Are you thinking of migrating to regional Australia? Explore regional-based work visas and wonder which visa is best suited for your unique circumstances. If you are narrowing down your options between a Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) Visa and a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494) Visa, we have broken down the eligibility and requirements in the table below.

* UPDATE - the Department has announced its new Skills in Demand (SID) (Subclass 482) processing times for both Specialist Skills and Core Skills streams.

Feature	Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 491)	Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494)
Type of Visa	Invitation-based	Employer-sponsored
Nomination	Requires nomination by a state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated regional area	Sponsored by an Australian employer
Occupation Lists	Can apply under MLTSSL, STSOL, or ROL (if nominated)	Can apply under MLTSSL or ROL; labour agreements may allow additional occupations
Skills Assessment	Positive skills assessment required for nominated occupation	Positive skills assessment required for relevant occupation
Points Threshold	Must meet 65-point threshold and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)	No points threshold or EOI required
English Requirement	Competent English	Competent English
Health Waiver	No health waiver available	Health waiver available under Public Interest Criteria 4007 (for Employer Sponsored stream)
Conditions	Conditions 8578, 8579, 8580, 8581 imposed; must live, work, and study in designated regional areas; notify Immigration of changes	Conditions 8578, 8579, 8580, 8581, and 8608 imposed; must live, work, and study in designated areas and work in nominated position
Duration	Visa lasts for 5 years; can apply for Permanent Residence (Subclass 191) after 3 years	Visa lasts for 5 years; can apply for Permanent Residence after 3 years
Age Limit	Applicants must be under 45 when invited	Applicants must be under 45; exemptions may apply
Occupational Range	Wider range of eligible occupations, especially if nominated by a government agency	More limitations on eligible occupations compared to subclass 491; however, the ROL is more extensive for subclass 494
Regional Work Requirements	Must live and work in designated regional areas	Must live, work, and study in designated regional areas
Visa Application Charge (VAC) to the Department of Home Affairs	Main applicant costs AUD4,770. There is also a charge for each family member.	Main applicant costs AUD4,770. Each dependent (18 years and over) costs AUD2,385, and AUD1,190 for each dependent under 18 years old.

How Can Agape Henry Crux Help

At Agape Henry Crux, we specialise in Immigration Law, and our team of Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyers, immigration lawyers, and migration agents are experts in handling highly complex matters. To seek professional advice on your next visa pathway, you may schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers or agents by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing us at info@ahclawyers.com.

We speak fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese. If this isn’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.

This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.

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