Overview:
The Regional Sponsored Scheme (Subclass 187) was a visa pathway in Australia that allowed skilled workers to be sponsored by an employer in regional Australia for permanent residency. However, this visa was replaced by the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) in March 2018. Despite its closure, the Subclass 187 visa was an important part of Australia’s immigration policy, particularly for regional areas.
If you need assistance with this profession such as EOI lodgement, skill assessment, PR application lodgement or would like to study courses related to Civil Engineering Draftsperson, we have all colleges and universities all over Australia. Contact us for more info and guidance.
Email: info@immiedu.com.au
Contact: 04 2626 3536.
Overview of the Subclass 187 Visa
- Purpose:
- The Subclass 187 visa was designed to attract skilled workers to regional areas of Australia where there was a shortage of local talent. It aimed to support economic growth in these areas by filling critical skill gaps.
- Eligibility:
- To be eligible for the Subclass 187 visa, applicants needed to be nominated by an Australian employer who was located in a designated regional area.
- The applicant had to meet the age requirement (under 45 years), English language proficiency, and skills relevant to the nominated occupation.
- Applicants also needed to meet health and character requirements.
- Streams:
- The visa had two main streams: Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream and Direct Entry (DE) stream.
- TRT Stream: This was for applicants who had already worked for their employer on a Subclass 457 visa (or its replacement, the Subclass 482 visa) for at least two years.
- DE Stream: This was for applicants who were applying directly for permanent residency without having worked for the employer in Australia before.
- The visa had two main streams: Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream and Direct Entry (DE) stream.
- Benefits:
- Permanent Residency: Successful applicants were granted permanent residency in Australia, allowing them to live and work in the country indefinitely.
- Access to Medicare: PR holders gained access to Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare.
- Pathway to Citizenship: After fulfilling the residency requirements, visa holders could apply for Australian citizenship.
- Family Inclusion: Applicants could include their immediate family members (spouse and children) in the visa application.
- Obligations:
- Applicants were required to work for their sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation for at least two years after the visa was granted.
- Moving away from the regional area or leaving the sponsoring employer within this period could lead to visa cancellation unless there were extenuating circumstances.
Transition to the Subclass 186 Visa
With the closure of the Subclass 187 visa in March 2018, the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa took over as the main pathway for employers to sponsor skilled workers for permanent residency, including in regional areas. The Subclass 186 visa has similar eligibility requirements and streams (TRT and DE) but applies across Australia, not just in regional areas.
Impact on Regional Areas
The transition from the Subclass 187 visa to the Subclass 186 visa reflects a shift in Australia’s immigration policy towards a more unified approach to skilled migration. However, the focus on regional migration continues with other visa options like the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Subclass 491 visa and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494 visa, which are designed to encourage skilled migrants to live and work in regional areas.
Conclusion
The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 187) visa played a critical role in addressing regional skill shortages in Australia. While it has been replaced by the Subclass 186 visa, its legacy continues in Australia’s ongoing efforts to promote regional development through targeted migration policies.
For more resources: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/
If you need assistance with this profession such as EOI lodgement, skill assessment, PR application lodgement or would like to study courses related to Civil Engineering Draftsperson, we have all colleges and universities all over Australia. Contact us for more info and guidance.
Email: info@immiedu.com.au
Contact: 04 2626 3536.