494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa

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Project Introduction

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (subclass 494) was officially launched on November 16, 2019, and replaced the original Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187).

The visa is a temporary visa valid for five years and is designed to help regional employers find suitable overseas employees to address labour shortages in remote areas. 494 visa holders can apply for a 191 regional permanent resident visa after meeting certain requirements.

Regional definition of Australia: All areas of Australia except QLD Brisbane, VIC Melbourne and NSW Sydney.

There are two categories of the 494 visa:

Employer Sponsored stream: for regional employers who cannot find suitable skilled workers in Australia to address labour shortages in regional areas

Labour Agreement stream: For applicants who are employer-sponsored through a labour agreement or regional immigration agreement

Project Advantages

There are a great variety of occupations and industries that can be applied for visas, and the language requirements are not high. Occupations that cannot directly apply for independent skilled immigration can immigrate through employer guarantees.

Work visas do not have strict requirements on personal and company assets

Visa holders can travel to and from Australia multiple times and can apply with eligible family members at the same time

While holding a visa, minor children can apply for free admissions to Australian public schools (subject to the school)

Application Requirements

Age requirements

Under the age of 45 at the time of application

You must have your skills assessed as suitable for the nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority.

The applicant's occupation must be the nominated occupation, and the designated occupation meets the corresponding 6-digit ANZSCO code and is on the corresponding guarantee list of the Immigration Service: divided into MLTSSL and ROL Work experience: full-time work in the designated occupation for at least 3 years

Employer-sponsored applicants need to meet IELTS of an average score of 6 points or equivalent English proficiency. If it is an applicant of the labour agreement category, IELTS scores of 6 points are not required, but only the English ability that meets the job requirements.

Meet character and health requirements

If the employment relationship with the previous employer is terminated, the new employer must be found and sponsored within 90 days, otherwise the employer sponsorship visa will be cancelled.

Additional requirements for labour contract categories:

If you apply for this category, you need to meet the age, occupation and English requirements specified in the agreement

Application Process

Australian companies apply for sponsorship qualifications and become a Standard Business Sponsor after being approved

The Australian company submits an application to Department to nominate the applicant to work with the company

After the nomination is approved, the applicant submits the 494 visa application