SKILLED EMPLOYER SPONSORED (REGIONAL) SUBCLASS 494
Regional enterprises can address labour shortages in their area by sponsoring skilled employees when they are unable to find a properly skilled Australian worker thanks to the subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored (Regional) visa.
On November 16, 2019, the 494 visa superseded the 187 (RSMS) visa. Each year, 10,000 spots are allocated for the 494 visa. A regional employer must sponsor the applicant, and the role must be anticipated to last for five years. It has to meet the AMSR and has a 45-year age restriction (with some exceptions). A satisfactory skills evaluation and at least three years of skilled employment are requirements for visa applicants.
The validity of the visa is five years. Conditions will be put in place to enforce the government’s desire for visa holders to live, work, and study exclusively in regional areas and only in the designated job (condition 8579). Within 90 days of receiving their visa, visa holders are required to start working in their designated occupations for their designated employers solely in regional Australia. If not, your visa can be revoked.
Any region outside of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane is considered to be a regional area. A significant change is the designation of Perth and the Gold Coast as regional areas.
Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, holders of the new provisional visas will also not be eligible to apply for the majority of other skills-based visas in Australia until they have spent at least three years in a specified regional area. Additionally, holders of the new provisional visas may suffer consequences from sponsor non-compliance, which is similar to how things are currently set up for the subclass 457 and 482 visa programmes.
Obtaining a permanent visa involves:
- . Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional): Applicants must have held a subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years, have adhered with the terms on that visa, and have satisfied minimum taxable income requirements in order to qualify for the permanent visa (as of November 2022). You must demonstrate three years of three-year earnings of at least $53,900 ($70K starting July 1, 2023). If they can meet this requirement, your companion may also apply for the 191 visa alone.
Impact on the present regional visa 187 RSMS:
Beginning November 16, 2019, the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa (subclass 187) will no longer accept new applications. For candidates who have submitted both the Nomination and the Visa but are unsure at that point, transitional arrangements will be put in place.
(Visa Applicant) 494 Visa Requirements:
- . Age at application must be under 45 (exceptions apply).
- English proficiency at the time of application
- You must have worked in the selected occupation full-time for at least three years while maintaining the necessary skill level for the chosen occupation. In general, your experience should have been acquired within the last five years. The time frame need not be continuous. Considering equivalent part-time work is an option. DHA doesn’t take casual work into account.
- GTE requirement is not relevant.
- have a substantive or bridging visa A, B, or C if in Australia
- successfully assessing talents at the application stage
- The necessity for doctor registration does not apply.
- DoHA Fee: $4,640 for the primary applicant, $2,320 for the spouse, and $1160 for any minor children.
- If an adult candidate does not achieve Functional English requirements, the second VAC is $4890.
Employer and job offer specifications (494)
- . A selected regional Australia must be where the employer is located, with the exception of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
- Perth, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie, the Illawarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart, and Canberra are examples of regional areas.
- position must be listed as an approved profession
- position must be available for five years and be full-time.
- Employer will require RCB (Regional Certifying Body) clearance.
- The Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR) must be paid by the employer.
Benefits of a 494 visa include:
- If qualified, may apply for permanent residence with the subclass 191 visa (starts 16 November 2022) without a second nomination stage.
- With only one SAF levy stage required for the subclass 494 nomination (as opposed to the two phases required for the present subclass 482 to ENS subclass 186 permanent resident pathway), companies will pay less.
The prerequisites and route to PR:
- To obtain a 191 visa for skilled regional permanent residence, you must work and reside in a regional area for three years on a 494 visa.
- Despite being able to change occupations, you will have 90 days to locate a new nominee.
- For three years, you cannot apply for any other skilled PR or partner visas under 820.
- Medicare-eligible 494 visa holders do not need to have health insurance
Skilled Visa
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