Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa SC494 (Replaced SC187)

What you can do with this visa

  • Let foreign skilled workers be sponsored by regional employers where employers cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

How long you can stay

This is a provisional visa. You can stay up to 5 years.

There are three main streams:

  • Employer Sponsored stream- can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted- See Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional)- Subclass 191.
  • Labour agreement stream- The employer must have a labour agreement.
  • Subsequent entrant- for members of the family unit of a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder who wish to join the primary SESR visa holder in Australia.

Eligibility

Shared Criteria

  • Must be under 45 years old
  • Have relevant skills, qualifications and work experience
  • Be nominated by an approved sponsor
  • Have a positive skills assessment
  • Meet health and character requirements.
  • Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
  • Have no debt to the Australian government

Employer Sponsored stream

  • Must have at least competent English

Subsequent entrant

  • Have a family member who is a primary SESR visa holder
  • Approved nomination in relation to the primary SESR visa holder, or main applicant for a SESR visa, must agree (or have agreed) in writing to include you as a family member in the nomination.
  • Must have Functional English. If you can’t show that you have Functional English, you will need to pay the second instalment.

Common Visa Conditions

8515 – Must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entry

8578 – Notify us if your passport or contact details change

8579 – Live, study and work in a designated regional area

8580 – Provide evidence of your live, study or work address if requested

8581 – You must attend an interview if we ask you to in a letter

8608 – Must work only in the nominated occupation

Contact us for help