Australia Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) is designed for skilled workers who are sponsored by an Australian employer to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia. This visa provides a pathway to permanent residency after meeting the specific work and residency requirements.
The Subclass 494 visa is divided into two streams:
- Employer Sponsored Stream: For workers nominated by an Australian employer.
- Labour Agreement Stream: For workers nominated by an employer under a labour agreement with the Australian government.
Key Features of the Subclass 494 Visa
- Temporary Residence: You can live, work, and study in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years.
- Pathway to Permanent Residency: After 3 years of living and working in a regional area, you may be eligible to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191).
- Work in Regional Australia: You must work for your sponsoring employer in a designated regional area.
- Family Inclusion: You can include eligible family members in your visa application.
- Multiple Entry: You can travel to and from Australia multiple times while your visa is valid.
Eligibility Requirements for the Subclass 494 Visa
To apply for the Subclass 494 Visa, both the employer and the visa applicant must meet specific eligibility criteria.
For the Employer:
- Sponsorship Approval: The employer must be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor or have a valid Labour Agreement in place with the Australian government.
- Nomination of a Skilled Position: The nominated position must be in a designated regional area and must appear on the Relevant Skilled Occupation List (Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List - MLTSSL, or Regional Occupation List - ROL).
- Labor Market Testing (LMT): The employer must demonstrate that they have attempted to find suitably qualified Australian workers for the position before nominating a foreign worker.
For the Applicant:
- Nominated Occupation: You must have an occupation that is on the Relevant Skilled Occupation List (MLTSSL or ROL).
- Skills Assessment: You must have a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority.
- Work Experience: You must have at least 3 years of full-time work experience in the nominated occupation.
- English Language Proficiency: You must meet the English language requirements, typically an IELTS score of at least 6.0 in each component, or equivalent in other accepted tests such as TOEFL or PTE.
- Health and Character Requirements: You must meet Australia’s health and character requirements, which may involve medical examinations and police clearance certificates.
- Age Limit: You must be under 45 years of age at the time of application unless you qualify for an exemption.
Designated Regional Areas for Subclass 494 Visa
Designated regional areas include all areas of Australia except the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Regional areas offer a more relaxed lifestyle and provide skilled migrants with opportunities to contribute to growing local economies.
Some examples of designated regional areas include:
- Adelaide (South Australia)
- Canberra (Australian Capital Territory)
- Hobart (Tasmania)
- Perth (Western Australia)
- Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, and other areas of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
Required Documentation for the Subclass 494 Visa
When applying for the Subclass 494 Visa, you will need to provide a variety of documents to demonstrate that both you and your employer meet the visa requirements:
- Proof of Identity:
- Passport (certified copies of the bio-data pages).
- Skills Assessment:
- A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation.
- Work Experience:
- Employment contracts, reference letters, and evidence showing at least 3 years of full-time work experience in your nominated occupation.
- English Language Proficiency:
- Test results from IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE demonstrating your English proficiency.
- Health and Character Documents:
- Medical examination results.
- Police clearance certificates from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years.
- Nomination Approval:
- Proof of your employer’s approved nomination and evidence of labor market testing (if applicable).
- Family Documents (if applicable):
- Marriage certificate, birth certificates of children, or proof of a de facto relationship if you are including family members in your application.
Application Process for the Subclass 494 Visa
The application process for the Subclass 494 Visa involves several steps for both the employer and the visa applicant:
- Employer Sponsorship and Nomination
The employer must first apply for Standard Business Sponsorship or have an approved Labour Agreement in place. They will then nominate a skilled position in a designated regional area and demonstrate that they were unable to find a suitable Australian worker for the role through Labor Market Testing.
- Lodge Your Visa Application
Once the nomination is approved, you can submit your Subclass 494 Visa application online via ImmiAccount, providing all the required documentation.
- Await Processing
The Department of Home Affairs will assess both the nomination and the visa application. Processing times can vary depending on the complexity of the case and caseload but typically range from 3 to 6 months.
- Visa Decision
Once approved, you will be granted a temporary visa allowing you to live and work in the designated regional area for up to 5 years. After 3 years of living and working in the region, you may be eligible for Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191).
Pathway to Permanent Residency
The Subclass 494 Visa provides a direct pathway to permanent residency through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191). To be eligible for permanent residency, you must:
- Live and work in a designated regional area for at least 3 years.
- Earn a minimum taxable income for those 3 years (specific income threshold set by the Australian government).
- Comply with all visa conditions.
After fulfilling these requirements, you can apply for the Subclass 191 visa, which grants permanent residency in Australia.
Visa Costs
The application fee for the Subclass 494 Visa starts at AUD 4,770 for the main applicant. Additional costs may apply for dependent family members included in the application. Other associated costs include:
- Skills assessment fees: Depending on the occupation and assessing authority.
- English language tests: Fees for IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE.
Medical examinations and police checks: Varies by provider and country.
How We Can Help
At A Square Migration Services, we offer comprehensive assistance to employers and skilled workers applying for the Subclass 494 Visa. Our services include:
- Sponsorship and Nomination Support: We help businesses apply for Standard Business Sponsorship and nominate positions for skilled workers.
- Skills Assessment and Visa Application Support: We assist visa applicants in obtaining a positive skills assessment and preparing their visa application with the necessary documentation.
- Pathway to Permanent Residency: We provide guidance on the Subclass 191 visa, helping you transition to permanent residency after meeting the 3-year work and residency requirements.
- Ongoing Compliance: We help businesses and employees comply with visa conditions and obligations.
Secure Your Future with the Subclass 494 Visa
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) offers skilled workers an opportunity to live and work in Australia’s regional areas and provides a pathway to permanent residency. At A Square Migration Services, we are dedicated to helping you and your employer navigate the visa process smoothly.
Contact us today to start your Subclass 494 Visa application and build your future in Australia!