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Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa 494

What Is the 494 Visa?

The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) visa is a temporary (provisional) visa for skilled workers nominated by an employer in designated regional Australia. It allows holders to live, work, and study in regional areas for up to 5 years

Visa Streams

This visa has two application streams:

Employer-Sponsored Stream: For workers nominated by a regional employer under a standard business sponsorship
Labour Agreement Stream: For employers with an approved Labour Agreement, enabling nominations for occupations not on standard lists

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the visa, applicants must:

Be nominated by an approved regional employer
Have a skilled occupation listed on the regional occupation list (~650 occupations)
Have a positive skills assessment (unless exempt)
Be aged under 45 years (exemptions may apply)
Meet English language, health, and character requirements
Have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in their occupation

Employer Sponsorship Responsibilities

Regional employers must:

Have a Standard Business Sponsorship or applicable Labour Agreement
Demonstrate a genuine position, full-time employment in regional areas
Offer salary at or above Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) and TSMIT
Undergo Labour Market Testing unless exempt

Processing Time

Median processing times for decision-ready applications:

Employer-Sponsored Stream: approx. 6–11 months (50th percentile at ~9–11 months)
Labour Agreement Stream: approx. 4 months (50th percentile)

Delays may occur due to health/character checks or incomplete applications.

Important Notes

Work rights are limited to your nominated employer and occupation in a designated regional area
You can travel in and out of Australia during your 494 visa period
A permanent residency depends on meeting Subclass 191 requirements after 3 years in regional Australia

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I include my family?

Yes — partners and dependent children can be included and receive identical work and study rights.

2. Can I switch employers?

Yes, but only to another approved sponsor in regional Australia with a valid nomination.

3. What occupations are eligible?

There are around ~650 eligible occupations listed on the Regional Occupation List

4. Is there an age cap?

Applicants must be under 45 unless an exemption applies (e.g., via Labour Agreements or age exemptions)

5. What is the TSMIT?

The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold acts as a minimum benchmark for income — around AUD 73,150 (2024–25)

6. How do I get PR after the 494 visa?

Apply for Subclass 191—Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) after 3 years living and earning in regional Australia

📞 Need Help With Your 494 Visa?

We assist both employers and skilled migrants through the Subclass 494 process — from Sponsorship, Skill Assessment, Nomination to eventual PR via Subclass 191.

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