If I want to apply for the SIR visa, do I need to get my skills assessed first ?

Yes. To apply for a SIR visa you must be able to nominate an occupation listed on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and be assessed as having the skills required to work in that occupation in Australia. This should be done before you approach a state/territory government agency about possible sponsorship. The first step is to do a skills assessment, which is available here.

How do I arrange sponsorship by a state/territory government for an application for a SIR visa ?

Probably the simplist/quickest way is to visit participating state and territory government websites as most list employment vacancies in their state/territory. However before you approach any state and territory authority about sponsorship, you must first have your skills assessed to confirm that you can work in your nominated occupation in Australia.

I have a 'pooled' subclass 136 application. If I accept the 'invitation' to apply for a SIR visa, will it affect this application ?

No. Regardless of whether you accept the invitation to apply for a SIR visa, your application for a subclass 136 visa will remain 'pooled' until it is withdrawn by you or is otherwise decided.

Can I add a child, spouse or other dependant to my SIR visa application after it has been lodged ?

Once your SIR application has been lodged, only a dependant child may be added to your application (without charge) provided the application has not been finalised. If the application has been decided, then your child will need to lodge a seperate application and pay the prescribed application fee.

If your spouse, or other dependant family member, was not included in your original application then they are required to lodge a separate application for a SIR visa irrespective of whether your application has been finalised.

Can I live/work in regional Australia while my family lives elsewhere ?

No. One of the aims of the program is to keep family units together in regional Australia. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, members of your family unit are required to live with you.

The SIR visa states I must live, work and study in regional Australia. Does that mean I can study full-time on a SIR visa ?

No. The SIR visa is a 'provisional' visa and you will need to satisfy the requirements for permanent residence (PR) before it expires. This includes being employed full-time.
You should also be aware that to be eligible to apply for permanent residence, you might require sponsorship or nomination from an employer of State or Territory government agency. Consequently, the type of work you do while on your SIR visa may affect your eligibility for PR.

How many hours a week do I need to be employed to meet the 'work' requirement ?

The main SIR visa holder is expected to find employment in regional Australia as soon as possible after their arrival or, if their visa is granted in Australia, as soon as the visa is granted. To meet the 'work' requirement to apply for permanent residence, it is expected that the main SIR visa holder be employed on a full-time basis for at least 12 months. For the purposes of the SIR visa, full-time employment is normally for 35 hours a week. Any employment for less than 30 hours a week will not be regarded as full-time.

If I work in regional Australia, does the employment have to be with one employer ?

No. Employment may be with more than one employer provided that the total period of employment is at least 12 months.

Can any employment or residence I had in regional areas before my SIR visa was granted count towards my permanent visa application ?

No. Only employment and residence accumulated in regional Australia after you were granted your SIR visa is counted.

What happens if I have lived in regional Australia but can't meet the visa requirements to be granted a permanent visa after three years ?

A second SIR visa may be granted if you have complied with the conditions of your visa. It should be noted that the regulations allow for one more SIR visa to be granted. If granted, the second SIR visa will be valid for 12 months ONLY.

More information on the skilled independent regional visa

The first step on this process is to complete a skills assessment. We will then be able to advise you of your eligibility to migrate to Australia. Click here to proceed to the assessment.