Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
Visa 494 is designed to help regional Australian employers address labor shortages by sponsoring skilled workers when they cannot find appropriately skilled Australian workers
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be nominated by an approved work sponsor.
- Your occupation must be on a relevant skilled occupation list.
- You need a suitable skills assessment for the occupation.
- You must be under 45 years of age.
- You must meet minimum English language proficiency standards.
- You must have at least three years of relevant work experience.
- You must be nominated for a position within the sponsoring business or an associated entity in a designated regional area.
Visa Conditions
- You can live, work, and study only in a designated regional area for five years.
- You must start working within 90 days of receiving the visa.
- You must meet minimum salary requirements.
- You may apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Skilled Regional visa after three years.
Application Process
- Your employer must lodge a nomination application on your behalf.
- You must submit your visa application after nomination approval.
- You must provide evidence of a positive skills assessment.
- You must meet health and character requirements.
- You must not have had a visa canceled or refused in Australia.
Benefits
- Provides a pathway to permanent residency after three years.
- Allows regional employers to fill skill shortages.
- Offers 9,000 places annually for skilled workers.