Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
(Subclass 494)

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (SESR) is a provisional employer-sponsored regional visa, replacing the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Subclass 187 visa. 

There are many similar features to the RSMS visa. It requires employer sponsorship, Regional Certifying Body (RCB) certification, employment experience, English proficiency, market salary provision and skills assessment. 

New features of this visa: 

  • Definition of 'regional area' expanded to include all areas except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
  • Occupation list expanded (673 available)
  • 9,000 places allocated for 2019-20 financial year
  • Eligible for permanent residence after 3 years (with the same sponsoring employer)
  • While holding a 494 visa, there are restrictions on applying for certain other visas including but not limited to 189, 190, 186, 187

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Sponsorship

To become a sponsor, the business must be: 

  • The employer must be in a nominated Australian regional area (except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
  • Regional locations include Perth, Gold Coast, Lake Macquarie, Illwarra, Geelong, Newcastle, Wollongong, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra. 
  • The employer must get approval from the Regional Certifying Body (RCB)
  • The employer must pay the Australian Market Salary (AMSR) 

Nomination

To become nominated, the follwoing criteria must be met: 

  • The candidate must be nominated by an approved work sponsor
  • The candidate has a role listed on eligible occupations
  • The candidate has a suitable skills assessment for the occupation
  • The candidate must be under 45 years of age
  • The candidate must meet minimum standards of English language proficiency 

 

Employer - Sponsored Stream Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

This stream allows regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't find an appropriately skilled Australian worker. 

Candidates can live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia. They can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time their visa is granted under The Skilled Regional (Permanent Residence) 191 visa. 

Labour Agreement Stream - Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

Ths stream enables skilled workers to be nominated by employers who have a labour agreement. Labour agreements are created between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.

The employer must have a labour agreement with the Australian government in effect. 

Visa Application

Independent Migration
No.

Employer Nomination
Yes.

State/Territory Government Nomination:
No

Family/Relative Sponsorship
No.

Permanent Migration Pathway
Yes.

The visa holder will be eligible to apply for a permanent visa after having worked for 3 years on 494 visas to be eligible to apply under the 191 visas. 

Employment Prospects

Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494 replaced the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187) and requires employer sponsorship. 

Contact Konnecting's skilled migration agents to see if they can provide you with recruitment consulting. If your skills match the requirements of an Australian company, we can also help locate an Australian skilled migration visa that's right for you.