Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 494)

Employer Sponsored Stream Summary

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

With this visa, you can

· live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years

· travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid

· if eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted

Eligibility Requirements

You must:

· be nominated by an employer whose business is lawfully operating in Australia.

· be nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list

· 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

· undertake a skills assessment unless exempt

· only work for your sponsor or related entity, unless exempt

· be under the age of 45, unless exempt

· meet the minimum standard of English language proficiency

Visa Streams

· Employer-Sponsored stream

· Labor Agreement stream

· Subsequent Entrant stream

Pathway to Permanent Residency: If eligible, you can apply for permanent residency after holding the 494 visa for 3 years. 494 visa holders cannot:

· Apply for Subclass 820 (Partner) visa until they have held the 494 visa for 3 years.

· Obtain any of the following visas until they have held the 494 visa for 3 years:

Subclass 132 (Business Talent) visa

Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa

Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment - Provisional) visa

Subclass 189 (Skilled - Independent) visa

Subclass 190 (Skilled - Nominated) visa

Subclass 858 (Distinguished Talent) visa."