Guidelines for Australian Skilled- Sponsored (Provisional) Visa (subclass 489)

The Skilled-Sponsored (Provisional) visa sub class 489 is available for the people who are sponsored by family member or relative living in a designated area in Australia.  A person holding this visa can live and work in a regional or low populated area in Australia.

In order to apply for this visa an applicant first need to submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect and this can be done by either living in Australia or outside it. 

If the applicant has secure sponsorship from an eligible family member or relative and meet the basic necessities for this visa would get an Invitation To Apply (ITA).

Application Eligibility Criteria:

Following are the requirements that make the applicants eligible:

• Applicants must be invited for applying.
• Applicants must be younger than 50 years old.
• Nominate an occupation matching with skills and qualifications and is also in Skilled Occupation List (SOL)
• Applicants must show the proof of English Language Proficiency.
• Applicants must score at least 60 points on the point test
• Applicants have a sound health and good character as well.

Visa Sponsorship by an Australian Family Member

In order to apply for this visa, the applicant must have the sponsorship of a family member who already is a permanent resident of a designated area of Australia. The temporary visa is valid for four years.

The applicant has to live in the nominated State/ Territory for the first two years of its new life in Australia.

Australian Skilled Sponsored Visa Process

This Skilled Sponsored Provisional visa is a three step application process which is followed as under:

Step1              At the first step the applicants eligibility checks whether they are allowed to apply or not. This process done by the Department of Immigration and Border protection (DIBP)

Step2              In case applicants get positive result in their eligibility assessment then they are asked to submit their “Expressions of Interest (EOI)” which is required.

Step3              In case of approval of “Expressions of Interest (EOI)” the applicants get the letter of invitation which allows the applicants to get Visa.

Eligible Sponsors

Following are the key points that make a sponsor eligible:

• Sponsor must attained the age of 18 years.
• Sponsor must be an Australian national.
• Sponsor must have permanent resident in Australia.
• Sponsor can also be an eligible resident of New Zealand.

To get the sponsorship the applicant must have one of the following relation with the sponsor

• A father - including a step father
• A child - including a stepchild
• A brother or sister - including adoptive or step brother
• A niece or nephew - including adoptive or step niece or nephew
• An aunt or an uncle - including adoptive or step aunt or uncle
• A grandparent or cousin.

Entitlements

Visa holders of this category can avail the following rights as living in Australia:

• Temporarily can live and work in a designated regional area of  Australia
• Can study in a specific area of Australia
• Can travel in and out from Australia only when the visa is valid
• Can apply for permanent residency after meeting certain conditions via skilled regional (Residence) visa subclass 887