Regional Certification and SESR 494 nominations and visas

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (SESR 494) is to assist employers in regional and low-population growth areas of Australia where they have been unable to fill vacant positions with Australian citizens or permanent residents living in or willing to move to the regional area where the nominated position is located. 

The Employer Sponsored Stream of the SESR 494 visa requires that an approved Regional Certifying Body (RCB) has certified that the nominee would be paid at least the annual market salary rate for the occupation in the region where the nominated position is to be located. The RCB role does not include any other aspects of the nomination or visa application for the standard SESR 494.

The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is an approved RCB for northern Queensland and has been since 1997. The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is well-positioned to stay up to date on regional issues and local labour market conditions, and to provide genuine “local knowledge” to assist Department of Home Affairs decision-makers.

Note that Regional Certification is not required for Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (SESR Subclass 494) nominations in the FNQ DAMA under the Labour Agreement Stream. 

Requesting RCB certification from the Cairns Chamber of Commerce

The following must be included with certification requests:

• A signed and completed Regional Certifying Body Advice (Form 1404) with Question 1-10 completed;
• A copy of the Nomination Application submitted to Home Affairs (or the draft if not yet submitted);
• A copy of the Nominee’s letter of offer and/or employment contract;
• Explanation and supporting evidence as to how you determined the Nominee’s salary, taking into account the Annual Market Salary Rate for the occupation (for information about how to determine salary/AMSR, click here);
• An organisational chart showing where the nominated position sits within the business;
• A short covering letter in support of the certification request, including any information that will assist the Chamber in value-adding with local knowledge/information;
• Credit Card Authorisation Form.

RCB certification fee

RCB certification requests are generally assessed within 10 business days from date of submission providing all required information is included. Upfront payment is required and the certification requests will not be assessed without receipted payment.

Please make payment by including a completed and signed Credit Card Authorisation Form with the request.

• Members of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce: $522 (incl GST) per request (“member” refers to the business seeking certification, not their migration agent);
• Non-Members of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce: $580 (incl GST) per request.

Support and information

Please email the Cairns Chamber of Commerce office at dama@cairnschamber.com.au if you have questions about RCB services or making a request. Further information about the SESR 494 visa is available in the Department of Home Affairs website.