The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) is a key option for employers seeking to address skill shortages in regional Australia. This visa has replaced the old RSMS Visa (Subclass 187) and is a provisional, employer-sponsored visa that allows businesses to nominate skilled workers to fill critical roles.
This visa is designed to help regional employers who cannot find a suitably skilled Australian worker. It offers a pathway for skilled migrants to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years, with a potential pathway to permanent residency after three years.
To be eligible, both the employer and the visa applicant must meet specific criteria, including a suitable skills assessment, English language proficiency, and a job offer that meets Australian market salary rates.
Permanent Residency Pathway:
Holders of a Subclass 494 visa can become eligible for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) after meeting certain conditions. To apply for the Subclass 191 visa, you must:
- Have held a Subclass 494 visa for at least three years.
- Have lived and worked in a designated regional area of Australia for at least three years while on the visa.
- Meet the minimum taxable income requirement for three out of those five years.
Important Note: The principal applicant for the Subclass 191 visa must be the partner who meets the three-year income requirement. If both partners on the Subclass 494 visa meet the income requirement, either can be the principal applicant for the Subclass 191 visa.
Eligibility Criteria for Employers
To be an approved sponsor under this visa, employers must:
- Be a legally operating business located in a designated regional area of Australia.
- Have the position on the relevant occupation list (currently over 700 occupations).
- Obtain approval from a Regional Certifying Body (RCB) in their specific area before nominating an employee.
- Offer a genuine, full-time position that is expected to last for five years.
- Pay the employee at the market salary rate.
Designated regional areas include all of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Eligibility Criteria for Skilled Workers
To be eligible for the visa, skilled workers must:
- Have a suitable skills assessment for their occupation.
- Have at least three years of full-time, relevant work experience.
- Be under 45 years of age at the time of application (unless an exemption applies).
- Demonstrate Competent English proficiency.
- Meet health and character requirements.
FAQs
The Subclass 494 visa is a temporary, 5-year provisional visa. It does not grant immediate permanent residency. However, it provides a clear pathway to permanent residency through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) after you meet certain conditions.
To be eligible, you must be under 45 years of age, have a suitable skills assessment, demonstrate at least three years of full-time, relevant work experience, and have Competent English. You must also be nominated by an approved employer in a designated regional area.
To be eligible for the permanent Subclass 191 visa, you must have held your Subclass 494 visa for at least three years, lived and worked in a designated regional area, and met the minimum taxable income requirement for three out of those five years.
Yes, you can. However, your new employer must be an approved sponsor located in a regional area and must lodge a new nomination application for you. You have a limited period to find a new sponsor after ceasing employment with your previous one.
For the purposes of the Subclass 494 visa, a "designated regional area" includes all of Australia, with the exception of the metropolitan areas of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. This means major cities like Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, and Canberra are considered regional for this visa.