The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa 494 is a provisional residency visa

which is now available to skilled workers already living and working in Australia as temporary residents and to skilled workers living offshore.

 

The 494 visa has replaced the 187 RSMS visa as of November 16, 2019.

 

Applicants must be skilled in an occupation on the Regional Occupation List and must be nominated by an employer in a regional area.

 

A total of 9000 places will be allocated for this program annually. This visa does not grant permanent residency immediately like the 187 once did however, applicants may at some stage in the future be eligible for the 191 Skilled Regional PR visa.

 

In order for applicants to be eligible for the 494 visa, they must:

 

• Hold a suitable Skills Assessment in their nominated occupation

• Have a minimum of 3 years of relevant full-time experience

• Must be under 45 years of age

• Demonstrate Competent level of English language ability along with Functional English for dependents over the age of 18

• Meet health and character requirements

 

After the 494 has been granted, applicants can remain in Australia for a period of 5 years and must continue to work only in a designated regional area. They will be eligible for a PR pathway after 3 years.

 

Visa holders will be eligible for Australian Medicare for the duration of the visa.

 

For applicants wishing to apply for this visa within Australia, they must be the holder of a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C.

 

Department of Home Affairs processing times will vary depending on the individual applicant circumstances including:

​

• whether you have lodged a complete application, including all necessary supporting documents

• how quickly you respond to any requests for additional information

• how long it takes to perform required checks on the supporting information provided

• how long it takes to receive additional information from external agencies, particularly in relation to health, character, and national security requirements