494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
The new 494 visa, which is and employer sponsored (regional) visa, will be introduced in November 2019. This will have a designated pathway to permanent residence after 3 years by applying for a 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa. The provisional visa are:-
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) 494 visa. This for applicants sponsored by an employer in regional Australia.
Advantages of the new visa types
Employers in regional areas will have access to additional occupations (about 450 more) not otherwise available for other visa schemes to sponsor migrants and Home Affairs is indicating that there will be priority processing for these visa type. A full list of the occupations allowed for the 494 visa is available at:
https://www.migrationagentperth.com.au/494-visa-occupations/
The new visas will be granted with a validity of 5 years and holders of the new provisional visas will need to live and work in regional Australia. Visa holder will have a pathway to permanent residence with the new Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 Visa. This will only commence in 3 years – that is November 2022.
The key critria for the this visa is as follows:-
- You are sponsored by your employer
- The position is in designated regional area
- You have a successful skill assessment
- you have 3 years post-graduate/qualification work experience
- Your are under 45 years
To meet the criteria for permanent residence (191 visa), applicants holding skilled regional provisional visas will need to show they’ve lived and worked in regional Australia while holding one of the new Skilled Regional Provisional visa and earned at least a specified amount for each of the 3 years.
Designated Regional Area is defined and is usually by postcode.
“regional provisional visa” is defined and means:
(a) a Subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)) visa; or
(b) a Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)) visa.