Australia Skilled–Independent Regional (Provisional) Visas
This information is about applying for the Skilled–Independent Regional (Provisional) (SIR) visa introduced on 1 July 2004.
Introduction
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.
The visa was developed in consultation with state and territory governments and is designed to assist regional areas attract, and retain, skilled migrants to fill skill shortages, boost development in regional communities, and counter the population decline in rural areas.
The SIR (Provisional) visa is a temporary visa valid for a period of 3 years.
Applicants for the SIR (Provisional) visa will be required to sign an undertaking that they, and the members of their family unit, will live, work or study in regional Australia or a low population metropolitan centre for the duration of their SIR (Provisional) visa.
Applicants for a SIR (Provisional) visa must have state or territory government sponsorship.
Through a two-stage visa process, 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.
Two stage process to permanent residence
Skilled applicants who are sponsored by a state or territory government and who can obtain 110 points on the general skilled migration points test can apply for permanent residence through a two stage process:
Stage 1 - SIR (Provisional) visa stage - successful applicants will be granted a 3 year temporary visa to live and work/study in regional Australia.
Stage 2 - Permanent residence stage - 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
Note: If you are considering applying for the SIR (Provisional) visa, you should take every opportunity to find out about the employment opportunities and available services in the area where you are interested in living.
Priority processing
SIR visa applications will receive priority processing through the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre. This means they will be processed ahead of other applications for general skilled migration.
Regional Australia
Living in regional Australia or a low population growth metropolitan area means that SIR visa holders can live anywhere in Australia except in Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, the NSW Central Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne or the ACT.
