No Family in Australia? Migrate to Regional Australia!

Regional Australia is defined as all areas outside Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. It is governed by post code and can be found by visiting www.immi.gov.au . The majority of emigrants have a desire to live where the majority of Australians wish to live – on the coastal areas and Capital Cities.

Australia has a skilled shortage, and those who have qualified with Certificate III, IV, Diploma, and Bachelor Degree or higher have a great opportunity to be successful in an application providing they are 45 years old or younger at the time of application.

To make sure there is an even playing field, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has in place 12 criteria from which skilled applicants must achieve a score of up to 120 points to obtain a Skilled visa: – Skill, Age, English skills, Specific work experience, Australian work experience, Study in Australia, Occupations in Demand (MODL), other language skills, partner skills, study in a Regional area, State or Territory Sponsorship and Family Sponsorship in Designated area.

Skilled applicants who are finding it difficult to achieve the 120 points still have options. If they have family already living in Australia who are either Australian Citizens or Settled Permanent Residents (2 years) may apply for a Sponsored Skilled Independent visa. This visa only requires 100 points to be achieved from the 12 criteria. If the family live in a Designated Area of Australia and are prepared to sponsor the applicant, the restrictions on the family are relaxed and expanded to include grandparent and first cousin and the applicant is awarded a massive 25 points. This, of course, is to encourage emigrants to move to the Regional Areas of Australia as they are struggling more so than the Coastal Areas. Designated Area is defined as all of Australia except Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Brisbane, and Perth.

If applicants do not have family in Australia, they have the opportunity of obtaining Sponsorship from one of the States of Australia or Territories being the Australian Capital Territory or Northern Territory (State/Territory Sponsorship). This requires research by visiting the various States’ web sites and finding the page which lists all the jobs they are looking for. Once contact and approval are obtained from the State/Territory, the applicant must apply for the State or Territory Sponsored Skilled visa. This is a 3 year Temporary visa which only requires 100 points. The applicant MUST live in the Regional area for at least the first 2 years, working for 1 of those years, after which they may move to any area in Australia.