Subclass 494 Visa

Eligibility Criteria

You can apply for the Subclass 494 Visa if you meet these criteria:

• Your nominated occupation must be on the relevant Skilled Occupation List applicable for the Subclass 494 visa.
• You must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.
• You need to meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements.
• You must have at least three years of relevant full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) in your nominated occupation. It should have been gained within the last five years.
  
• You must have a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation unless an exemption applies.
• You must receive a nomination from an approved sponsoring employer located in a designated regional area.
• You must satisfy the health and character requirements.

Once you have met the eligibility requirements, your employer must submit and receive approval for your nomination before or at the same time as you submit your visa application.

After your nomination has been lodged, you can create an ImmiAccount and submit your Subclass 494 visa application online. Ozee Migration can assist you with preparing your application and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly.

What Documents Are Required? (Apply for a Subclass 494 Visa)

When applying for a Subclass 494 visa, you must provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date supporting documentation to show that you meet the visa’s requirements. Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to provide the following documents:

• A valid passport and identity documents, such as your birth certificate or national identity card (if applicable).
• Evidence of your English language proficiency, unless you are exempt.
• A positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation, if required.
• Evidence of at least three years of relevant work experience, such as employment reference letters, pay stubs, tax records, etc.
• Educational qualifications, professional licences, or registrations required for your nominated occupation (if applicable).
  
• Documents relating to your employer’s approved nomination, where required.
• A police certificate showing that you have not committed any crimes (proof of good character) is mandatory and should be provided for each country that you have lived in for a period of twelve months or longer.
• Health examination results or any documents requested to meet Australia’s health requirements.
• If you are including your partner in your application, include documents proving their identity and relationship to you (such as a marriage certificate or proof of a de facto relationship), as well as any required character documents.
• If you are including dependent children, provide copies of their passports, birth certificates, and any other documents requested by the Department of Home Affairs, depending on their circumstances.
• If applicable, documents relating to any change of name, divorce, adoption, custody arrangements, or other civil status documents.

Subclass 494 Visa Cost

This visa costs AUD 6,140 for the main applicant. However,

• Additional applicant 18 years or older: AUD 3,070
• Additional applicant under 18 years: AUD 1,535

Note:

• Fee concessions are available in limited circumstances.
• You might also have to pay other costs for health checks,?police certificates, and biometrics.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Visa Subclass 494? (494 Visa Process

Visa processing time for the Subclass 494 visa varies as per the stream that you are applying for. For the Employer-Sponsored Stream, approximately 50% of the applications are processed within 5 months, while 90% are finalised within 11 months. In the case of the Labour Agreement Stream, around 50% of applications are processed within 89 days, and 90% are completed within 10 months.

Subclass 494 Visa Conditions

Within 90 days of receiving their visa, 494 visa holders must begin working and are only permitted to do so under the following conditions:

• The occupation they have nominated
• Only for employees who have sponsored them
• Stay in a region-specific field of employment