The Subclass 494 or the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa is a temporary visa issued to skilled foreign workers. With a Subclass 494 visa, skilled workers can reside and work in designated regional areas of Australia, provided they have a sponsorship from a regional employer. Through the Subclass 494 visa, regional Australian employers can sponsor skilled workers to come and work in regions with labour shortages. The Subclass 494 visa, once issued, is valid for up to 5 years and allows visa holders to travel to and from Australia without any restrictions. With a Subclass 494 visa, you can qualify for an Australian permanent residency after 3 years upon fulfilling the visa requirements.
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What are the Subclass 494 visa streams?
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa or the Subclass 494 visa has two major streams:
- Employer-sponsored stream: The Employer-Sponsored stream allows regional employers in Australia to sponsor skilled workers to work in regions with labour shortages and in the absence of a potential Australian worker. Through the Employer-Sponsored stream, individuals can reside, work, and pursue studies in designated regional areas of Australia.
- Labour Agreement stream: The Labour Agreement stream allows employers with a labour agreement to sponsor skilled workers to come and work in Australia. Through this stream, visa holders can apply for Australia PR after 3 years and upon meeting the eligibility criteria.
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Benefits of Subclass 494 Visa
The benefits of applying for a Subclass 494 visa in Australia are as follows:
- Reside and work and even study in Australia for up to 5 years
- Freely travel to and from Australia without restrictions during the visa validity
- Include your family members in your visa application
- Avail healthcare benefits such as Medicare
- Pathway to permanent residency in Australia
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