187 Regional Employer Sponsored Visa
Subclass 187 Regional Employer Sponsored Visa Overview
Applicants who previously held a Subclass 457 visa, have worked for their sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation for at least two years, and whose employer is willing to offer them a permanent position.
Direct Entry Pathway: Suitable for applicants who have never worked or have only briefly worked in Australia, as well as former Subclass 457 visa holders who do not meet the requirements for the temporary to permanent transition stream.
Labour Agreement Pathway: For applicants sponsored through a labour agreement or regional migration agreement (this is a special category designated by the Australian government and is not applicable to general applicants).
*This article focuses on the Direct Entry Pathway for the Subclass 187 Regional Employer Sponsored Permanent Residency Visa.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: Must be under 45 years old.；
- Employer Nomination: Must be nominated by an approved Australian employer based in a designated regional area.；
- Regional Certification: The employer must have their nomination certified by a Regional Certifying Body (RCB).；
- Work Experience: At least three years of relevant work experience (some applicants may be exempt).）
- English Proficiency: Must achieve Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each component or equivalent), with test results valid for up to three years.；
- Health Requirements: Must meet Australia’s health standards.；
- Character Requirements: Must provide a police clearance certificate to prove good character.
- Skills Assessment & Qualification Requirements for Subclass 187
- Exemptions for Subclass 187 Regional Employer Sponsored Visa
Application Process
- Nomination by an Australian employer;
- Determine the nominated occupation based on the STSOL, MLTSSL, and ROL occupation lists applicable for employer sponsorship;
- Complete skills assessment;
- Prepare for the IELTS test;；
- Employer submits the nomination application to the Department of Home Affairs;
- Submit the visa application within six months after the employer’s nomination is approved;
- Telephone interview by the Department of Home Affairs;
- Health examination;
- Visa approval.
Processing Time
- RCB Employer Certification Stage: Approximately 1-3 months.
- Employer Nomination Application: Approximately 6-12 months；
- Visa Application Stage: Approximately 12-16 months.
Visa Application Fees
- The cost for Regional Certifying Body (RCB) assessment varies by state/territory. No employer nomination fee is required for the 187 visa.
- Visa Application Fees：
- Primary Applicant: AU $4,045.00；
- Dependent Applicant (18 years and above): AU $2,025.00；
- Dependent Applicant (under 18 years): AU $1,010.00.
English Language Training Fee
- The primary applicant must achieve an IELTS score of at least 6 in each component when applying for the 187 visa. If the primary applicant does not have an IELTS overall score of at least 4.5 at the time of application submission, a language training fee of AU $9,800.00 must be paid before the visa is granted.
- The spouse or dependent children aged 18 and above who do not achieve an IELTS overall score of 4.5 must pay a language training fee of AU $4,890.00 per person.
*Note: The above policies and fees are subject to the final updates from the Australian immigration department.