494 visa

regional

sponsored

migration

scheme

494.jpg
 

The 494 skilled employer sponsored visa replaced the 187 (RSMS) visa on 16 November 2019.

Duration of stay - 5 years to permanent (through visa 191)

 

Main visa criteria

  • You must hold a suitable skills assessment

  • You must have at least three years of full time and relevant skilled work experience

  • You must be under 45 years of age

  • You must demonstrate Competent English

  • You must be nominated by an employer

How can my employer

nominate

me on a 494 visa?

  • Your employer must be located in a designated regional area of Australia (excludes employers in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne). Perth, the Gold Coast, the regions of Newcastle, Wollongong and the NSW Central Coast have also been classified among the designated regional areas.

  • Your position is on the relevant occupation list (over 700 occupations)

  • Your employer will need approval from the Regional Certifying Body (RCB) in your area

  • The position must be full-time, genuine and likely to be available for five years

  • You must be paid at the market salary rate

Can I obtain

permanent residency

with this visa?

The 494 is a five-year visa. You can access permanent residence through the Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)) visa when the following is met:

1. You have worked in the designated regional area for at least three years, whilst holding a 494 visa
2. You can show earnings of at least $53,900 for three years. If you have a partner, only one of you needs to show this salary level (through tax returns) and this person would be the main applicant for the 191 visa

You do NOT need to be nominated by an employer to make an application for the 191 visa. This is a major difference to the RSMS 187 visa

Special conditions after the visa grant

Once the 494 visa is obtained, the visa holder will be restricted from applying certain permanent visas (other than the 191 visa), with particular reference to:

  • Partner visa (subclass 820)

  • Skilled visas (subclasses 189 - 190)

  • ENS (subclass 186)

  • Distinguished talent (subclass 858)

  • Business, innovation and investment (subclass 888)