Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
(494 visa)
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494 visa) empowers regional employers to tackle identified labor shortages within their specified regional areas by sponsoring skilled workers when sourcing an appropriately skilled Australian worker proves challenging.
Commencing on November 16, 2019, the 494 visa serves as a successor to the 187 (RSMS) visa and is allotted 10,000 places annually. To be eligible, employers in regional areas must be business approved and able to provide sponsorship, ensuring that the sponsored position is anticipated to endure for a minimum of five years. The visa comes with a 45-year age limit (with exemptions available), necessitates competent English proficiency, Regional Certifying Body (RCB) advice, adherence to the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), adherence to a meeting a Genuine position requirement and Labour Market Testing (LMT). Additionally, visa applicants must undergo a suitable skills assessment and possess a minimum of three years of skilled employment (note* exemptions may apply for skill and age requirements).
The visa validity spans 5 years, accompanied by conditions reinforcing the government’s intent that holders reside, work, and study exclusively in regional areas (condition 8579), specifically within the nominated position. Visa holders are required to commence work within 90 days of visa grant, working solely in the nominated occupation for the nominating employer in regional Australia. Failure to comply may lead to visa cancellation.
Regional areas, defined as any area excluding Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, now include Perth and Gold Coast. Holders of the provisional visas are restricted from applying for most other skills-based visas in Australia unless they have completed a minimum of three years in a designated regional area, except in exceptional circumstances. Similar to the existing subclass 482 visa program, sponsor non-compliance can negatively impact holders of the new provisional visas.
The permanent visa pathway from the 494 visa is the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional), effective from November 2022. To qualify, applicants must have held a subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years, adhered to the visa conditions, and met minimum taxable income requirements, demonstrating earnings of at least $53,900 per annum for three years ($70,000 from July 1, 2023). The main applicant for the 191 visa can also be the partner if they meet the specified criteria.
Regarding the current 187 RSMS regional visa, it is now closed and ceased to accept new applicants from November 16, 2019. Transitional arrangements will be in place for individuals with pending Nomination and Visa applications at that time.
Requirements
- Age requirement: Applicants must be under 45 years at the time of application, with exemptions available.
- English proficiency: Competent English is required at the time of application.
- Employment experience: A minimum of 3 years of full-time employment in the nominated occupation, at the required skill level. Experience should ideally be gained within the last 5 years, and equivalent part-time work may be considered (casual work is not considered).
- Visa status in Australia: If in Australia, applicants should hold a substantive or Bridging Visa A, B, or C.
- Skills assessment: Successful skills assessment is mandatory at the time of application.
- Doctor registration: Requirement does not apply.
- Department of Home Affairs (DoHA) fees:
- Main applicant: $4,640
- Spouse: $2,320
- Children under 18: $1,160
- Second Visa Application Charge (VAC): $4,890, applicable if the adult applicant does not meet the Functional English requirement.
Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Charges for Subclass 494, 482, 186 & 187 Visa
For the Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, the following table provides a summary of the applicable charges:
Business size | TSS 482 visa | ENS 186 / RSMS 187 and SESR 494 visas |
Small (annual turnover less than $10 million) | AUD $1200 per year or part thereof | AUD $3000 one-off |
Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more) | AUD $1800 per year or part thereof | AUD $5000 one-off |
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Benefits of the 494 Visa:
- Eligibility for applying for permanent residence without a second nomination stage, if eligible, through the subclass 191 visa (commenced from November 16, 2022).
- Lower cost to employers with only a one-off Government fee for the subclass 494 nomination, as opposed to the two stages in the current subclass 482 to Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 permanent resident pathway.
Conditions and Pathway to Permanent Residence (PR):
- Must reside and work for 3 years on the 494 visa in regional areas to qualify for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 Visa.
- Flexibility to move between jobs, but with a 90-day window to find a new nominator.
- Ineligible to apply for any other skilled Permanent Residence or 820 partner visa for 3 years.
- Eligible for Medicare on the 494 visa, rendering health insurance unnecessary.