Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494)
This visa lets regional employers sponsor skilled workers, where they cannot source local labour to fill skill shortages. There are two main streams:
- Employer Sponsored Stream
- Labour Agreement Stream
This visa lets you work, live and study in a designated regional area for up to five years. There is a pathway to permanent residency in three years, if Applicants meet the residence and income criteria.
Employer Sponsored Stream
You must be nominated by an Australian employer whose business is actively and lawfully trading in a regional area (all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). The offered position must be full-time and likely to be available for 5 years.
A summary of the visa eligibility criteria is as follows:
- be less than 45 years of age unless exemptions apply
- be nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation
- have a relevant skills assessment, unless an exemption applies
- work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless an exemption applies
- have competent English
- meet health and character requirements
The subclass 494 visa holders will be subjected to visa conditions which will require them to live, work and study only in designated regional areas and for the primary visa holder to work only in the nominated occupation.
Subclass 494 visa holders will be unable to apply for any other skilled visas unless they complete at least 3 years in a designated area, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Labour Agreement
To be eligible under this stream you need to be nominated by an Employer under a Labour Agreement to work in a Designated Regional Area. Labour Agreements are developed between the Australian government and employers. If you do fall within this criteria, your eligibility criteria will depend on the terms of the labour agreement.
Contact us
If you want more information about subclass 494 or want to assess your eligibility, contact us on 1300 98 70 71 and speak to a Registered Migration Agent.