Australian Visa Bureau   »   Visas and Immigration   »   Australia Skilled Migration   »  Australian Skilled Sponsored Visa

Australian Skilled Sponsored Visa

The Australian Skilled - Sponsored Visa (subclass 176) entitles you to permanent residence in Australia based on a combination of your skills, your work experience and EITHER sponsorship from a family member who is already a permanent resident of Australia OR sponsorship by an Australian State or Territory.

You may live anywhere in Australia and the processing time for this visa is approximately 18 months.

To be eligible for this category you must:

• Meet the Basic Requirements as detailed earlier;
• Nominate a skilled occupation from the SOL;
EITHER
• Have a sponsor. You or your spouse must be related to the sponsor;
OR
• Be sponsored by an Australian State or Territory;
• Pass the Points Test.

A successful applicant is given a 5 year multiple entry visa to live and work in Australia. You need only to live in Australia for 2 of the 5 years to have the visa reissued for a further 5 years, or spend 4 consecutive years in Australia to be eligible for citizenship.

If you choose not to gain citizenship then you must apply for a Resident Return Visa before the original one expires in order to travel to and from Australia.

Do You Qualify For An Australian Skilled Sponsored Visa?

Your Family Sponsor

For some categories you must have a sponsor. A sponsor is a relative aged 18 years or over who is living in Australia, is an Australian citizen or permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen and is prepared to sponsor your application and who undertakes to assist the application, to the extent necessary, financially and in relation to accommodation for a period of 2 years.

You or your partner must be related to the family sponsor as either:

• a non-dependent child (a natural, adoptive or step-child);
• parent;
• a brother or sister (including adoptive step-siblings); or
• a niece or nephew (including adoptive or step-niece or nephew)

Your State or Territory Sponsor

Nominees are selected by States/Territories in Australia to meet the skills shortages in those States/Territories and you are expected to live in your nominated State/Territory for the first two years of your new life in Australia

If you were successful in applying under this category, you would have to undertake the following obligations:

• Live in the nominating State/Territory for at least 2 years;
• Keep immigration authorities informed of changes to your address; and
• Take part in surveys as required.

Each participating State/Territory maintains a list of occupations in demand whereby nomination may be a possibility.

Other Options for Skilled Applicants

Many applicants who qualify for Skilled - Sponsored migration are also eleigible for the Skilled - Independent option, which does not require candidates to have an employer sponsor to qualify.

However, if you fail to meet the pass mark for the Points Test on both these visa classes but are under 45, have vocational English and a degree, diploma, or trade qualification you may still be able to lodge an application and register for the Skill Matching Database.

Alternately, if you are under 45, have vocational English, a degree, diploma or trade qualification and a relative as distant as a first cousin living in an Australian Designated Area OR want to apply with a nomination from a relevant Australian state/territory, you may wish to consider a Skilled - Regional Sponsored Visa under either the family sponsored or state/territory nomination class.