Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)

The Subclass 494 visa is an employer-sponsored visa designed to help businesses in regional Australia fill skill shortages by sponsoring qualified overseas workers.

It is a 5-year provisional visa with a direct pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.

The Application Process – Three Stages

1. Sponsorship – The business must be approved (or apply) as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS).
2. Nomination – The employer nominates a genuine, full-time position in a designated regional area.
3. Visa Application – The skilled worker applies for the Subclass 494 visa under the relevant stream.

Benefits

• Live, work, and study in regional Australia for up to 5 years.
• Access to Medicare, Australia’s public health system.
• Pathway to Permanent Residency Visa via the Subclass 191 visa after 3 years.
• Broader occupation list compared to 482/186 visas.
• Priority processing for regional visas.
• Ability to include immediate family members in the application.

Employer & Job Requirements

• Employer must be an approved (or apply) SBS sponsor.
• The occupation must be on the Skilled Occupation List.
• The position must be:

• Located in a designated regional area (all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane).
• Genuine, full-time, and likely to exist for at least 5 years.

• Labour Market Testing (LMT) is required to show no suitable Australian worker (citizen or PR) is available.
• Salary must meet or exceed both:

• The Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR), and
• The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT): set at AUD $76,515 from 1 July 2025.

• Regional Certifying Body (RCB) must certify the salary level.

 Visa Applicant Key Requirements

• Age: Under 45 years (unless exempt).
• English: At least Competent English
• Skills & Experience in the nominated occupation:

• Positive skills assessment (unless exempt).
• Minimum 3 years of full-time skilled work experience.

• Health & Character: Must meet Australian health and police clearance requirement

Visa Conditions

• All applicants including family members on a 494 visa must live, work, and study only in regional areas.
• Main applicant can only work for the sponsoring employer and in the nominated occupation.
• Main applicant must start employment within 90 days of visa grant or arrival in Australia if offshore.
• All applicants Must notify the Department of Home Affairs within 14 days of changes to:

• Passport details
• Residential or contact details
• Employer’s address or business details

• All family members included in the 494 visas are subject to visa conditions.

 Pathway to Permanent Residence

While holding a 494, you cannot apply for other skilled PR visas (e.g., 189, 190, ENS 186, or Partner 820) until you have held 494 for 3 years.

After 3 years on a 494 visa, you may apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa if you:

• Have lived and worked in a regional area for at least 3 years.
• Provide Australian Taxation Office (ATO) assessments for 3 income years within the 5-year visa period.  (Note: unlike earlier policies, there is no set minimum income threshold for the 191 visas from November 2022 onwards.)
• Have complied with all 494 visa conditions including family members.
• Meet health and character requirements.

• No employer nomination is required for the Subclass 191 visa.