Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker
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At a glance
- Base application charge
- A$6,140
- Checked with the Department on 22 October 2026
- Primary applicant only. The Department publishes five further charges per row.
- 90% decided within
- 12 months
- Slowest of 2 streams - see below
- Age limit
- Under 45
- English
- Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each band, or equivalent PTE/TOEFL/CAE/OET)
Processing times
How long the Department took to decide recently finalised applications. Each figure is a percentile, not an average or a promise.
| Stream | 50% decided within | 90% decided within |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Sponsored | 8 months | 12 months |
| Labour Agreement | 4 months | 9 months |
Captured from the Department of Home Affairs on 16 October 2026. The Department does not state a reporting period for this source. Check the Department's tool for the figure as it stands today.
Streams
Each stream has its own eligibility, duration and charge. Read them alongside the Department's page before lodging.
| Stream | Duration | Base fee | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|
Employer Sponsored Sponsored by an approved employer in regional Australia. Valid 5 years. Pathway to 191 permanent visa after 3 years. Regional only | 5 years | A$6,140 Primary applicant | MLTSSLSTSOLROL Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each band, or equivalent) Pathway to subclass 191 |
Labour Agreement Under a labour agreement between an employer and the Australian Government for regional positions. Regional only | 5 years | A$6,140 Primary applicant | As specified in the labour agreement Pathway to subclass 191 |
As published by the Department of Home Affairs on 22 October 2026
Data verified from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Charges and processing times are published by the Department of Home Affairs and change from time to time. Each figure on this page carries its own capture date - the page has no single “as at”, because the charge and the processing times are captured separately.
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ImmiIQ keeps each case on one client record, with its documents, the Department's forms and a portal the client signs in to.
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