Areas of migration specialty


SIR visa

Introduced on 1st July 2004 to encourage immigration to the regional areas of Australia.

Available for both on-shore and off-shore applicants wanting to migrate to Australia. With a lower point requirement than the Skilled Independent Visa Subclass 136, the SIR visa may be easier to apply for.

The SIR visa supports State and Territory Governments to sponsor skilled migrants who commit to living and working in regional Australia. Successful applicants are granted a three year temporary visa with the prospect of permanent residence. You will need to apply for State or Territory sponsorship to live in particular areas of that State.

The SIR visa is points-tested and provides an option for skilled people seeking permanent residence in Australia where they are unable to meet the pass mark for the Skilled Independent visa. Since 1 July 2005 an extra 10 points are allocated for the State/Territory sponsorship.

All areas of Australia are covered except Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, NSW Central Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

SIR applicants must be less than 45 years of age at the time of application (unless they have been invited to apply for a SIR visa), have vocational English language ability, post-secondary qualifications (or equivalent work experience), have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and recent work experience in a skilled occupation, or have recently completed an Australian degree, diploma or trade qualification.

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