**Specified Region**:

To qualify for this visa, you must live, work, and study in designated regional areas. These areas include all of Australia except for Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

**Pathways to Permanent Residence**:

After three years of holding the subclass 494 visa, you can apply for permanent residence. Until then, some restrictions apply to other visa applications.

**How Long You Can Stay**:

The subclass 494 is a provisional visa, allowing you to stay in Australia for 5 years from the date of grant.

**Include Family**:

You have the option to include your family members in your visa application, subject to health and character requirements. If they are not included, you must provide a reason for their exclusion.

The cost of the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) is as follows:

– Main applicant: AUD4,640.00

– Dependent over 18: AUD2,320.00

– Dependent under 18: AUD1,160.00

– Additional charge of AUD4,890.00 for dependent applicants over 18 without functional English.

Additional expenses may apply for English language tests, health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.

**FOR SPONSORS**

There is no application fee to nominate an applicant for this stream, but sponsors are required to pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy.

It is crucial to understand and adhere to the conditions of the subclass 494 visa, which includes compliance with Australian laws and working in your nominated occupation for your sponsoring employer in regional Australia. Failure to do so may result in visa cancellation.

As a sponsor, it is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with all obligations, including the terms and conditions outlined in the labour agreement and paying the annual market salary rate.

Processing times for the subclass 494 visa can vary based on individual circumstances. As a guideline:

– 25% of applications are processed within 5 months

– 50% of applications are processed within 9 months

– 75% of applications are processed within 12 months

– 90% of applications are processed within 14 months

These times are influenced by factors such as the completeness of your application, your responsiveness to requests for additional information, and the time required for checks and assessments.

Processing times for sponsor nominations can vary based on factors like being an approved work sponsor, the completeness of your application, and your responsiveness to requests for additional information.

To be eligible for the subclass 494 visa, you must meet the following criteria:

– **Age**:

You must be under 45 years of age when applying for the visa, with some exemptions based on specific circumstances.

– **Nominated by an Approved Sponsor**:

You must be nominated by an employer with lawful operations in Australia. The employer must be approved as a standard business sponsor.

– **Skills and Qualifications**:

You must possess the skills, qualifications, and work experience relevant to your nominated occupation. This often requires a skills assessment.

– **Positive Skills Assessment**:

A positive skills assessment from the relevant authority is typically required. Some exemptions may apply.

– **English Proficiency**:

You must have at least Competent English. Exemptions may apply in certain cases.

– **Immigration History**:

Your immigration history is considered, and previous visa cancellations or refusals may impact your eligibility.

To become a sponsor for the subclass 494 visa, you must:

– Be an eligible business with a positive immigration and workplace relations history.

– Have a current labour agreement in place.

– Nominate a skilled worker for an eligible occupation.

– Be unable to find an Australian worker for the nominated position and demonstrate this through labor market testing.