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- Employer Sponsored Visa
- Skilled Employer - Sponsored (Provisional) - Subclass-494
- Subclass 82 (Partner Visa)
- Subclass 132 (Business Talent)
- Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)
- Subclass 188 (Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional)
- Subclass 189 (Skilled (Independent)
- Subclass 190 (Skilled (Nominated)
- Subclass 858 (Distinguished talent)
As a holder of the 494 visa, the applicant is permitted to live and travel in and out of Australia. It is mandatory for the candidate to begin working within 90 days of the visa being granted, and they are only permitted to work in the occupation that they have been nominated for and with the sponsoring employer in Regional Australia, failure to do so may result in the cancellation of the visa.
The basic requirements for a 494 Skilled employer-sponsored visa are relatively straightforward. However, the applicant must fulfil the job requirements in order to be sponsored for the visa. The following are the general requirements for a 494 visa:
- Must be under the age of 45 at the time of application.
- Must have competent English Language Proficiency.
- Applicant must have 3 years of recent full-time work experience in the nominated occupation at the required skill level.
- Applicants applying from within Australia must hold a substantive or Bridging Visa.
- Must apply for a skill assessment.
- The employer must be located outside of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and can be located anywhere in Australia.
- The applicant's occupation must be on the list of eligible occupations.
- The job position must be a full-time position and available for 5 years.
- The employer must have approval from the Regional Certifying Body (RCB).
- Must apply for a skill assessment.
- The employer must pay the Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR).
- Eligible regional areas for finding a sponsoring employer include: Perth, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra.
The 494 visa serves as a pathway to the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191). Eligible applicants who have held a 494 visa or 491 visa for at least 3 years and meet the minimum taxable income requirements may apply for the permanent resident visa.
To be considered, the applicant must demonstrate an earning of $53,900 per year for the previous three years of holding a 494 visa. The partner of the main visa holder may also be eligible to apply for the 191 visa as the main applicant if they meet the requirements and fulfil the criteria.
By obtaining the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191), visa holders are granted the ability to live in Australia indefinitely, with the added benefit of five years of travel privileges. They are also permitted to work and study in Australia, enroll in the public healthcare system (MEDICARE), sponsor family members and relatives to come to Australia and apply for Australian Citizenship if they meet the eligibility criteria.
The processing time for the 494 visa is not currently available, as it varies on a case-by-case basis. However, delays in the application process can occur if all required documents and relevant evidence are not provided. The Department of Home Affairs may request additional information for verification and if it is not supplied in a timely manner, it may prolong the processing time.
We recommend consulting with our Expert Migration Agents to assist with your application. We offer a free pre-assessment service through an online assessment form and phone pre-assessment.
