The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa provides expanded flexibility for regional employers to sponsor overseas talent for critical skilled positions temporarily, with an option for permanent residency. The link below provides a list of the regional postcodes for this visa:

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2022L00231 

This visa has two streams:

Employer-Sponsored Stream: This stream allows regional employers to sponsor overseas workers in occupations specified on the approved occupation list, which can be found on this link: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2020C01141

This stream involves a three-stage process:

1. Business Sponsorship: Employers must apply to become or be an approved standard business sponsor.

2. Nomination: Employers nominate a position to be filled by an overseas worker.

3. Visa Application: The overseas worker submits an application based on the approved nomination. Visa applicants must have at least 3 years of post-qualification work experience in the occupation conducted full-time or equivalent part-time, a positive skills assessment outcome and the required English ( IELTS test score of 6 in each band or the equivalent in the other approved English examination).

Labour Agreement Stream: This stream facilitates regional employers recruiting overseas skilled workers for positions normally not listed on the skilled occupation lists through a formal labour agreement or positions that do not meet the criteria under the Employer-Sponsored Stream.

The process under this stream consists of the following stages: DAMA endorsement, if applicable + Labour agreement + nomination + visa application.