REGIONAL EMPLOYER SPONSORED VISA (494)

Subclass 494 visa replaced the famous subclass 187 RSMS visa. It is a visa for 5 years and it has a 45 year age limit.

The employer must be located in any area of Australia except for Sydney Metropolitan, Melbourne Metropolitan and Brisbane Metropolitan. Perth and Gold Coast are considered regional areas now.

To become a Permanent Resident, you need to stay 3 years in a regional area and then you can apply for the 191 visa.

There are 3 stages for the 494 visa.

Also the position will need to be approved by Regional Certifying Body.

Each regional area in Australia has its own government appointed authority which has very good knowledge of its local area. Since regional areas are quite small and close-knit, this authority must determine the annual market salary rate for the position. They will see whether the salary that is paid to the applicant falls in line with the annual market salary rate or not.

  1. Sponsorship (by the employer) – sponsor must be lawful, active, operating a business)
  • Lawfully registered
  • Operating as a business

 

  1. Nomination – Genuineness of position, Salary details, labour market testing

Labour Market Testing – where employer must place 1 ad on Jobactive and 2 other ads on a recognised recruitment website, newspaper/medium. All 3 ads must be at least for 28 days (4 weeks) and must be within last 4 months prior to nomination lodgement date.

Minimum salary of employee must be $73,150 (TSMIT)

 

Skilled Australia Fund

  • Skilled Australia Fund Levy:
    • is $3000.00 if your annual turnover is less than $10 million
    • is $5000.00 if your annual turnover is more than $10 million

 

3. Visa Application

  • Applicant must be 45 or under
  • English language level must be competent
  • 3 years full-time work experience required in nominated occupation
  • Must hold substantive visa or BVA, BVB, BVC
  • Full skills assessment required

Competent English

  • Have passport and are a citizen of USA, UK, NZ, Ireland or Canada
International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic or General Training​) Minimum 6 in each of the 4 components
Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT)  Minimum 12 for listening,  Minimum 13 for reading, Min 21 for writing and Min 18 for speaking
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) Minimum 50 in each of the 4 components
Occupational English Test (OET) Minimum B in each of the 4 components
​Cambridge C1 Advanced test Minimum 169 in each of the 4 components

We have a lot of experience in 494 visas. Contact us today on info@visaeducationexperts.com.au or +61 414 588 942.

Information provided in this website is general in nature and does not constitute immigration advice.
The information on this website can change without notice and we do not guarantee the accuracy of information.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate. Individuals must not rely on the information in this website to make a visa or immigration decision. Before making any decision, we recommend you consult a migration agent or lawyer to take into account your particular situation and individual needs.

Please note that any immigration advice provided only and only constitutes immigration assistance as per s276 of the Migration Act 1958 (It does not include or constitute any other type of advice apart from immigration assistance as per s276 of the Migration Act 1958).