This visa enables regional employers to address identified labor shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. It was introduced in 2019 to substitute the now-defunct subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) direct entry stream. Subclass 494 currently houses three streams-

1. Employer Sponsored Stream
2. Labour Agreement Stream
3. Subsequent Entrant

1) Employee Sponsored Stream

This visa enables regional employers to address identified labor shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

Visa type

Provisional

Cost of Application

AUD4,115 for the main applicant

AUD2,060 for each dependent 18 years and over 

AUD1,030 for each dependent under 18 years

Duration if this Visa

5 years

Uses of This Visa

• live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid
• if eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements-

• Have a positive skills assessment
• Have the required skills, work experience  and qualifications needed to perform the 
• tasks of the nominated occupation (can be shown with a positive skills assessment)
• Be nominated by an approved sponsor
• Be under 45 years of age, unless exemptions apply (see ‘age exemptions’ below for additional information)
• Meet the  health requirement
• Meet the character requirement
• Have at least Competent English
• Pay back any debts to the Australian Government if taken

Age exemptions

This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. It was introduced in 2019 to substitute the now-defunct subclass 187 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

(RSMS) direct entry stream. Subclass 494 currently houses three streams-

1. Employer Sponsored Stream
2. Labour Agreement Stream
3. Subsequent Entrant

Refer to the tables below for information on each stream.

2) Labour Agreement Stream

This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a labour agreement. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers

Visa type

Provisional

Cost of Application

AUD4,115 for the main applicant

AUD 4890  for each dependent

Duration of Visa

5 Years

Uses of This Visa

• Live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid
• If eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements-

• Have a positive skills assessment
• Have the required skills, work experience  and qualifications needed to perform the tasks of the nominated occupation (can be shown with a positive skills assessment)
• Be working under a labor agreement
• Be under 45 years of age, unless the labor agreement specifies otherwise
• Meet the  health requirement
• Meet the character requirement
• Have the level of English as specified in the labor agreement to be granted this visa.
• Pay back any debts to the Australian Government
• Not had a visa canceled or an application refused when you were in Australia
• Sign the Australian values statement

3) Subsequent Entrant

This visa is for members of the family unit of a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder who are applying separately for their SESR visa and wish to join the primary SESR visa holder in Australia.

Visa type

Provisional

Cost of Application

AUD4,115

Duration of This Visa

5 Years

Uses of This Visa

• Stay in Australia while the visa is valid
• Live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for up to 5 years
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements-

• Have a family member who is a primary SESR visa holder
• Be nominated by the primary SESR visa holder's work sponsor
• Be under 45 years of age
• Meet the  health requirement
• Meet the character requirement
• Have at least Functional English
• Pay back any debts to the Australian Government
• Not had a visa cancelled or an application refused when you were in Australia
• Sign the Australian values statement
• Have at least Competent English