Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494):
This is a Provisional visa for skilled workers who have been nominated by a regional approved sponsor/employer where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
Visa holder can live, work and study in a designated regional area of Australia for 5 years. If the eligible Visa holder can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time of the visa grant.
There are three streams under this visa subclass: Employer-Sponsored Stream & Labour Agreement Stream.
Employer-Sponsored Stream subclass 494:
Basic Eligibility of subclass 494 visa:
- Be nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- Have at least 3 years of full-time work experience in your nominated occupation within the last 5 years. (Part-time might be considered but casual work not)
- Must have a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation
- Aged under 45
- Work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless an exemption applies
- Meet the English requirements (Competent English)
- Meet the health and character requirements of the Australian government.
Labour Agreement stream:
This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a labour agreement. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.
Basic Eligibility of labour Agreement stream:
- Your employer must have a labour agreement with the Australian government in effect
- The nominated occupation must be the subject of a labour agreement between the Commonwealth and the nominator.
- Have at least 3 years of full-time work experience in your nominated occupation within the last 5 years. (Part-time might be considered but casual work not)
- Must have a suitable skills assessment for your nominated occupation
- Aged under 45
- Work only for your sponsor
- You must have the level of English as specified in the labour agreement
- Meet the health and character requirements of the Australian government.
Including family on subclass 494 visa:
You can include members of the family unit with your visa application at the time of your application, before application decision has been made or as subsequent entrant after you have granted the visa.
Your employer must agree (or have agreed) in writing to include the applicants as a family member in the nomination.
If the family members are in Australia, they must hold a substantive visa. They might not be eligible for this visa if they have had a visa cancelled or refused while they were in Australia.
family members must be under 45 years of age when you apply for the visa, all family members aged 18 years or older must either have functional English or should pay a Second VAC.
All family members aged 16 years and over accompanying you to Australia or not must meet the character requirements of the Australian government. Family members who are accompanying with you must also meet the health requirements if requested. family members not accompanying you to Australia might also need to meet the health requirement.