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Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) - Labour Agreement stream (Subclass 494)

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Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

Applicants must have a nomination to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a labour agreement, have at least 3 years relevant work experience in the nominated occupation, have a relevant skills assessment if specified in the labour agreement, work only for their sponsor, be under 45 years of age unless the labour agreement states otherwise, and meet minimum standards of English language proficiency.

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Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

Yes. The employer must nominate the applicant before the visa application is submitted, for an occupation that is the subject of a labour agreement between the Commonwealth and the nominating employer. The nomination must be approved at the time the visa application is decided. The holder must only work in the nominated occupation and only for the nominating employer in regional Australia; otherwise the visa may be cancelled. The employer must employ the worker on terms and conditions agreed under the labour agreement that are not less favourable than those for Australian citizens or permanent residents doing the same work in the same place.

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What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

The occupation must be the subject of a labour agreement between the Commonwealth and the nominating employer, and the job must be in a designated regional area (all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). The applicant must have been employed in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years full-time at the required skill level, generally gained within the last 5 years; must have a skills assessment if the labour agreement specifies one; must be under 45 when applying unless the labour agreement states otherwise; and must have the level of English specified in the labour agreement.

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What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

The visa restricts the holder to living, working and studying in designated regional areas, and the holder must work only for their sponsor. Members of the family unit can be included in the application when submitting it, and a dependent child can be added after submission but before a decision. Family members applying must meet health and character requirements.

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How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

This is a provisional visa granted for 5 years from the date of grant. It cannot be extended. If eligible, the holder can apply for permanent residence after holding the subclass 494 visa for 3 years, and the employer may be able to sponsor the holder for permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).

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These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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