482 vs. 494 Visa – Which one is Better?

The employers sponsor two types of visas to the employees, one is a 482 temporary skill shortage visa, and another is a 492 skilled employer-sponsored regional visa. The 482 TSS visa is not confined to specific areas in Australia. On the other hand, the 492 visas are limited to places like Sydney. Melbourne and Brisbane, but only for students willing to stay, study, and work in Australia. 

Application Process and Eligibility:

If an applicant’s occupation is on the Short-term Skilled Occupations List, they are eligible to apply for the 482 visas. On the contrary, if an applicant’s employment is listed on the Medium to Long Term Strategic Skills list, they may be eligible to apply for a 494 visa. However, the 482 TSS visa does not include permanent residency for the students or applicants. In contrast, the 494 Regional Occupation List (ROL) encompasses a broader range of occupations and contains occupations on the 482 Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). The Subclass 186 visa offers permanent residency opportunities for those with a 482 visa. An applicant must complete their 3 years of full-time employment with the sponsored visa or receive a good skills evaluation and demonstrate three years of work experience; both the scenarios need the employer’s help. After fulfilling the 3 years of full-time employment, for the 492 visa, the applicant can apply for permanent residency through a 192 visa without the employer’s assistance. Although there is a drawback for the 492 visa holders, it is to apply for the other permanent visas like subclass 820, 124, 132, 186, 188, 189, 190, and 858 visas unless they have completed the requirements holding the 494 visas for at least 3 years. Although, there are no limits on 482 visa holders being able to apply for other permanent visas. Both visas work the same way and require the same ‘Standard Business Sponsorship’ to be eligible for the visa program. Standard Business Sponsorship refers to the company that is sponsoring the event.

The 482 and 494 nominations refer to the post that has to be filled. The 482 and 494 visas refer to the individual who will be hired. 

The advantages of both visas: 

The temporary 482 visa allows a company to sponsor a sufficiently skilled worker to cover a post for which an Australian is unavailable. The 494 visa allows regional firms to overcome labor shortages in their area by sponsoring skilled migrants when they cannot find a sufficiently competent Australian worker. There are two divisions of 482 TSS visas. One is a short-term stream and another is a medium to long-term stream. For each stream, various professions are eligible. Only those with a Medium to Long Term Stream visa are eligible for permanent residency. Many Short Term 482 TSS Visa holders who work in ‘Regional Australia’ now have a road to permanent residence thanks to the new Regional 494 Visa. The 482 visa creates a greater control over visa holders’ access to permanent residency and the ability to customize visa lengths depending on the expected route to permanent residence. The 494 visa allows the employer costs to be reduced. When it comes to the PR stage, employers can save money. Nominations are valid for five years automatically. A wider choice of jobs is available. Entry requirements are less stringent (2 years of experience).

The dissimilarities between the two visas:

• The minimum score required for IELTS for 482 visas is 5, whereas, for 494 visas, the required score is 6. 
• No age limit is required for the 482 visas, whereas the applicant must be under 45 years old at the time of application.
• As per the requirement for a 482 visa, an applicant, after completing graduation, must work full-time for a minimum of two years.
• On the other hand, considering 494 visas, an applicant must work full-time for three years after graduation. 
• The applicant should also fulfill the requirement for skills; for 482 visas, it is (Cert III, Dip, or Bachelor’s degree), and for 494 visas, it is an assessment of skills and qualifications. 

To assist visa applicants in determining whether they should apply for the existing subclass 482 visa or the new subclass 494 visa.

Developing a PR track through the 494 Regional Visa is more cost-effective. This is because the government fees for obtaining a Regional 494 Visa are equal to those for obtaining a Permanent Resident Visa. Compared to the 482, employers may save thousands of dollars in NTCC (National Training Contribution Charge) expenses by sponsoring through the 494 Visa.