Canberra employers are able to sponsor skilled workers on a permanent or temporary basis under the following schemes: Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Subclass 119/857)—Permanent Residence  Long Stay Business Visa (Subclass 457)—Temporary Residence

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Subclass 119/857)—Sponsoring an Employee to Live and Work Permanently in Australia

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) enables Canberra employers to fill 'skilled' positions, on a permanent basis, with non-Australian citizens, where they have been unable to fill a vacancy from the local labor market or through their own training programs. Under the RSMS, the nominated position must be certified by a Regional Certifying Body (RCB). The RCB in Canberra is the ACT Skilled and Business Migration Program, BusinessACT.

Click on the following links to obtain an application form and information/guidelines on how to lodge an application for ACT Government Certification of a RSMS Nomination:

• RSMS Application Form ( 186 Kb)
• RSMS Information and Guidelines ( 162 Kb)

Long Stay Business Visa (Subclass 457)—Sponsoring an Employee to Live and Work in Australia for up to Four Years

The Temporary Business (Long Stay) Subclass 457 Visa enables approved Australian or overseas businesses to sponsor overseas employees to come to Australia on a temporary basis for up to four years, to fill certain skilled positions.

The Regional Subclass 457 Visa allows for employers in Canberra to sponsor positions that do not meet the skill and/or salary thresholds. Under the Regional Subclass 457 Visa, the nominated position must be certified by a Regional Certifying Body (RCB). The RCB in Canberra is the ACT Skilled and Business Migration Program, BusinessACT.

Click on the following links to obtain an application form and information/guidelines on how to lodge an application for ACT Government Certification of a Regional 457 Nomination.

• Regional Subclass 457 Visa Application Form ( 187 kB)
• Regional Subclass 457 Visa Information and Guidelines ( 158 kB)

 Lodgement of Application

Applications for sponsorship or certification to the ACT Government should be forwarded to:

The Manager
Skilled and Business Migration
ACT Chief Minister's Department

 Processing Time

The average processing time to complete applications is 15 working days.

For further details about this program contact: