The Queensland Government encourages migrants with skills in demand to take advantage of the Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) visa and migrate to Queensland to contribute to the State's economy and share in the Smart State's future.

The Queensland Government is participating in the new Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) visa and may provide sponsorship to qualifying applicants with skills in demand. This visa is for skilled people who wish to live and work in regional Queensland.

View the list of postcodes considered regional for Australia immigration.

The visa is designed to help regional areas attract, and retain, skilled migrants to fill skills shortages and boost development in regional communities.

Applicants for the SIR (Provisional) visa will be required to sign an undertaking that they, and the members of their family unit, will live and work in regional Australia or a low population metropolitan centre for the duration of their SIR (Provisional) visa.

The SIR visa is a two-stage visa:
Provisional Stage:

• applicant smust apply for Australian State or Territory sponsorship
• applicants and their dependents must live in regional Australia for at least 2 years
• applicants must obtain full-time employment in regional Australia for a period of at least 12 months.

Permanent Residency Stage

• Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they, and their dependents, have resided in regional Australia for at least 2 years.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have been employed in regional Australia, on a full time basis, for at least 12 months.
• Applicants must apply for a permanent residency visa.

How do I apply for Queensland Government Sponsorship for the SIR Visa?

There are four steps to follow to obtain Queensland Government sponsorship for the SIR (Provisional) Visa:

Step 1 - Make sure you meet all critieria for the SIR visa. This includes:

• Being under 45 years of age at the time of lodgement.
• Having vocational level English.
• Scoring at least 110 points on the General Skilled Migration (GSM) Points Test.
• Meeting health and character requirements for permanent entry.

Step 2 - Check to see if your skill is in demand in regional Queensland
Step 3 - Research those regional areas seeking your skills
Step 4 - Complete SIR Queensland Government sponsorship application form and forward it to the Queensland government for assessment.

Apply to DIAC - forward your sponsorship documents and full SIR Visa application to DIAC for assessment.