Australia visa subclass 494

This visa is intended for skilled workers who have been nominated by an Australian employer operating their business lawfully in Australia. To work in the nominated occupation, it is necessary to have employment in the same occupation and a position within the sponsoring business or its associated entity.

Before you apply for the visa, your employer in a specified regional area of Australia mandates you to submit a nomination application on your behalf.

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) comprises three primary streams, namely:

Employer-Sponsored Pathway

The specific subclass 494 visa stream enables regional employers to tackle recognized labor shortages in their area by sponsoring skilled foreign workers when suitable Australian candidates are unavailable. Under this visa stream:

Reside, work, and study exclusively in designated regional zones of Australia.
Eligible to apply for permanent residency in Australia after three years from the date of visa approval.

Streamlining Labour Agreements

This pathway is intended for skilled workers nominated by employers and covered by a labour agreement. These agreements are established between the Government of Australia, represented by the Department of Home Affairs, and employers.

To qualify, your employer must maintain an active labour agreement with the Australian government.

Subsequent Entrant

This visa category is designated for individuals who are part of the family unit of a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder. It applies to those who are seeking individual SESR visas and intend to reunite with the primary SESR visa holder in Australia.

This stream specifically caters to family members of SESR visa holders.

All three visa types mentioned above are issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs for a duration of five years and entail the same visa fee of AUD 4,115.

What are the essential prerequisites for applying for a Subclass 494 visa?

Key Requirements for Subclass 494 Visa

Age:-
The maximum age limit is 45 years, meaning individuals must be under the age of 45, unless specific exemptions are applicable to their circumstances.

Nomination from Australian employer:-
To secure employment in a designated regional area of Australia, individuals must be nominated by an Australian employer for a position listed on the relevant Skilled Occupation List (SOL).

Skill Assessment:-
You must obtain a suitable skills assessment from an approved assessing authority, unless you qualify for an exemption.

Minimum Points:-
You are obligated to prioritize work for your sponsor or associated entity, unless specific exemptions apply to your situation.

IELTS Test for English Proficiency:-
You must meet the minimum requirements for English language proficiency. To demonstrate your proficiency, you can take an approved English proficiency test such as the IELTS.

Medical and PCC:-
To demonstrate your good health and character status, it is essential to obtain both a medical certificate and a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

What is the processing time for visa applications?

The processing times can fluctuate based on various individual circumstances, including:

Completeness of Application: Whether the applicant has submitted a comprehensive application with all necessary supporting documents.
Response Time: The speed at which the applicant replies to requests for additional information.
Verification Process: The duration required to perform essential checks on the provided supporting information.
External Information: The time taken to receive any supplementary details from external agencies, especially related to health, character, and national security prerequisites.

Advantages of Subclass 494 Visa

Discover the primary advantages of the Employer-Sponsored Regional visa:

Enjoy residency, employment, and educational opportunities exclusively in specified regional zones of Australia for a duration of 5 years.
Benefit from unrestricted travel to and from Australia throughout the validity period of the visa.
Eligibility to apply for permanent residency after a 3-year period from the date of visa issuance.
Option to include family members in your visa application, extending the benefits to your loved ones.