Skilled Migration / Australia / Route
Australia · Investment route
The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme closed on 16 November 2019. Only existing 457 and 482 holders can still use its Temporary Residence Transition stream. Subclass 494 replaced it.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Overview
Advising UAE residents on Australian immigration from our Dubai office.
Language requirementاللغة
Minimum level
Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each band or equivalent)
Accepted tests
Family scopeالأسرة
All eligible dependants can be included in one application or added after approval.
Age limits, dependency definitions, and addition fees vary by jurisdiction. Your advisor confirms exact rules at onboarding.
Risk notes
The Direct Entry stream is closed. Home Affairs states on its own page: 'This visa is closed to new applications.' The cost is shown as N/A.
XIPHIAS is not accepting new clients for subclass 187. If you are looking for regional employer sponsorship, subclass 494 is the visa that replaced it.
Older guides may still describe the 187 as open. It has not accepted a new Direct Entry application since 2019.
Compliance
Applications had to be made before 16 November 2019. The bar was inserted into the Migration Regulations 1994 by the Migration Amendment (New Skilled Regional Visas) Regulations 2019, which commenced on that date.
One narrow exception remains: the Temporary Residence Transition stream, open only to a transitional subclass 457 worker or transitional subclass 482 worker at the time of application.
Those applicants must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C, must usually have worked for their employer in regional Australia for at least 2 years full time, and must hold an employer nomination approved in the 6 months before applying.
No occupation list applies to the Temporary Residence Transition stream — eligibility follows the occupation on the most recently held temporary skilled visa.
Home Affairs publishes no processing times for subclass 187. The visa does not appear in its processing-times tool.
From 1 July 2026 a lower visa application charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
Not through the Direct Entry stream. Home Affairs closed it to new applications on 16 November 2019. The only remaining route is the Temporary Residence Transition stream, and only if you already hold a transitional subclass 457 or 482 visa.
Start the Australia route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.