Regional employers can address labour shortage problems in their region by sponsoring skilled workers whose employer may not be able to recruit an adequate candidate from Australia under the regional employer sponsored visa subclass 494.
There are three types of visa sponsored by regional employers called subclasses 494.
This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. With this visa under Employer Sponsored Stream you can live, work ad study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years. You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid. If eligible, then you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.
You must be at least 45 years old unless you are exempt from the age criteria.
The nomination of the Australian employer who is legally operating in Australia.
The applicant must have applied for a visa within 6 months of being nominated.
The necessary skills and qualifications of the post If you have not been excused, proof of English language proficiency.
To meet the requirements relating to health and character.
Fulfill the criteria of the stream you’ve been applying.
The visa application charge for this visa type is $4,640 for the main applicant. If you apply for family members such as your partner or a dependent child, these will be subject to additional charge of $2,320 for the additional applicant who is 18 years or above and $1,160 for the additional applicant under 18 years of age. It costs an additional $4,890 if any dependent applicants who are 18 years and above and don’t have functional English. This charge is known as second instalment.
Currently, 90% of the application for this visa type are processed in 14 months.
This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a labour agreement. Labour agreements are developed between the Australia Government (represented by the Department) and employers. The skilled workers nominated by employers who have a contract of employment shall be covered by this stream. For a term of five years, this visa allows skilled staff appointed by their employer to live and work in Australia’s designated regional areas. You will be allowed to travel for five years after your visa has been granted on both sides of Australia. You will be able to request permanent residence after three years from the date on which your visa has been issued, if you qualify.
If the labour agreement does not specify this, you must be less than 45 years of age.
The terms of your employment contract must allow you to be designated as working in a specific field.
Relevant work experience in your appointed job should be 3 years or more.
If this is set out in the contract of employment, you need to be assessed for relevant skills.
You must work only for your sponsor.
Minimum standards of competence in English language must be met.
The visa application charge for this visa type is $4,640 for the main applicant. If you apply for family members such as your partner or a dependent child, these will be subject to additional charge of $2,320 for the additional applicant who is 18 years or above and $1,160 for the additional applicant under 18 years of age. It costs an additional $4,890 if any dependent applicants who are 18 years and above and don’t have functional English. This charge is known as second instalment.
Currently, 90% of the visa applications for this visa type is processed in 6 months.
This visa is for members of the family unit of a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder who are applying separately for their SESR visa and wish to join the primary SESR visa holder in Australia. You are entitled to remain in Australia during the period of validity of this visa. For a maximum period of 5 years, you can be resident, working and studying in the specific regions of Australia. From the date on which the visa is granted, you may travel to and from Australia for a period of up to five years.
You must be under the age of 45.
You must be a member of the family unit of the primary SESR visa holder to apply for this visa.
The work sponsor (employer) in relation to the primary SESR visa holder, or main applicant for a SESR visa, must agree (or have agreed) in writing to include you as a family member in the nomination.
To have an adequate level of English proficiency you must meet minimum standards. You will need to make another payment if you are unable to demonstrate that you have functional English.
You’ve got to meet the health and character requirements.
The visa application charge for this visa type is $4,640 or the main applicant. It costs an additional $4,890 if the subsequent entrant is 18 years and above, and don’t have functional English. This extra charge is called as second instalment.
There is currently no specific time limit mentioned for the processing of this visa type.
