Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) is a permanent visa for people with a job offer in gazetted regional areas of Australia. The threshold requirements are lower than for an Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
 There are 2 stages, the nomination and the Visa application.

Nomination - The Australian Employer

• Must be in Regional Australia and willing to offer employment to an overseas person for at least 2 years.
• Must be actively and lawfully operating in regional Australia
• Satisfactory record of compliance with immigration laws
• Must have a satisfactory record of compliance with workplace relations laws
• Must apply for certification from a Regional Certifying Body (RCB), these exist in each Australian state and territory
• Must demonstrate a need for a paid employee
• The position must require a diploma-level qualification, or be in a trade

The Visa application – the Employee

• Must hold diploma or trade qualification
• Must have functional English unless exceptional circumstances apply
• Must be under 45years  unless exceptional circumstances apply
• Main visa applicant and family members  must meet health and character requirements

Processing time

To reduce processing times for applications for Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)  we use a  ‘DIAC decision ready checklist’.   This provides us as Registered Migration Agents with the capacity to certify an RSMS application as decision ready to enable access to priority processing.