New South Wales will sponsor applicants with skills required in regional areas under the Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) visa program. This visa requires sponsorship from a State Government or a Regional Certifying Body.

Selection Criteria
To qualify for the Skilled Independent Regional visa you must meet several selection criteria including:

• you must be under 45 years of age
• have vocational level English.
• attain 110 points on the DIAC skills test
• be prepared to live and work in regional NSW
• have had your skills assessed by the appropriate Australian assessing authority.
  

Regional Certifying Bodies in New South Wales will consider applications for sponsorship for Skilled Independent Regional visas in the skilled occupations in those regions listed below. If you have qualifications recognised in Australia in the listed occupations and are interested in migrating to regional NSW you can apply to the Regional Certifying Bodies shown.

Sponsorship does not guarantee you a job. However, your job prospects in the listed occupations should be good as these skills are in short supply in these regions.

Regions inviting applications
The following regions are inviting applications

• Australian Capital Region
• Northern Inland Region
• Riverina
• Orana
• Central West
• Hunter
• Murray
• Illawarra

SIR is a provisional visa valid for three years.

Most SIR visa holders in NSW will be sponsored by their employer for permanent residence under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS). From 1 September 2007, regional employers can sponsor SIR visa holders for permanent residence immediately ie. they do not have to wait for two years on the SIR visa. SIR visa holders who start a business in regional NSW can apply for permanent residence under the Business Owner (Residence) visa program.

From 1 September 2007, SIR visa holders who have lived and worked in regional NSW for two years can apply directly to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for a Skilled Regional 887 permanent residence visa.