Employer Sponsored Provisional Visa

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker

Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored (Regional): the 494 visa requires employer sponsorship and the position must be likely to exist for 5 years. It has a 45 year age limit (exemptions apply), competent English, RCB advice and must meet the AMSR. Visa applicants must have a suitable skills assessment and at least 3 years’ skilled employment.

Regional areas are defined as any area excluding Sydney, Melbourne Brisbane. Perth and Gold Coast are classified as regional areas.

Holders of the new provisional visas will also be unable to apply for most other skills based visas in Australia unless they have completed at least 3 years in a designated regional area, unless exceptional circumstances exist. Additionally, similar to current arrangements for 482 visa program, holders of the new provisional visas can be negatively impacted by sponsor non-compliance.

494 visa requirements (visa applicant):

• Age under 45 at time of application (exemptions apply)

• Competent English at time of application

• At least three years’ skill-level and closed related work experience. The period does not need to be continuous. Equivalent part-time work may be considered. DHA does not consider casual work.

• If in Australia, hold a substantive or Bridging Visa A, B or C

• Pass full skills assessment at time of application

• Be nominated by the approved sponsor, who is or will be the approved standard business sponsor.

• Must be engaged under a written contract of employment to work only for your business or an associated entity of the business, unless the occupation is exempt.

494 Employer and job offer requirements:

• Employer must be located in a designated regional Australia, everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

• Regional areas include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.

• Position be on the list of eligible occupations

• Position must be full time and likely be available for 5 years

• employer will need approval from the Regional Certifying Body (RCB)

• Employer must pay the Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR)

• Employer must be the approved standard business sponsor

• Employer must do labor market testing

Benefits of the 494 visa:

• Can apply for permanent residence without a second nomination stage, if eligible, through the subclass 191 visa

• Lower cost to employers with only one SAF levy stage for the subclass 494 nomination (compared to the two stages for the current subclass 482 to ENS subclass 186 permanent resident pathway)

Conditions and pathway to PR:

• Must live and work for 3 years on the 494 visa in regional areas to get Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 Visa

• Can move between jobs but will have 90 days to find a new nominator

• Cannot apply for any other skilled PR or 820 partner visa for 3 years

• Eligible for Medicare on 494 visa private – health insurance not required

Back