494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) – Subsequent entrant

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	SESR Subsequent Entrant (subclass 494)
Purpose	Join primary SESR visa holder
Stay	Up to 5 years
Visa expiry	Same as primary holder
Cost	From AUD6,140
English charge	AUD4,890 second instalment
Cost concession	Eligible Pacific applicants, from 1 July 2026
Eligibility timing	Primary application pending or granted
Work rights	Designated regional areas only
Study	Designated regional areas only
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entries while valid
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Permanent residence	Possible after primary holder’s three years
Family sponsorship	Employer must extend nomination
Apply from	Inside or outside Australia
Decision location	Inside or outside Australia
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Processing	Processing-time guide available
Extension	Cannot extend this visa

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Purpose

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) Subsequent Entrant stream is for a family-unit member of a primary SESR visa holder, or SESR main applicant, who applies separately to join them in Australia.

A separate application may be needed if the family composition changed after the primary application was lodged or after the primary visa was granted.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be a member of the family unit of a primary SESR visa holder or SESR main applicant.
• Have written agreement from the primary holder’s most recent approved work sponsor to include you in the nomination.
• Provide the nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN).
• Meet health requirements.
• Meet character requirements if aged 16 or over.
• Have repaid, or arranged repayment of, Australian Government debts.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 16 or over.
• Show Functional English, or pay the second instalment when requested.

The Department cannot grant this visa until the family member’s primary SESR visa has been granted.

Stay, Work and Study

This is a provisional visa valid for up to 5 years. It expires at the same time as the primary SESR visa holder’s visa.

You may live, work and study only in a designated regional area. These areas include all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

You must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws. The Department may cancel your visa if you do not live, work or study only in designated regional areas.

This visa cannot be extended. If eligible, you may apply with the primary SESR holder for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after 3 years from the primary holder’s visa grant.

Cost

The visa application charge is AUD6,140. Limited concessions apply.

A AUD4,890 second instalment applies if an applicant aged 18 or over cannot show Functional English. Pay this only after receiving an invoice from the Department.

Other possible costs include:

• English-language testing
• Health examinations
• Police certificates
• Biometrics

Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concession

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application charge applies to eligible applicants holding a valid passport from:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Family members may receive the lower charge based on the eligible primary applicant’s or visa holder’s passport.

Where You Can Apply

You can be in or outside Australia when applying and when the decision is made, but you cannot be in immigration clearance when applying.

If applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C.

Required Documents

Provide clear colour scans or photographs. Combine multi-page documents into one file. Non-English documents must be translated into English.

Identity and nomination

• Passport pages showing photograph, personal details, issue and expiry dates
• National identity card, if available
• Name-change evidence, if applicable
• Written sponsor letter extending the nomination to include you
• Nomination TRN

English, health and character

• Functional English evidence, if available
• Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate, if you spent 12 months or more in Australia during the past 10 years since turning 16
• Overseas police certificates for each country where you spent 12 months or more during that period
• Military service or discharge records, if applicable

Australian police certificates must be issued by the Australian Federal Police and are valid for 12 months for immigration purposes.

If the primary holder is sponsored by an accredited sponsor, overseas police certificates are not required where a sponsor reference confirms good character and no criminal convictions. Required Australian police clearances must still be provided if applicable or requested.

Relationship and dependant evidence

For a partner, provide identity and character documents plus either:

• A current marriage certificate; or
• Evidence of a de facto relationship lasting at least 12 months before application, such as joint accounts, bills, leases, mortgages or shared-address evidence.

For dependent children under 18, provide identity documents and character documents where applicable. A child under 5 may be included without a passport.

For a child under 18 travelling without a person with legal responsibility, provide:

• Form 1229, or a statutory declaration giving consent; and
• Identity evidence for the person providing consent.

For dependent family members aged 18 or over, provide:

• Form 47a
• Relationship evidence
• Evidence of at least 12 months’ financial dependency
• Functional English evidence, or pay the required second instalment when requested

How to Apply

1. Discuss nomination extension with the primary holder’s work sponsor.
2. Obtain the nomination TRN from the sponsor.
3. Arrange health examinations before applying, or wait for instructions.
4. Gather and translate supporting documents.
5. Apply online through ImmiAccount.
6. Attach all supporting documents.
7. Pay the application charge; processing does not begin until payment is made.
8. Keep the application TRN.

Only registered migration agents, legal practitioners and exempt persons may provide immigration assistance.

After Applying

The Department may request further documents, health examinations or biometrics. Submit requested information promptly through ImmiAccount.

The Department can decide an application based on the information provided and is not required to seek missing documents.

If you are in Australia, remain lawful by holding a valid visa. Do not ask the Department to cancel your current visa: cancellation may leave you unlawful and ineligible for a bridging visa.

Tell the Department before a decision if there is a change in:

• Address, telephone number, email or passport
• Relationship status
• Birth of a child
• Application details or incorrect answers
• Your intention to withdraw the application

Use Form 1023 to notify incorrect answers.

If you leave Australia while the application is being processed, ensure you hold a valid visa to return.

Travel and Visa Record

You may travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa remains valid. Time outside Australia does not extend the visa.

Your visa is digitally linked to your passport; no passport label is issued. Check visa details and conditions through VEVO.