to qualify for sponsorship for the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa?
5. Skilled Regional Sponsored visa is a provisional visa. How do I qualify for permanent residence?
6. How do I apply?
7. 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 45 years of age
  
• have vocational level English language skills
  
• score 100 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, Central West, Hunter, New England and North West, Murray and Capital Regions. You cannot settle on the mid north coast or far north coast of NSW. The Illawarra region will try to identify employers to sponsor migrants with skills in demand in Wollongong and Port Kembla.

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 60 occupations listed in the SkilledRegional Sponsored notices supplied by NSW regions on the DSRD web site.

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). From 1 September 2007, regional employers can sponsor Skilled Regional Sponsored visa holders for permanent residence immediately, ie they do not have to wait for two years on the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa.

From 1 September 2007, 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.

6. How do I apply?

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.

1. Can I live in Sydney?
2. Do you support applications for occupations in all industry sectors?
3. Do I need to have specific skills to qualify for NSW nomination?
4. How do I apply?
5. How do I get my skills assessed by an Australian assessing authority?
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?
7. Is the International English Language Test System (IELTS) score required a minimum or band score?
8. Can I move to another State after being nominated under Skilled Sponsored visa?
9. Is Skilled Sponsored visa a provisional or permanent residence visa?

1. Can I live in Sydney?

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 and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors.

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 for listed on our web site.

4. How do I apply?

You complete the application forms on our web site, attach all the necessary documents 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.

1. Can I live in Sydney?
2. Are there any businesses or sectors that the NSW Government prefers when considering applications from business migrants?
3. Do I have to stick strictly to the business plan sponsored by NSW when I settle in NSW?
4. What do you want to see in a business plan?
5. Do I have to visit NSW on a research visit before applying?
6. What are the benefits of NSW state sponsorship?
7. Can I move to another State after being sponsored?
8. Do I have to register a company or business in NSW before applying for a provisional visa?
9. Do I need to use a migration agent to apply?

1.Can I live in Sydney?

Yes. You can settle in Sydney or regional NSW.

2. Are there any businesses or sectors that the NSW Government prefers when considering applications from business migrants?

No. NSW will consider sponsoring applications for businesses in all sectors.

3. Do I have to stick strictly to the business plan sponsored by NSW when I settle in NSW?

No. While on a provisional visa you can amend your business plan if necessary. You need to be able to meet the selection criteria for permanent residency in 2-4 years.

4. What do you want to see in a business plan?

We are looking for substantial research into the proposed business. We look for a business plan that is:

- consistent with the applicant‘s business history and expertise
- 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 Business Owner (Provisional) 163 and Senior Executive (Provisional) 164 visas must make one or more research visits to NSW in the 12 months before applying to prepare their business plan. 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. A meeting with the NSW Department of State and Regional Development to outline the applicant’s business proposal at the end of their research visits is recommended.

6. What are the benefits of NSW state sponsorship?

The business advisory and support services of the NSW Department of State and Regional Development are available to all migrants whether or not their migration applications have been sponsored by NSW.

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 another state.

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.