Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (Subclass 494)

A popular temporary work visa option that allows employment in Australia for up to 5 years.

The Sc 494 visa allows skilled migrants to be sponsored by an employer in a regional Australia for up to five years to address identified skill shortages within the employer's region. The 494 visa also provides a pathway to residence after 3 years of employment.

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)

subclass 494 visa

The Sc 494 visa allows employers in regional Australia to sponsor a skilled worker for up to five years. This category addresses skill shortages within regional Australia and allows to apply for Permanent residence after you have worked for your employer for 3 years.

Regional Australia is defined as anywhere outside Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. You will need to find an employer who is prepared to sponsor you and you will have to meet the criteria under the stream you will be applying under. Once the visa is granted you can only work for your sponsor.

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2 streams available under Sc 494 visa

There are 2 streams available under Sc 494 visa: Employer Stream and Labour Agreement Stream, both allowing stay for up to 5 years and transition to residence.

Employer Stream

Under Sc 494 Employer stream, you must be nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list and have a relevant skills assessment, unless an exemption applies.

Labour Agreement Stream

Under this stream, you must be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a labour agreement. You must also have a relevant skills assessment, if this is specified in the labour agreement.

Summary

What is the process?

You may be eligible for Sc 494 visa if you have an offer of employment from an employer in regional Australia (anywhere outside Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) who is prepared to sponsor you and provided you meet the criteria under the stream you will be applying under.

How to apply for a Subclass 494 visa?

The Sc 494 visa is a three-stage process:

  • Stage1: a sponsorship application submitted by the employer – it provides the details of the business (cannot be overseas business) seeking to employ an overseas worker.
  • Stage 2: a nomination application submitted by the employer – it provides the details of the position to be filled as well as identifies the overseas worker and any secondary applicants covered by the nomination.
  • Stage 3: a visa application submitted by the employee – it provides the details of how the overseas worker is skilled for the nominated occupation as well as personal details of the principal applicant and any secondary applicant/s included in the application.

All three applications can be submitted at the same time, i.e the employer doesn't have to wait for the Sponsorship application to be approved before submitting a Nomination application; similarly the employee doesn't have to wait for the Sponsorship and/or Nomination application to be approved before submitting a visa application.

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