The 494 skilled employer sponsored visa has introduced today on 16 November 2019. 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.

A total of 9,000 places will be allocated to the 494 visa program every year. The 494 visa visa holder may be eligible for the 191 skilled regional permanent residency visa in the future.

With this visa, you can

• live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid
• if eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted

Specified region

You can live, work and study only in a designated regional area. Designated regional areas include all of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Designated regional area postcodes

State or Territory	Category	Postcodes
New South Wales	Cities and major regional centres	2259, 2264 to 2308, 2500 to 2526, 2528 to 2535 and 2574
Regional centres and other regional areas	2250 to 2258, 2260 to 2263, 2311 to 2490, 2527, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2739, 2753 to 2754, 2756 to 2758 and 2773 to 2898
Victoria	Cities and major regional centres	3211 to 3232, 3235, 3240, 3328, 3330 to 3333, 3340 and 3342
Regional centres and other regional areas	3097 to 3099, 3139, 3233 to 3234, 3236 to 3239, 3241 to 3325, 3329, 3334, 3341, 3345 to 3424, 3430 to 3799, 3809 to 3909, 3912 to 3971 and 3978 to 3996
Queensland	Cities and major regional centres	4207 to 4275, 4517 to 4519, 4550 to 4551, 4553 to 4562, 4564 to 4569 and 4571 to 4575
Regional centres and other regional areas	4124 to 4125, 4133, 4183 to 4184, 4280 to 4287, 4306 to 4498, 4507, 4552, 4563, 4570 and 4580 to 4895
Western Australia	Cities and major regional centres	6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 6558
Regional centres and other regional areas	All postcodes in Western Australia not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above
South Australia	Cities and major regional centres	5000 to 5171, 5173 to 5174, 5231 to 5235, 5240 to 5252, 5351 and 5950 to 5960
Regional centres and other regional areas	All postcodes in South Australia not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above
Tasmania	Cities and major regional centres	7000, 7004 to 7026, 7030 to 7109, 7140 to 7151 and 7170 to 7177
Regional centres and other regional areas	All postcodes in Tasmania not mentioned in ‘Cities and major regional centres’ category above
Australian Capital Territory	Cities and major regional centres	All postcodes in the Australian Capital Territory
Regional centres and other regional areas	None
Northern Territory	Cities and major regional centres	None
Regional centres and other regional areas	All postcodes in the Northern Territory
Norfolk Island	Cities and major regional centres	None
Regional centres and other regional areas	All postcodes in Norfolk Island
Other Territories	Cities and major regional centres	None
Regional centres and other regional areas	All postcodes in a Territory other than the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory or Norfolk Island

Be nominated by an approved sponsor

You must be nominated by an employer whose business is lawfully operating in Australia.

You must be employed to work in the nominated occupation and in a position within the sponsoring business or an associated entity of that business, located in a designated regional area of Australia.

Before you can apply for the visa, your employer will need to lodge a nomination application for you. They will only be able to do this if they are an approved work sponsor or have at least lodged an application to become a standard business sponsor.

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Have relevant skills, qualifications and work experience

If you are the primary visa applicant, you must demonstrate that you have the skills, qualifications and work experience necessary to perform the nominated occupation. 

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Have a positive skills assessment

You must have your skills assessed as suitable for the nominated occupation by the relevant assessing authority. The assessment will show us you have the skills to work in the nominated occupation.

The skills assessment must be undertaken before your application is lodged. A skills assessment obtained for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is not a valid assessment for this visa.

You do not need to complete a skills assessment if at the time of application you held a Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) or Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) for the nominated occupation and in order to be granted that visa, you were required to demonstrate your skills by providing a suitable skills assessment.

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Have this level of English language

You must have at least Competent English to be granted this visa.

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Meet health requirement

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.

If requested, family members not accompanying you to Australia might also need to meet our health requirement.

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Meet character requirement

You and your family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.

Family members not accompanying you to Australia must also meet the character requirement.

How long you can stay

This is a provisional visa. You can stay in Australia for a period of 5 years from when your visa is granted.

Stay longer

You can’t stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. Explore your visa options.

If eligible, you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted.

Include family

You can include members of the family unit in your application. You can:

• include them when you submit your visa application
• add a dependent child after you submit but before we decide on your visa application

Family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health and character requirements.

Family members who do not apply for the visa with you might also have to meet our health and character requirements.

If your partner or dependent children are not included in this application, you must tell us the reason why. For example, they already hold Australian citizenship or are a permanent resident.

Cost

This visa costs AUD4,045 for the main applicant, AUD2,025 for each dependent 18 years and over, and AUD1,010 for each dependent under 18 years.

It costs an additional AUD4,890 if any dependent applicants who are 18 years and over do not have functional English. This extra charge is called a second instalment.

For more information regarding new skilled employer sponsored visa Subclass 494 has introduced today on 16 November 2019, get in touch with us at info@australasiaeduconnect.com.au.

Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/Visa-subsite/Pages/work/494-employer-sponsored.aspx#Overview