The Visa Guide

The Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR) visa is for skilled people who wish to live and work in a regional or low population growth area in Australia.

From 1 July 2004, eligible people who want to come to Australia as skilled migrants will be able to obtain a three-year temporary residence visa (Temporary Skilled-Independent Regional Migration Visa) if they commit to living and working in regional Australia.

After two years, they will be able to apply for permanent residency.

Salient features

• Passmark - 110 points...check your eligibility
• Fast track/ priority processing compared to the General Skilled category
• Applicants (and family members) must live, work or study in regional Australia or a low population metropolitan centre for the duration of their SIR (Provisional) visa.
• Successful applicants will get a 3 year temporary work permit/ visa.
• SIR visa holders must live and work in or a low population growth metropolitan area for at least 2 years before they can apply for permanent residence
• State or territory government authority sponsorship is a must

From 1st July 2006, SIR applicants will get 10 points as bonus points...this means that the passmark becomes effectively 100 points.

• New South Wales: www.business.nsw.gov.au
• Northern Territory: www.migration.nt.gov.au
• Queensland: www.migration.qld.gov.au
• South Australia: www.immigration.sa.gov.au
• Tasmania: www.development.tas.gov.au
• Victoria: www.migration.vic.gov.au

Process

• Check your eligibility
• Do the skills assessment
• Apply for state nomination
• Attach sponsorship form to the DIMIA application
• Once visa is approved, work in the approved region for 2-3 years and apply for permanent residence

Applying for permanent residence

SIR visa holders who have met the SIR visa conditions of:

• having lived in regional Australia for at least 2 years; and
• having been employed (including self employed) for at least 12 months in regional Australia

may apply for one of the following permanent residence visas:

• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)
• State/Territory Nominated Independent (SNTI)
• State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner

SIR visa holders will need to provide evidence that they meet the requirements for permanent residence applicable at the time of application. Also, Previous residence and employment in regional Australia on other visas cannot be counted towards satisfying the residential/ employment requirements necessary to apply for a permanent visa.

If the visa holder is not eligible to apply for permanent residence, they may be eligible for a second SIR (Provisional) visa.

While there is provision to grant an additional SIR (Provisional) visa, it is unlikely that this will occur if there has not been any attempt to comply with the conditions of the SIR (Provisional) visa held.