Regional employer-sponsored pathway
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494)
Subclass 494 allows an eligible regional employer to sponsor a suitably skilled worker for a position in designated regional Australia when the employer, nomination, position and applicant requirements are met.
The visa is granted for five years and may provide a later pathway to the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191), subject to its separate requirements.
- Five-year visatemporary regional pathway
- Employer sponsorshipeligible regional business and position
- Regional conditionslive, work and study in designated areas
- Potential Subclass 191 pathwayafter meeting later requirements
Stage 1
Understand the Subclass 494 Visa
This is a provisional employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers filling genuine positions in designated regional Australia.
Regional Employer Sponsorship
An eligible employer operating in designated regional Australia must sponsor and nominate the main applicant.
Five-Year Stay
The visa allows eligible holders to live, work and study in designated regional Australia for up to five years.
Potential Permanent Pathway
Eligible holders may later apply for Subclass 191 after satisfying the required holding period and other criteria.
Important: A job offer alone is not enough. The employer, nominated position, regional location, chosen stream and applicant must satisfy their respective requirements.
Stage 2
Compare the Subclass 494 Streams
The main pathway depends on whether the employer uses the standard Employer Sponsored stream or an approved labour agreement. A separate Subsequent Entrant stream supports eligible family members applying later.
Employer Sponsored
For a skilled worker nominated by an eligible employer for a genuine position in designated regional Australia.
- Experience
- Generally at least three years of relevant work experience
- Skills assessment
- Generally required unless an exemption applies
Labour Agreement
For workers nominated under a labour agreement that permits access to the regional employer-sponsored pathway.
- Eligibility
- Determined by the applicable agreement and nomination terms
- Possible concessions
- May address age, English, salary or experience where agreed
Subsequent Entrant
For an eligible member of the family unit of a Subclass 494 or eligible regional provisional visa holder applying separately.
- Purpose
- Join the primary visa holder in regional Australia
- Conditions
- Regional living, working and study requirements apply
Stage 3
Check the Employer and Position Requirements
The employer and proposed role should be assessed before the applicant relies on the regional sponsorship pathway.
Eligible Regional Employer
The sponsoring business must be lawfully and actively operating in designated regional Australia and satisfy the sponsorship requirements.
Genuine Full-Time Position
The nominated role must be genuine, full-time and consistent with the nature and scale of the business.
Eligible Occupation
The occupation, position description and actual duties must align with the selected stream and the relevant occupation framework or labour agreement.
Regional Location
The nominated employment must be located in a designated regional area for the purposes of Subclass 494.
Salary and Market Rate
The salary and conditions must satisfy the applicable income, market salary and Australian workplace requirements.
Nomination Evidence
Labour market testing, regional certification and business evidence may be required depending on the stream and circumstances.
Stage 4
Check the Applicant Requirements
Requirements vary by stream, occupation and labour agreement. Any exemption or concession must be verified before it is relied upon.
Age
Main applicants generally must be under 45 when applying unless an exemption or labour-agreement concession applies.
English Language
The required English level depends on the stream and any applicable exemption or labour-agreement concession.
Work Experience
The Employer Sponsored stream generally requires at least three years of relevant work experience.
Skills Assessment
A suitable skills assessment is generally required for the Employer Sponsored stream unless an exemption applies.
Registration and Licensing
The applicant must hold or be able to obtain any mandatory registration, licensing or professional membership required for the occupation.
Health and Character
The primary applicant and included family members must satisfy the applicable health and character requirements.
Evidence matters: Employment references, payroll evidence, qualifications, skills assessments, registration documents and nomination evidence must remain consistent.
Stage 5
Understand the Regional Visa Obligations
Regional conditions are central to Subclass 494 and should be considered by the whole family before the application is lodged.
Live Regionally
Visa holders must live only in designated regional Australia while the relevant condition applies.
Work Regionally
Employment must remain within designated regional Australia and comply with the visa's work conditions.
Study Regionally
Study must take place in designated regional Australia while the applicable regional condition operates.
Plan before moving: Check the exact work location, residential arrangements, family circumstances and any proposed change of employer against the visa conditions and current rules.
Stage 6
Follow the Subclass 494 Application Process
The sponsorship, nomination and visa stages are connected and should be planned as one coordinated matter.
- 1
Assess Employer, Position and Applicant
Confirm that the business, regional role and applicant profile can support a Subclass 494 pathway.
- 2
Select the Correct Stream
Compare the Employer Sponsored and Labour Agreement requirements and identify any relevant concessions.
- 3
Complete Skills and Regional Checks
Obtain the relevant skills assessment and regional certification or other preliminary evidence where required.
- 4
Prepare Sponsorship and Nomination
Document the business, genuine position, regional location, occupation, salary, labour market testing and employment terms.
- 5
Prepare and Lodge the Visa Application
Submit the applicant's identity, age, English, skills, experience, licensing, health and character evidence.
- 6
Comply and Plan for the Future
Follow the regional visa conditions and retain records that may later support a Subclass 191 application.
Stage 7
Explore the Permanent Pathway and Employer Resources
Subclass 494 can form part of a longer regional migration strategy, but Subclass 191 is a separate application with its own eligibility requirements.
Permanent Residence (Subclass 191)
Review the later permanent regional pathway and the evidence that eligible provisional visa holders must provide.
Explore Subclass 191Employer Sponsored Visa Gateway
Compare temporary, permanent and regional employer-sponsored visa pathways.
Compare pathwaysLabour Agreements and DAMA
Explore regional and industry arrangements that may provide occupation access or agreed concessions.
Explore DAMA resourcesRelated Employer-Sponsored Visas
Compare Subclass 494 with the temporary Subclass 482 and permanent Subclass 186 pathways.
Stage 8
Check Official Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Government charges, processing estimates and visa criteria can change. Verify the current official information before lodging.
Visa Pricing
Check the current application charge and any additional applicant charges directly with Home Affairs.
Check current visa pricingProcessing Times
Processing varies with stream, case complexity, completeness, health, character and Department workloads.
Check processing timesIs Subclass 494 a permanent visa?
No. It is a five-year provisional regional employer-sponsored visa. Eligible holders may later qualify for Subclass 191 after satisfying its separate requirements.
How many years of work experience are generally required?
The Employer Sponsored stream generally requires at least three years of relevant work experience. Labour Agreement requirements may differ.
Do I need a skills assessment?
A suitable skills assessment is generally required for the Employer Sponsored stream unless an exemption applies. Labour Agreement requirements depend on the agreement.
Must the employer and position be regional?
Yes. The employer must operate in designated regional Australia and the nominated employment must be in an eligible regional location.
Can I change employer after the visa is granted?
A proposed employer or employment change can affect sponsorship and visa obligations. Obtain advice and check the current rules before making the change.
When can a Subclass 494 holder apply for Subclass 191?
Home Affairs states that eligible applicants must have held an eligible regional provisional visa for at least three years. All other Subclass 191 criteria must also be met.
Can eligible family members be included?
Eligible family members may be included in the main application. A Subsequent Entrant pathway may be available when an eligible family member applies later.
Does a job offer guarantee approval?
No. The sponsorship, nomination and visa application are assessed separately, and every applicable employer, position and applicant requirement must be satisfied.
Next step
Book a Regional Employer Sponsored Visa Consultation
Need help assessing the employer, regional position, applicant requirements or potential Subclass 191 pathway?
