RDA Northern Rivers is the Regional Certifying Body for the Department of Home Affair’s Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) and we also provide assessments on behalf of the NSW Government for regional sponsorship for the 489 visa sub-class. Recently, the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs advised that two new visas will be introduced from November this year. We will continue to act as a regional certifying body for these new visas.
What are the new Visas?
The new skilled regional provisional visas will be for skilled migrants, and dependent family members, who want to live and work in Australia.
There will be two new skilled regional provisional visas introduced in November 2019:
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa: for people sponsored by an employer in regional Australia. The existing Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa will be replaced by a new Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa.
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa: for people who are nominated by a State or Territory government or sponsored by an eligible family member to live and work in regional Australia. This visa will replace the current 489 Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa.
Holders of the new skilled regional provisional visas will need to live and work in regional Australia. Visas will be granted with a validity period of up to five years. Holders of the new skilled regional provisional visas will be able to apply for a Permanent Residence visa. The Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa will commence in November 2022.
Importantly, to be eligible for permanent residence, holders of the new skilled regional provisional visas will need to demonstrate they have lived and worked in regional Australia while holding one of the new Skilled Regional Provisional visas.
What does this mean for existing Visa holders?
The introduction of the two new regional visas in November 2019 will not affect existing visa holders. Applications lodged with the Department of Home Affairs prior to November 2019 will continue to be processed in line with the conditions at the time of lodgement. There will be no impact on the permanent residence of current permanent visa holders.
What does this mean for employers and Migration Agents?
We will be accepting RSMS applications from employers or their agents until the change takes place on the 16th of November. Please refer to our website for announcements regarding the changeover.
Stay up to date
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay up to date via our website. Information about the new visas will be posted there as we get closer to the changeover date.
More Information…
More information on the new visas can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
