Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Subclass Visa 494

Overview

This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. There are two different visa streams, which are the Employer Sponsred Stream and Labour Agreement Stream.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Please note that the eligibility requirements are for visa applicants only. The criteria for the Standard Business Sponsor and Nomination are not included in the following requirements.

1. Employer Sponsred Stream

  • You must be under 45 years of age, unless exemptions apply. 
  • You must be nominated by an Australian Standard Business Sponsor to work in an occupation on the relevant Skilled Occupation List. 
  • You must have been employed in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis and at the skill level required for the nominated occupation.
  • You must have a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation that was assessed by a relevant assessing authority.
  • Your English ability must be equivalent to at least IELTS band 6 for each of the 4 components, unless exemptions apply.
  • You must meet the health and character requirements.
  • You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa.

2. Labour Agreement Stream

  • Unless the labour agreement states otherwise, you must be under 45 years of age when you apply for the visa.
  • You must be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a labour agreement.
  • The nominated occupation must be the subject of a labour agreement between the Commonwealth and the nominator.
  • You must have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation.
  • You must have a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation that was assessed by a relevant assessing authority, if this is specified in the labour agreement.
  • You must meet minimum standards of English language proficiency.
  • You must meet the health and character requirements.
  • You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for the visa.