FEATURES

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme or RSMS visa is a permanent employer-sponsored visa which requires a job offer in a Regional Area of Australia.

EMPLOYER’S ELIGIBILITY

• There should be no adverse information on the business.
• Business complies with Australian immigration and workplace laws.
• The employer should be from the Regional Area.

EMPLOYEE’S ELIGIBILITY

• Nomination application must be approved within the six months before you apply.
• Should be under 45 years age at the time of application
• Should have skills assessment in the occupation specified in the instrument at the time of application if you are applying under Direct Stream Stream. TRT stream does not require a skills assessment.
• Should have three years of relevant work experience. Two years if you were granted or have applied for 457 visa before 18 April 2017.
• Should have Competent English language at the time of application
• Meet Health and Character requirements

RSMS Application Stages

There are in general three stages to an RSMS application:

• RCB Certification: The Regional Certifying Body will ensure that the position is genuine and in many cases require that the position has been advertised
• Nomination: Review of the business and position by the Department of Immigration
• Visa application: There are three pathways, and generally the skill level is lower than for the ENS program.

RSMS Application Areas

In order to be granted an RSMS visa, the employee must be offered a position in a “regional area". The regional areas are specified by postcode by the Department of Immigration. The following are considered Regional areas for the purposes of RSMS sponsorship:

• The whole of  Western Australia
• The whole of South Australia
• The whole of Tasmania
• The whole of the ACT
• The whole of Northern Territory
• New South Wales (NSW) – all areas excluding Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong
• Victoria – all areas excluding Melbourne
• Queensland- all areas excluding Brisbane