Skilled Regional Sponsored (subclass 475)

Overview

This provisional visa, valid for three years, replaced the Skilled – Independent Regional (subclass 495) visa, the Skilled – Designated Area Sponsored (subclass 496) visa and the Skilled – Designated Area New Zealand Citizen (subclass 863) visa on 01 September 2007. Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa holders can apply for a permanent Skilled – Regional visa once they have lived for two years and worked full-time for one year in a specified regional area of Australia.

This visa is assessed by a points based system, with 100 points required to pass. There is no reserve pool for this visa.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a Skilled - Regional Sponsored (subclass 475) visa, applicants must meet certain requirements.

The person applying must be under 45 years of age and be sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area or sponsored by a state/territory government.

Applicants must meet the English language requirement threshold of:

• competent English; or
• vocational English if the applicant's nominated occupation is a trade
• concessional competent English if the applicant has paid a fee to attend an English language course in a participating state or territory
  

The applicant must nominate an occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and have a suitable skills assessment from the relevent assessing authority for the nominated occupation.

The person applying must have either:

• been employed for 12 out of the last 24 months in an occupation listed on the SOL; or
• met the two year study requirement in the last six months with Australian qualifications closely related to the nominated occupation

The applicant must meet the points test threshold of 100 points and pass all health and character requirements.