A guide to the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Subclass 494 visa program

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Subclass 494 visa is an employer sponsored visa that allows the visa holder to live, work and travel to and from Australia for a period of 5 years.

Business Sponsorship, Nomination & Visa

The 494 visa is an employer sponsored visa permitting temporary work in regional Australia. The process is comprised of three steps:

1. the Business Sponsorship agreement with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) which authorises the business to sponsor skilled overseas workers. This may be either Accredited or Standard Business Sponsorship;
2. the 494 Nomination, which sets out the skilled position to be filled by the visa holder;
3. the 494 Visa, which relates to the prospective employee who will fill the skilled position.