Subclass 494Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
Pathway to PR
Granted for 5 years and gives the applicant the opportunity to apply for PR 3 years after the visa grant through subclass 191.
Lower cost to employers
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)
Large number of Occupations
The applicant needs to nominate an occupation from the MLTSS list or ROL list (nearly 600 occupations available)
494 Application Process
An approved employer/sponsor nomination must be lodged on behalf of an applicant before a visa application can be made. This nomination will outline the nominated occupation, terms and conditions of employment, and the financial viability of the nominating business. Employers must also detail how the position came to be available and justify the need to nominate the applicant.
Sponsorship
Prove that the business is legally operating in Australia and has the financial capacity to fulfill the sponsorship obligationsIf the business already has an approved sponsorship for 457, TSS or 482 visa then the business can use use the sponsorship for subclass 494
Nomination
Employer needs to identify position that is vacant in a Regional Postcode and identify the person they wish to sponsorMost importantly that the employer needs to prove that this is genuine position that can not be filled by an Australian locally
Visa Application
Once the sponsorship and nomination has been lodged, then the Visa application can be lodged. They do not need to wait for a decision on the first 2 steps.
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TO QUALIFY THE APPLICANT MUST:
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
Work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless an exemption applies
Have a relevant skills assessment, unless an exemption applies
Be under 45 years of age, unless an exemption applies
Meet minimum standards of English language proficiency
Conditions and pathway to PR:
Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored (Regional): replaced the 187 (RSMS) visa and commenced November 16, 2019. The 494 visa has 10,000 places allocated per year. It requires employer sponsorship from a regional employer and the position must be likely to exist for 5 years.
01
Must live and work for 3 years on the 494 visa in regional areas to get Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 Visa
02
Can move between jobs but will have 90 days to find a new nominator
03
Cannot apply for any other skilled PR or 820 partner visa for 3 years
04
Eligible for Medicare on 494 visa – Health insurance not required
