494 VISA

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 482

494 Visa Brief Overview

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.

The subclass 494 skilled employer sponsored visa replaced the 187 (RSMS) visa on 16 November 2019.

Photo Bu Indah

WRITTEN BY
INDAH MELINDASARI, B.Com
MARN 0961 448 | UPDATED MAY 2019

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Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494) streams

There are three streams available under the Employer Sponsored Regional Visa / 494 visa:

Employer Sponsored Stream

This is for employers to source genuine temporary overseas skilled workers in occupations included on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) for a maximum of two years (or up to four years if an international trade obligation applies)

Subsequent Entrant

This is for employers to source highly skilled overseas workers to fill medium-term critical skills in occupations included on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) for up to four years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after three years

Labour Agreement Term

This is for employers to source overseas skilled workers in accordance with a labour agreement with the Commonwealth, on the basis of a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and standard visa programs are not available, with the capacity to negotiate a permanent residence option.

More about the 494 Visa :

  • Regional areas include everywhere except the metropolitan areas of;
    • Sydney,
    • Melbourne,
    • Brisbane,
    • Gold Coast and
    • Perth.
  • Increased number of eligible occupations
  • Provisional visa with an option to transition to permanent residency after three years
  • Priority processing

Basic Eligibility for 494 Visa

Listed below is the basic eligibility to obtain Employer Sponsored Regional Visa / 494 Visa :

  • Be nominated by an approved work sponsor;
  • Have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list;
  • Have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation;
  • Be under 45 years of age
    meet minimum standards of;
  • English language proficiency.

494 Visa / Employer Sponsored Regional Visa Requirements

  • Age under 45 at time of application (exemptions apply)
  • Competent English at time of application
  • You must have been employed in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis and at the skill level required for the nominated occupation. Generally, you should have gained your experience within the last 5 years. The period does not need to be continuous. Equivalent part-time work may be considered. DHA does not consider casual work.
  • GTE requirement does not apply
  • If in Australia, hold a substantive or Bridging Visa A, B or C
  • Successful skills assessment at the time of application
  • Doctor registration requirement does not apply
  • DoHA Fee (main applicant) $4,045 and for spouse: $2,025, children under 18 : $1010
  • Second VAC: $4890 if the adult applicant does not meet Functional English

  • The 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
  • The position must be full time and likely be available for 5 years
  • Employer will need approval from the Regional Certifying Body (RCB)
  • The employer must pay the Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR)

Benefits of the 494 Visa

There are two exceptional benefits for 494 visa holder :

  1. Can apply for permanent residence without a second nomination stage, if eligible, through the subclass 191 visa (commences 16 November 2022)
  2. 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 Permanent Residency

  • 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 –
  • Health insurance not required

Frequently Asked Questions

Photo Bu Indah

Mrs. Indah Answers

ONEderland Consulting managing director and also registered migration agent with MARN 0961 448 is here to answer your questions!

  1. Can I apply for this visa if my employer is located in Melbourne?
    • Generally, this visa is given to the employer who is located in regional area. As most of Melbourne area is not considered as a regional area, you need to check postcode of your employer.
    • If the postcode is considered as a regional area, then yes, you can apply for this visa.
  2. What if my work experience is less than 3 years, can I apply for this visa?
    • As per the visa eligibility, you must have at least 3 years work experience in a nominated occupations.
  3. If I am holding a Temporary Skill Shortage Subclass 482, do I need to provide a skill assessment?
    • If you are holding a TSS 482, you don’t need to provide this skill assessment for the nominated occupation in order to be granted for this visa.
  4. Is the English Ability is a mandatory for applying this visa?
    • Yes, it is. You must have at least Competent English in order to be granted with this visa.
  5. Can I bring my family with this visa?
    • You can include your family members in this visa but they must meet the health and character requirements.
  6. How much does this visa cost?
    • The cost for this visa is $4,045. For every member of the family that is 18 years and over, an extra cost of $2,025 will be added and $1,010 for every family member under 18 years.
    • Additional cost of $4,890 will be charged if any member of the family aged 18 years and over included do not meet the English requirement (Functional English).
  7. How long is the processing time for this visa?
    • The processing times will vary for each application due to the case-by-case basis nature of this visa.
  8. How long can I stay with this visa?
    • You can stay in Australia for 5 years if your application for this visa is granted. In the third year of this visa you can apply for permanent residency.
  9. What if my visa got refused? Can I appeal?
    • You would need to have a look at the refusal letter given by the Department. If it stated the decision can be reviewed, therefore you can lodge an appeal within a specific timeframe.

494 VISA

Five Steps Process

01

Eligibility Check

Make sure you check your eligibility to see if you meet all the criteria and requirements for this visa. The requirements are depend on each visa stream.

02

Skill Assessment – for Graduate Work Stream

You need to check with the assessing authority for your nominated occupation. Then, apply for a skill assessment as one of the requirement for graduate visa.

03

Visa Application

After you make sure that you have fulfilled the requirements, you can then gather all the required and additional documents to complete and support your application.

You can apply online through your IMMI account.

04

Visa Outcome

If successful, you can stay temporarily in Australia, depends on which stream you’ve applied for.

If got refused, the DHA will inform you in writing.

Quick Links

GET STARTED

Let Us Help You With Your Regional Employer Sponsored Subclass 494 Visa Application

We’ve helped both workers and employers, providing high quality document work for their 494 visa application.

Never take unnecessary risk. Let ONEderland Consulting, the best 494 visa expert in Perth handle your case.

Contact us through the form below to take the first step of your journey to Australia.

    Your Name

    E-mail Address

    Phone Number

    Your Message

    494 VISA

    Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494

    Photo Bu Indah

    WRITTEN BY
    INDAH MELINDASARI, B.Com
    MARN 0961 448 | UPDATED MAY 2019

    SHARE THIS INFORMATION

    494 Visa Brief Overview

    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.

    The subclass 494 skilled employer sponsored visa replaced the 187 (RSMS) visa on 16 November 2019.

    Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494) streams

    There are three streams available under the Employer Sponsored Regional Visa / 494 visa:

    Employer Sponsored Stream

    This is for employers to source genuine temporary overseas skilled workers in occupations included on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) for a maximum of two years (or up to four years if an international trade obligation applies)

    Subsequent Entrant

    This is for employers to source highly skilled overseas workers to fill medium-term critical skills in occupations included on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) for up to four years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after three years

    Labour Agreement Term

    This is for employers to source overseas skilled workers in accordance with a labour agreement with the Commonwealth, on the basis of a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and standard visa programs are not available, with the capacity to negotiate a permanent residence option.

    More about the 494 Visa :

    • Regional areas include everywhere except the metropolitan areas of;
      • Sydney,
      • Melbourne,
      • Brisbane,
      • Gold Coast and
      • Perth.
    • Increased number of eligible occupations
    • Provisional visa with an option to transition to permanent residency after three years
    • Priority processing

    Basic Eligibility for 494 Visa

    Listed below is the basic eligibility to obtain Employer Sponsored Regional Visa / 494 Visa :

    • Be nominated by an approved work sponsor;
    • Have an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list;
    • Have a suitable skills assessment for the occupation;
    • Be under 45 years of age
      meet minimum standards of;
    • English language proficiency.

    494 Visa / Employer Sponsored Regional Visa Requirements

    For Applicants For Employer
    Age under 45 at time of application (exemptions apply) The employer must be located in a designated regional Australia, everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
    Competent English at time of application Regional areas include Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.
    You must have been employed in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis and at the skill level required for the nominated occupation. Generally, you should have gained your experience within the last 5 years. The period does not need to be continuous. Equivalent part-time work may be considered. DHA does not consider casual work. Position be on the list of eligible occupations
    GTE requirement does not apply The position must be full time and likely be available for 5 years
    If in Australia, hold a substantive or Bridging Visa A, B or C Employer will need approval from the Regional Certifying Body (RCB)
    Successful skills assessment at the time of application The employer must pay the Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR)
    Doctor registration requirement does not apply
    DoHA Fee (main applicant) $4,045 and for spouse: $2,025, children under 18 : $1010
    Second VAC: $4890 if the adult applicant does not meet Functional English

    Benefits of the 494 Visa

    There are two exceptional benefits for 494 visa holder :

    1. Can apply for permanent residence without a second nomination stage, if eligible, through the subclass 191 visa (commences 16 November 2022)
    2. 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 Permanent Residency

    • 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 –
    • Health insurance not required

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Photo Bu Indah

    Mrs. Indah Answers

    ONEderland Consulting managing director and also registered migration agent with MARN 0961 448 is here to answer your questions!

    1. Can I apply for this visa if my employer is located in Melbourne?
      • Generally, this visa is given to the employer who is located in regional area. As most of Melbourne area is not considered as a regional area, you need to check postcode of your employer.
      • If the postcode is considered as a regional area, then yes, you can apply for this visa.
    2. What if my work experience is less than 3 years, can I apply for this visa?
      • As per the visa eligibility, you must have at least 3 years work experience in a nominated occupations.
    3. If I am holding a Temporary Skill Shortage Subclass 482, do I need to provide a skill assessment?
      • If you are holding a TSS 482, you don’t need to provide this skill assessment for the nominated occupation in order to be granted for this visa.
    4. Is the English Ability is a mandatory for applying this visa?
      • Yes, it is. You must have at least Competent English in order to be granted with this visa.
    5. Can I bring my family with this visa?
      • You can include your family members in this visa but they must meet the health and character requirements.
    6. How much does this visa cost?
      • The cost for this visa is $4,045. For every member of the family that is 18 years and over, an extra cost of $2,025 will be added and $1,010 for every family member under 18 years.
      • Additional cost of $4,890 will be charged if any member of the family aged 18 years and over included do not meet the English requirement (Functional English).
    7. How long is the processing time for this visa?
      • The processing times will vary for each application due to the case-by-case basis nature of this visa.
    8. How long can I stay with this visa?
      • You can stay in Australia for 5 years if your application for this visa is granted. In the third year of this visa you can apply for permanent residency.
    9. What if my visa got refused? Can I appeal?
      • You would need to have a look at the refusal letter given by the Department. If it stated the decision can be reviewed, therefore you can lodge an appeal within a specific timeframe.

    494 VISA

    Five Steps Process

    01

    Eligibility Check

    Make sure you check your eligibility to see if you meet all the criteria and requirements for this visa. The requirements are depend on each visa stream.

    02

    Skill Assessment – for Graduate Work Stream

    You need to check with the assessing authority for your nominated occupation. Then, apply for a skill assessment as one of the requirement for graduate visa.

    03

    Visa Application

    After you make sure that you have fulfilled the requirements, you can then gather all the required and additional documents to complete and support your application.

    You can apply online through your IMMI account.

    04

    Visa Outcome

    If successful, you can stay temporarily in Australia, depends on which stream you’ve applied for.

    If got refused, the DHA will inform you in writing.

    Quick Links

    GET STARTED

    Let Us Help You With Your Regional Employer Sponsored Subclass 494 Visa Application

    We’ve helped both workers and employers, providing high quality document work for their 494 visa application.

    Never take unnecessary risk. Let ONEderland Consulting, the best 494 visa expert in Perth handle your case.

    Contact us through the form below to take the first step of your journey to Australia.

      Your Name

      E-mail Address

      Phone Number

      Visa Type

      Reason For Migration

      Nationality

      Where did you know about us?

      Your Question :