Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) — immi.wiki

The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa is a 5-year provisional visa for skilled workers who are sponsored by an approved regional employer to work in a designated regional area of Australia. Unlike the metropolitan-focused Subclass 482, the Subclass 494 is specifically designed for regional workforce needs. Holders who meet the work and income requirements may transition to permanent residence via the Subclass 191 after 3 years.

The Subclass 494 replaced the Subclass 187 (Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme) for provisional pathways. It has two streams: the Employer Sponsored stream and the Labour Agreement stream.

Employer Sponsored stream

• An Australian employer located in a designated regional area must sponsor the applicant (the employer must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs as a standard business sponsor)
• The occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list (Regional Occupation List) and be a genuine position
• The applicant must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority
• Age: under 45 years at the time of nomination
• English: competent English (IELTS 6.0 overall, or equivalent)
• Salary: at or above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), currently AUD 73,150 per year
• The position must be in a designated regional area

Labour Agreement stream

For employers who have entered into a Regional Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs, allowing employment of workers in occupations or on terms not otherwise available under the standard stream.

The Subclass 494 application process involves three stages:

1. Sponsor approval: the employer becomes an approved standard business sponsor (SBS) if not already approved
2. Nomination: the employer nominates the specific position; the Department assesses whether the position is genuine and the salary is at the required threshold
3. Visa application: the worker applies for the Subclass 494 visa; the Department assesses skills, English, age, health, and character

Subclass 494 holders must live and work in a designated regional area of Australia and work for the sponsoring employer. Standard conditions include:

• Condition 8607: must work for the nominating employer in the nominated occupation
• Condition 8608: must notify the Department if the employment is terminated
• Must not work in a metropolitan area (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth metropolitan areas are generally excluded)

After 3 years of regional work at or above the income threshold (AUD 53,900 per financial year), the holder may apply for the Subclass 191 permanent visa.