Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (Subclass 119/857)
Fee-Free Visa Applications
You may be eligible to make a fee-free visa application for a visa under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS), if you are nominated by an employer and you have a valid application for an eligible General Skilled Migration visa. The following table provides information about which applicants may be eligible to make a free-free visa application.
| If you have a valid application for a ... | then you may be eligible to apply fee-free for a ... |
|---|---|
| subclass 861 – Skilled New Zealand Citizen visa | subclass 857 (RSMS) visa. |
| subclass 880 – Skilled Independent Overseas Student visa | subclass 857 (RSMS) visa. |
| subclass 881 – Skilled Independent visa | subclass 857 (RSMS) visa. |
| subclass 885 – Skilled Independent visa | subclass 856 (ENS) visa or subclass 857 (RSMS) visa |
| subclass 886 – Skilled Sponsored visa | subclass 856 (ENS) visa or subclass 857 (RSMS) visa |
| subclass 175 – Skilled Independent visa | subclass 121 (ENS) visa
|
| subclass 176 – Skilled Sponsored visa | subclass 121 (ENS) visa or subclass 119 (RSMS) visa In addition, if you also hold a Special Category (subclass 444) visa:
|
Subclass 861 visa applicants should already have been assessed against a points test, and have scored at least the applicable ‘pool mark’. For all other visa subclasses you must have made a valid visa application.
In these circumstances, you will need to complete Form 47ES, but you do not have to pay the first instalment of the visa application charge.
See: Form 47ES - Application for employer sponsored migration to Australia (886KB PDF file)
Regardless of whether you have made a fee-free visa application, you must still satisfy the visa requirements for the relevant employer sponsored visa. This includes holding a qualifying visa when applying for an ENS onshore (subclass 856) visa or RSMS onshore (subclass 857) visa.
See: Qualifying Visa