SKILLED EMPLOYER SPONSORED REGIONAL (PROVISIONAL) VISA SUBCLASS 494

Request for Assessment by Regional Certifying Body

UPDATE: Effective as of 1 July 2023, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) has increased to $70,000.

UPDATE: Effective 1 July 2022, the SESR 494 visa fee is $770 (incl. GST).

Applications for SESR 494 are open for RCB assessment.

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa subclass 494

For direct information from the Department of Home Affairs concerning this visa, please click here.

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) Visa (SESR 494) enables Australian employers in specified regional areas to sponsor (nominate) skilled overseas workers. This visa assists employers in regional and low population growth areas of Australia to fill vacant positions where suitable Australian citizens or permanent residents are not available.

The SESR 494 visa requires that the sponsored migrant remain with the employer for at least three years to be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Where an employer decides to nominate a skilled overseas worker for a SESR visa in the Employer Sponsored (ES) stream, the nomination must be accompanied by advice completed by a relevant Regional Certifying Body (RCB) at time of decision. The RCB must have responsibility for the area where the nominated position is located. These requirements are legislated in the Migration Regulations 1994 under Regulation 2.72C(18).

Ultimately, RCB advice is required to confirm that the pay and conditions that a skilled migrant is to receive are no less than an Australian worker would receive in the same position in the region.

If a nominating employer has not requested the RCB to provide advice to the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs (DHA), and advice has not been received by the Department, then the lodged employer nomination application cannot be progressed.

The Department is required to consider RCB advice about the nominating employer before making their determination. Regional advice is intended to contribute to or influence the final outcome, not determine it.

Skilled Occupation List

Visas are available to individuals who are qualified to work or train in an eligible skilled occupation in Australia and can meet all other requirements.

Hunter Eligible Postcodes:

Regional Development Australia Hunter is gazetted by the DHA as the RCB for the Hunter Region in NSW. Applicants outside this region should locate the relevant RCB near to them.

The regional areas located under RDA Hunter certification open for SESR 494 visa nomination are listed by post code below:

2264 – 2267
2278
2280 – 2308
2315 – 2338
2415
2420
2421

ASSESSMENT PROCESS

An Employer or Migration Agent is to send a completed 1404 form and all relevant documentation for assessment electronically to admin@rdahunter.org.au, (further details of all required documentation is outlined in RDA Hunter’s RCB Checklist.

RDA Hunter will send a confirmation once an application has been received and issue an invoice via email. Upon receipt of an invoice, payment can be made via direct deposit or PayPal. Receipt of an invoice may vary depending on the timing of an application being received, confirmation and internal invoicing cycles.

RDA Hunter will assess the application against the criteria outlined by the DHA. On completion of assessment RDA Hunter will provide advice to both the DHA and the employer or migration agent as to whether the application satisfies the relevant criteria. An electronic copy of the 1404 form will be sent to the DHA and the nominating employer or migration agent.

Processing Time

RDA Hunter will make an assessment within 28 days of receipt of the processing fee. Accordingly, applicants need to consider this when submitting their application with supporting documentation. Refer to the DHA website to view current processing times.

Processing Fee

RDA Hunter charges a non-refundable service fee of $770 (incl. GST) per application. Payments may be made via direct deposit or via PayPal. Details to make payment will be provided on our invoice. Expedited services are not available.

Application Requirements and Documentation

Essential Documents:

  • Completed Form 1404,
  • Completed Form 956 submitted by Migration Agent (if application submitted by Migration Agent),
  • Statement (either in an attached email, or separate document) confirming that the employment is situated in RDA Hunter’s regional area range, relevant postcode to be included,
  • Completed RDA Hunter RCB Checklist. Please mark against criteria with evidence included in application,
  • Copy of the nomination application (if already lodged), and
  • Receipt for payment of the $770 (incl. GST) service fee. (Invoices will only be issued upon RDA Hunter receiving a complete application.)

Please note: the RCB Checklist document is a GUIDE ONLY of the types of supporting evidence that should be included for an SESR application. Further evidence may be required where necessary and assessment is not restricted to the documentation stated in the RCB Checklist. The onus is on the employer to provide adequate information for the RCB to assess the nomination.

Criteria for Assessment and Evidence Required

If the nominee will be paid an annual salary of less than AUD250,000, you must determine and demonstrate to RDA Hunter that you will pay the nominee at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for the nominated position. This requires:

  • Evidence as to how the employer has determined the AMSR
  • Evidence that the overseas worker will not be paid less than this amount (i.e. less than the amount that an Australian worker would be paid)
  • Both the AMSR and the amount that the overseas worker will be paid, excluding superannuation and any non-monetary benefits in both cases, must be no less than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). For new information about the income threshold visit Salary requirements to nominate a worker (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Supporting Documents to Assess Criteria

To assess whether the identified person would be paid at least the annual market salary rate for the occupation RDA Hunter RCB requires supporting documentation. Examples of supporting documentation are located within the RDA Hunter RCB Checklist.

Please note: There is no requirement for documentation that does not directly relate to the nominated position to contain any details that might breach the privacy rights of other individuals involved. For example, payslips for Australian workers in equivalent positions should not contain the names of these workers.

As an RCB, RDA Hunter only provides advice on the AMSR to the DHA, no advice is provided concerning terms and conditions such as hours of work, leave entitlements etc.

Department of Home Affairs Information

Additional Information

RDA Hunter RCB would like to note that the SESR 494 Visa Program is specifically directed towards attracting Skilled Migrants to regional Australia.

RDA Hunter RCB is not able to provide advice as to whether the SESR 494 Visa Program is suitable for your circumstances, it can only provide information concerning the scope of the SESR 494 Visa Program. Advice on general migration matters cannot be provided by RDA Hunter.

For further information concerning the vital information, points of interest and life in the Hunter Region please refer to RDA Hunter’s online welcome to the Hunter page – Welcome to the Hunter Region – RDA Hunter

For enquiries concerning Regional Skilled Visas contact:

RDA Hunter’s Skilled Migration Team

Email: admin@rdahunter.org.au
Phone: +61 415 169 703