woocommerce domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home/indianav/migratetosunnyaustralia.com/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6131The Regional Work Visa (494) was started on 16th Nov 2019. This visa allows an employer based in Regional Australia to sponsor and employ a foreign worker.
The Immigration has reserved 9000 places for this program (2019-2020) and since 16th November 2019, Perth and Gold Coast were also categorised as Regional cities therefore, the entire country of Australia is now considered as regional apart from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
In many ways the 494 Regional Work Visa is similar to the 482 Work Visa and in saying so, both are employer sponsored visas but looking at them closely one can see greater advantages with the 494 Visa program both from the employer’s and the visa holder’s perspective.
Let’s have a look at the advantages of the 494 Work Visa over the 482 Work Visa.
Upon it’s grant a 494 Visa is valid for a period of 5 years, regardless of the nominated occupation.
This is much better than the 482 Work Visa as depending on the stream under which the nominated occupation falls, the 482 Work Visa can only be valid for 2 or 4 years.
A 494 Work Visa holder can apply directly for permanent residency after having worked for their sponsoring employer for a minimum period of 3 years. At the time of lodging the permanent residence visa application the visa holder does not require a separate nomination application from their sponsoring employer.
This definitely is a strong advantage of holding a 494 Work Visa as it reduces the dependence of a visa holder on the employer for their permanent residency application.
With a 482 Work Visa if a visa holder’s nominated occupation is listed on the Short Term List then he/she cannot apply for permanent residency until unless they have been employed in a Regional Area, in other words if the visa holder has been working in a Metropolitan area then they are ineligible to apply for employer sponsored permanent residency.
If a 482 Work Visa Holder’s occupation is listed on the Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List then, he/she can apply for permanent residency regardless of their work location.
For a 482 Work Visa Holder to apply for permanent residency, one must work for their sponsoring employer for a minimum of 3 years and beyond that the employer has to lodge a separate nomination application and make a SAF Levy payment. This discourages a lot of employers from supporting the permanent residence visa application for a 482 Visa Holder all together.
A 494 Work Visa Holder’s dependant’s can also apply for permanent residency directly without the need of an employer nomination. In other words if the primary applicant is not meeting the minimum requirement of earning at least $53,900 a year for the three of employment with their sponsoring employer and if the Visa Holder’s dependant meets this requirement then the dependant can become the primary applicant and lodge the permanent residence visa application.
This is yet another advantage of the 494 Work Visa over the 482 Work Visa which doesn’t have any such provision attached to it.
As part of Australian Government’s push to move people to Regional areas, the 494 Work Visa program is incentivised by allowing visa holders and their dependants to access Australian Medicare System which allows free or subsidized treatment in government hospitals and even admission if required.
This benefit is not available at all for 482 Work Visa Holders and they must pay considerable amount of money to purchase private health insurance for themselves and their family members and this can be very expensive.
Children of 494 Work Visa Holders are able to access free or subsidised primary and high school education at par with Australian Citizens or Australian Permanent Residents.
This provision is available in some but not all states for 482 Work Visa Holder who may end up spending considerable amount of money on their children’s education.
Over the years we have assisted many individuals and families to migrate to Australia and we can assist you through all the stages of the 494 Visa application process including Skills Assessment.
For an assessment of your eligibility to migrate to Australia on a 494 Work Visa please contact us or book a consultation with our expert Registered Migration Agent “Sunny Soni“.
