Home > Family Sponsored Skilled > Skilled Designated Area Sponsored

Skilled Designated Area Sponsored

The Skilled Designated Area Sponsored scheme allows relatives living in the Northern Territory to sponsor skilled family members to the Northern Territory. Either you or your spouse can be sponsored. Your sponsoring relative must be currently living in the Northern Territory and must have done so for the past twelve months. For the purposes of skilled migration the whole of the Northern Territory is designated.

The visa applicant (either you or your spouse) must have the following relationship to the sponsor:

• brother or sister
• parent
• non-dependent child
• niece or nephew
• grandchild
• first cousin

Advantages of the Skilled Designated Area Sponsored program

• There is no points test for this visa category.
• You or your spouse must meet the basic requirements of age, English language, qualifications, nominated occupation and recent work experience.

Under the standard criteria for Skilled Designated Area Sponsored scheme you or your spouse must:

• Be under 45 years of age at the time the application is lodged
• Be sponsored by an appropriate family member.
• Have vocational English skills (although you may still be eligible if assessed as having Functional English. This is acceptable conditional on you or your spouse upgrading your English skills to Vocational standard on arrival in the Northern Territory).
• Possess diploma, trade level or higher qualifications. You must also meet recent work experience requirements.
• Have a nominated occupation on DIAC's Skilled Occupation List (www.immi.gov.au)
• Meet the skills levels required for your nominated occupation determined by a relevant Australian assessing authority.
• Have an Assurer (a person living in Australia who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident who can provide financial support to you and your family for the first two years on your arrival in the Northern Territory). The Sponsor and assurer can be the same person.
• Be required to pass a health and character check.

You will be required to provide proof against the standard criteria, by supplying certified copies of all relevant documents (in English) and the appropriate DIAC forms (Form 47SK, Form 40 and Form 28).

It is recommended that you get a copy of DIAC Booklet No 6 General Skilled Migration and read it for more comprehensive information about the Skilled Designated Area Sponsored program. Copies can be obtained from DIAC offices (cost AUD$20.00) or by visiting the DIAC website and downloading a free copy.

DISCLAIMER: The Northern Territory of Australia and the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development disclaim any liability or responsibility or duty of care towards any person for loss or damage (including special, indirect or consequential loss or damage such as loss of revenue) suffered or caused by any use or reliance on this information. While care has been taken in the production of this Fact Sheet, it is provided as general information only. The Northern Territory of Australia and the Department of Business, Economic and Regional Development accept no responsibility (including for negligence) for errors or omissions and do not assert or imply that it is complete, accurate or current. No person should rely upon the information in this Fact Sheet for the purpose of making any serious, business or investment decisions without obtaining independent and/or professional advice in relation to their particular situation.