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The SESR visa is similar to the subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, allowing for skilled foreign workers to come to Australia and work for their sponsoring employer with a direct pathway to PR, however there are a few key differences. There are occupations that can be sponsored under an SESR that are not available for a TSS in non regional areas. These occupations are contained on the Department’s Regional Occupation List (ROL). SESR applicants can also nominate occupations contained on the Medium to Long Term list.
Once approved, all SESR visas will be valid for a period of five years. The sponsorship costs are also lower than the TSS, which makes it a good option for regional employers.
While the ROL provides for some additional lower-skilled occupations to be sponsored, the SESR has stricter conditions than a TSS, requiring visa holders to live and work in regional Australia throughout the duration of the visa period, and allowing the Department to request evidence of a visa holder’s residential and employment locations.
Visa applicants must also show three years of experience in the nominated occupation and must have a positive skills assessment in order to apply.
In order to be successful with an application for an SESR visa, an applicant must fulfill the following requirements:
The subclass 494 SESR visa provides similar benefits to the subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa, allowing skilled foreign workers to come to Australia to work for a sponsoring employer, enjoying a high standard of living and working conditions while working toward a PR pathway and eventually Australian citizenship. The benefits to employers in regional Australia are also significant, as these areas are often experiencing skill shortages which can be addressed through the SESR program. While the restrictions to a regional area may seem daunting, in practice, regional areas include most of Australia apart from Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
Further benefits for SESR visa holders include:
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Many SESR applications are refused due to a failure to meet the relevant criteria, particularly in proving the relevant work experience or by failing to address requirements that are specific to certain occupations. To support you, we have developed a comprehensive checklist and templates to meet all criteria for the visa. Here is a snapshot of some of the documents that you will be asked to provide:
The SESR visa can be broken down into a four stage process as outlined below.
In order to nominate skilled workers on an SESR visa, an employer must first apply to become a standard business sponsor.
Depending on the regional location that the position will be located in, employers will need to get approval from the relevant Regional Certifying Body (RCB). This process is similar to the nomination stage, and will generally require evidence of the business’ capacity to support foreign workers, as well as details of the position and salary arrangements.
Stage 3: Nomination
The third stage of the process is also completed by the employer, and involves nominating a position within their business to be filled by an overseas worker. Each worker will need to have an approved nomination to work in an occupation listed on the medium to long term or regional occupation lists.
Stage 4: Visa Application
The final stage is the visa application, which can be lodged as soon as the nomination has been submitted to the Department, subject to the risk that any issues with the nomination may result in the visa application being refused. The visa application will involve an assessment of the applicant’s suitability for the nominated role.
Australian Migration Lawyers can help both visa applicants and sponsoring employers to prepare thorough applications to ensure that you have the best chance of success with all stages.
Similar to the subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa, SESR visa holders have a direct pathway to become a permanent resident after working for a minimum of three years full-time for their sponsoring employer while holding the SESR. The subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa can be applied for without requiring a nomination from your sponsor, and will immediately provide for permanent residence once granted.
If you are successful in obtaining permanent residence after your SESR, you may eventually be eligible to apply for Citizenship upon meeting the general residence requirements, which will provide benefits including:
The SESR visa has a number of requirements that are not found in other visa subclasses, which can prove to be a challenge for applicants who are unfamiliar with the legislation and policy.
At Australian Migration Lawyers, we provide valuable guidance and support to make the entire process as seamless as possible. We have a high success rate with our applications, and have dealt with a wide array of complex occupations and situations.
There are two main costs associated with an SESR visa application.
Our fees will vary depending on the circumstances of your application. Some applications will be more complex than others and our fees will be quoted accordingly. We work on a fixed-fee basis rather than billing hourly to provide our clients with certainty about what the total costs associated with their visa application will be. We strive to be flexible, so we offer payment plans based on financial need. Book a free consultation with one of our qualified lawyers to get a quote.
The relevant fees for the Department of Home Affairs in relation to an SESR application are as follows:
There will be further costs relating to RCB approval and skills assessments which will vary depending on the relevant bodies.
Applying for a visa to Australia can be complex. With help from an Australian Migration Lawyer, we can untangle this complexity, and help you apply for the right visa.
Organise a consultation time to speak with one of our lawyers. You can meet with us in person, via Zoom or telephone. Following this, we will send you paperwork that confirms our engagement to represent you.
We will prepare written submissions in support of your visa application. This will be based on your individual circumstances, and supported by evidence where appropriate.
We submit your application to the relevant body (Department of Home Affairs, courts or tribunal). We will continue to update you concerning the status of your application.
We will keep you informed about your application, and notify you of the outcome. If you receive an unfavourable outcome and we can reapply, we will!
The processing time for an SESR visa can take between four to eight months, subject to the approval of the sponsorship and nomination. Processing times are subject to the complexity of the case, the completeness of your application and the caseload being processed by the Department.
At Australian Migration Lawyers, our goal is to submit high-standard, comprehensive applications that are as complete as possible to help reduce delays and to seek a successful outcome.
Our legal team at Australian Migration Lawyers are skilled lawyers practising in Australian migration law.
As lawyers, we cannot issue guarantees that your SESR visa will be granted. The decision rests with the Department of Home Affairs, not any one representative, lawyer or migration agent. However, our sound understanding of the law means that we are able to put the best case forward to seek a successful outcome.
We offer professional migration advice and support, no matter where you are based. Those located in Australia have the choice of meeting with us at one of our offices or online, and for those offshore, we are available to you online.
Read our most frequently asked questions.
The subclass 494 SESR visa is an employer sponsored visa allowing skilled foreign workers to work for their sponsoring employer in a regional area. It is a five year visa that provides a PR pathway after three years, and gives visa holders travel and study rights while onshore. This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages while providing an option for a primary visa applicant and their family members to work and live in regional Australia.
Most locations in Australia, apart from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, are considered regional areas for immigration purposes. As such, there are in practice very limited restrictions on where an SESR visa holder can work and live.
The 494 visa provides a PR pathway through the subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. Once you have worked for a minimum of three years full-time while holding a 494 visa, you are eligible to apply.
You do not need to be nominated or supported by your employer in order to apply for the 191 visa.
The 494 and 482 visas are very similar, however the key difference is the occupations that are eligible for the visas and the employment location. Applicants for a 482 visa can choose an occupation on either the short term or medium to long term occupation lists, whereas a 494 visa applicant must have an occupation on the medium to long term or regional occupation lists. As such, the occupations are slightly different.
Some other key differences include the skills requirement for the visas. The 494 visa requirements are slightly higher than those of the 482, requiring a minimum of three years work experience in the nominated occupation, as opposed to two years of relevant experience, and requiring a mandatory skills assessment for all occupations if applying for an SESR.
Lastly, an SESR visa applicant must work and live in a regional area for the duration of the five year visa, and can be subjected to requests for evidence of their residential and work addresses.
Tell us a little about your situation, and one of our migration lawyers will get back to you as soon as possible.