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The Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, subclass 494, is a regional visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia. Here are the general requirements for the 494 visa:

  1. Regional Employer Sponsorship:
    • The applicant must have a job offer from an employer who is located in a designated regional area of Australia and is an approved sponsor or eligible to become one.
    • The employer must apply for and receive approval as a Standard Business Sponsor before the visa application.
  2. Occupation List:
    • The applicant’s occupation must be on the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
  3. Skills Assessment:
    • The applicant must have a valid skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation.
    • The skills assessment ensures that the applicant has the required skills and qualifications for the nominated occupation.
  4. English Language Proficiency:
    • The applicant must meet the English language requirements, which typically involve demonstrating competent English through language test results such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or Cambridge English.
  5. Age Limit:
    • The applicant must be under the age of 45 at the time of application.
  6. Health and Character Requirements:
    • The applicant must meet health and character requirements, including undergoing a medical examination and obtaining police clearance certificates.
  7. Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Requirement:
    • The applicant must satisfy the GTE requirement, which assesses whether they genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily and have a genuine reason to enter and remain in the country.
  8. Nomination by Employer:
    • The employer must nominate the applicant for a specific position that meets the requirements of the 494 visa, including offering terms and conditions of employment that meet the relevant Australian standards.
  9. Regional Residence Requirement:
    • The applicant must commit to living and working in a designated regional area of Australia for a period of at least three years.

It’s important to note that the subclass 494 visa has various streams, such as the Employer-Sponsored stream and the Labor Agreement stream. The specific requirements and validity period of the visa can differ based on the stream chosen.

Disclaimer: Please note that all the information on this website only serves a guide. For more accurate and updated information about this visa please email us at  or visit our office for further information.