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Subclass 176 (permanent) visa

Skilled – Sponsored Visa subclass 176

The Skilled – Sponsored Visa subclass 176 is a permanent visa and requires the applicant to either be sponsored by an Australian relative or nomianted by a Australian State or Territory government.

For example, if you wanted to reside in Brisbane, you would need Queensland government sponsorship to lodge a subclass 176 visa application.   It is an offshore subclass of visa which means that the applicant must be overseas at th time of visa grant.

The visa applicant is required to score a passmark of 100 in the points test, and there are 10 points available for State/Territory nomination. This passmark is 20 points less than the passmark of 120 required for the Skilled – Independant Visa subclass 175.

There are no bonus points for sponsored by an Australian relative.

Australian Relative sponsorship
The following relatives are able to sponsor a skilled sponsored visa application subclass 175:
  • parents
  • brothers and sisters
  • uncles and aunts
  • nieces and nephews
  • non-dependant children
The definition includes dopted, half and step-relatives.
A sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and be a resident  in Australia.
If the main visa applicant’s spouse, de facto spouse or same sex partner is inlcuded as a visa applicant and has relatives in Australia, the those relatives can sponsor the application.

State/Territory government nomination/sponsorship
Australian state and territory governments have there own requirements for nominating or sponsoring applicants for either the subclass 176 or subclass 475 visa.  Subject to their own determination on what their states need to address the changes in job market and state economies, they issue individualised list of occupations in demand which state what occupations they are willing to give nomiantion approval.  These lists are changed on a regular basis and specify their own requirements for work experience, English language ability and financial ability to settle in the relevant state or territory.
Most Australian state and territory government will require proof of market and job research being carried out by the applicant to demonstrate their genuine intention and committment to settling in a particular location within the state or territory.