Employer Sponsored Regional – SC494

Employer Requirements

An employer wishing to sponsor an applicant via the subclass 494 visa must firstly become an approved Standard Business Sponsor and submit a nomination nominating the skilled worker to work in a designated regional area in an occupation listed in the relevant skilled occupation lists.

Basic Requirements:

• Employment is located in designated regional area of Australia
• The occupation is on the relevant occupation list
• The position must be full-time, genuine and likely to be available for five years
• The applicant must be paid at the Australian market salary rate for the occupation

Applicant Requirements

If an applicant has secured a position with a business located in a designated regional area of Australia to be eligible for the visa they must:

• Hold a full skills assessment for the occupation they are being nominated in
• Must have at least three years of full time relevant work experience in the occupation they are being nominated in
• They must be under 45 years of age
• They must possess at least Competent English on an approved English language test (IELTS, PTE etc)

Transition To Permanent Residency Via The Subclass 191 Visa

The subclass 494 visa will be granted for a period of 5 years and will be able to access permanent residency via the Subclass 191 pathway if the following criteria is met:

• The visa holder and any dependants must have worked with the sponsoring employer and lived in the designated regional area for at least three years whilst holding a subclass 494 visa
• The visa holder must show earnings (taxable income) of at least A$53,900 annually for the three-year period. If the visa holder has included a partner in the application, only one party needs to show the three years of annual salary (taxable income) at or above $53,900. The visa holders’ partner can ‘swap’ and become the main applicant for the 191 visa if they can meet this requirement.

It is noted that applicants are not required to be nominated by their employer again to make an application for the subclass 191 visa and the Skilling Australians Fund levy is not payable.

What Is Considered A Designated Regional Area?

Most areas located outside major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are designated regional areas for the purposes of this visa.

Only certain postcodes outside metropolitan Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are designated regional areas.

South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Norfolk Island are all considered designated regional areas.

Designated Regional Areas are subject to change.