The Subclass 187 visa, also known as the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa, was designed for skilled workers who wanted to live and work in regional Australia. It provided a pathway to permanent residency for individuals nominated by an employer in a designated regional area. This visa aimed to address skill shortages in regional Australia while offering skilled workers the opportunity to settle permanently.
What is the Subclass 187 Visa?
The Subclass 187 visa was a permanent visa that allowed skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia. It was part of the Employer Sponsored Visa program, and applicants needed to be nominated by an approved employer in a regional area. This visa was divided into two main streams:
- Direct Entry Stream: This stream was for workers who had not previously worked in Australia or had minimal work experience in Australia. Applicants needed to have their skills assessed by a relevant authority and be nominated by a regional employer.
- Temporary Residence Transition Stream: This stream was for individuals who already held a Subclass 457 or Subclass 482 visa and had worked for their employer in a regional area for at least two years. It allowed them to transition from temporary to permanent residency.
Eligibility Criteria for the Subclass 187 Visa
To qualify for the Subclass 187 visa, applicants had to meet specific criteria based on the stream they were applying under:
- Employer Nomination: The applicant must have been nominated by an approved employer located in a designated regional area of Australia.
- Skill Requirement: For the Direct Entry stream, applicants needed to have their skills assessed by the relevant authority. For the Temporary Residence Transition stream, applicants needed to have worked for their sponsoring employer for at least two years on a qualifying visa.
- English Proficiency: Applicants needed to demonstrate a competent level of English, typically by providing results from an approved English language test like IELTS or PTE.
- Age Requirement: Applicants must have been under 45 years of age at the time of application unless they were exempt from this requirement.
- Health and Character Requirements: Like most Australian visas, applicants needed to meet health and character requirements, which included providing police certificates and undergoing medical examinations.
Key Benefits of the Subclass 187 Visa
- Permanent Residency: Unlike some other work visas, the Subclass 187 visa granted permanent residency from the outset, offering long-term security for applicants and their families.
- Regional Opportunities: The visa was designed to help regional employers fill skill shortages, meaning applicants had access to a range of job opportunities in various industries across regional Australia.
- Family Inclusion: The Subclass 187 visa allowed applicants to include their spouse, dependent children, and other eligible family members in the application, allowing the whole family to benefit from permanent residency.
- Fast-Tracked to Permanent Residency: For individuals who were already working in regional Australia on a Subclass 457 or 482 visa, the Temporary Residence Transition stream provided a streamlined pathway to permanent residency.
- Work Rights: Visa holders could work for their sponsoring employer or in any other capacity in regional Australia after obtaining permanent residency.
Conclusion
The Subclass 187 visa provided skilled workers with a valuable opportunity to live and work permanently in regional Australia. With its clear pathway to permanent residency and the ability to bring family members, it was a popular option for those seeking long-term settlement in Australia’s regional areas. Although this visa has been replaced by the Subclass 494 visa, it played a crucial role in addressing skill shortages in regional areas while helping skilled workers build a future in Australia.