Skilled Employer Sponsored Visa – Subclass 494
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
Australia introduces the Expert Workforce Sponsorship Visa – subclass 494, a new pathway for skilled workers to engage in regional development. This visa has emerged, taking the place of the previous Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa – subclass 187. As a provisional visa intended for employer sponsorship, it facilitates the process for regional employers to attract and retain globally skilled workers where shortages may exist.
Understanding the Pathway to Residency with Subclass 494
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) Visa, also known as Subclass 494, does not directly provide permanent residency. However, individuals with this visa can aspire to secure the Skilled Regional (Permanent) Visa – Subclass 191 after meeting certain prerequisites.
Requirements for Employers
Here’s a checklist of the employer criteria for the SESR visa:
- Your business must be operational in a designated regional area within Australia.
- Your business must be operational in a designated regional area within Australia.
- Prior to nomination, the employer must obtain authorization from the Regional Certifying Body (RCB) relevant to the location.
- The offered position should be a genuine, full-time role, sustained for at least five years.
- Wages offered must match or exceed the standard market salary for the role.
Eligibility Requisites for Skilled Workers
The conditions that skilled workers need to fulfill include:
- Maintain employment in the specified regional area for at least three years while on a 494 visa.
- Evidence of taxable income for each of the three years. If your partner is included in the Subclass 494 visa, one of you must be nominated as the principal applicant for the Subclass 191 visa application. Nonetheless, both partners are required to fulfill the specified annual income requirement.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general understanding only and does not constitute legal advice. Always refer to the latest information directly from the Department of Home Affairs at Department of Home Affairs Website
FAQ
If you are applying this visa under the post-study work stream, a skill assessment is not needed.
Only if you are applying under the Graduate stream, you must provide an evidence of having your skills assessed by the relevant authority.
While the checklist varies depending on different cases, some of the common documents required are:
- Current passports or travel documents
- Copy of birth certificate showing parents of both primary applicant and the spouse
- Evidence of name change
- Certified copies of marriage certificates
- If you are in de facto relationship, evidence showing a relationship for at least 12 months is required
- If the spouse is widowed, divorced or separated permanently, a certified copy of death certificate, divorce or separation documents are required.
- Health & Character documents
Visa Subclass
- Skilled Independent (subclass 189)
- Skilled - Nominated (subclass 190)
- Skilled - Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional) (subclass 489)
- Skilled-Regional (Residence) Visa (Subclass 887)
- Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa (Subclass 476)
- Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491)