Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)

This visa is a three (3) year provisional visa for overseas students and certain visa holders who are unable to meet the criteria for a permanent skilled visa. You will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after you have lived for two (2) years, and worked at least 12 months, in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.

This visa requires you to be either:

• nominated by a participating State or Territory government agency
  or
• sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia

This visa uses a points test to select visa applicants with characteristics needed in the Australian labour market.

This visa is for you if you are in Australia and you are one of the following:

• an overseas student or former overseas student
• a holder of a Skilled - Graduate visa (subclass 485) or a Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476)
• a holder of a Trade Skills Training visa (subclass 471)
• a holder of a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
• a holder of an Occupational Trainee visa (subclass 442)

This visa is also for existing holders of a provisional skilled visa who have abided by the conditions on their visa and who need further time to meet the residence and/or employment criteria to apply for a permanent visa.

You must:

• be under 45 years of age
• have good English language skills
• have the skills and qualifications that meet the Australian standard for an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and your nominated occupation is classified as either:
  • a 60 point occupation
    or
  • a 50 point occupation

This visa:

• allows you to remain in Australia for up to three (3) years and requires you to live and work in a Specified Regional Area in Australia
• allows accompanying secondary applicants to work and study, but only in a Specified Regional Area of Australia
• provides a pathway to permanent residence

This visa allows you to live and work or study in a Specified Regional Area in Australia for up to three (3) years.

This is a ‘provisional’ visa. After you have lived in a Specified Regional Area in Australia for at least two (2) years, and worked full time for periods totaling at least one (1) year, you can apply for permanent residence.

Social Security

In general, as a temporary visa holder you will not qualify for Australian social security payments. You will only be eligible for limited JobSearch assistance to find employment after your arrival. It is very important that you understand that you should have enough money to support yourself (and your dependants) until you are able to gain employment.

Medicare

Generally temporary visa holders do not have access to Medicare. Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa holders from countries with which Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement will have restricted access to Medicare. People without access to Medicare are responsible for all health costs incurred in Australia. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you arrange suitable private health insurance. You may be able to lodge your application for private health insurance before you arrive in Australia. However, you should also be aware that health funds impose a waiting period before a contributor is eligible for some health fund benefits and pre–existng health conditions may not be covered.

Main and secondary applicant obligations

You and any accompanying secondary applicants must comply with all Australian laws as temporary residents.

You and any accompanying secondary applicants, must agree to live and work or study in a Specified Regional Area of Australia.

Note: The main applicant can study while they hold this visa, however they are expected to be looking for, and engaging in, full time work. Any study should be incidental to full time work.

If you do not comply with the conditions of your visa:

• your visa, and the visas of any accompanying secondary applicants, may be cancelled
• you will not be in a position to apply for another Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa
• you will not be in a position to apply for permanent residence.

Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)

Charge Type	Charge Amount
1st instalment	$2105
12 month renewal	$195
2nd instalment Exception: This is not payable if you hold a provisional visa, and paid the 2nd instalment for your first provisional skilled visa, and are applying for a 12 month renewal.	$2925