Australian Immigration News

From 1 July 2012 the employer-sponsored permanent residency visa programs – known as ENS and RSMS – have been significantly changed in response to the findings of a review of these programs by the Department of Immigration & Citizenship in 2011.

As reported in our post of 25 November 2011, the employer-sponsored permanent residency programs – Employer Nomination (ENS), Labour Agreement & Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) - were reviewed in 2011.  Recommendations were made for changes to the programs as a result of the review. 

The Department of Immigration & Citizenship is undertaking a review of employer-sponsored permanent residency visa programs to ensure that they are appropriate and responsive to the needs of Australian employers as a result of the current strong economic growth being experienced in Australia and a consequent skilled labour shortage in many industries and many geographic regions in Australia.

  The Federal Government has acted swiftly following the Minister of Immigration & Citizenship’s announcement on 19 July 2011 that Perth would be designated a regional area for the purposes of the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS).

Visa rules have been eased for Perth employers who wish to sponsor overseas workers for permanent residency in Australia.