REGIONAL EMPLOYER SPONSORED MIGRATION
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa
Subclass 494
For skilled workers sponsored by an Australian employer in a designated regional area.
VISA TYPE
Provisional → PR pathway
VISA LENGTH
5 Years
GOVERNMENT VISA CHARGE
From AUD $6,140*
ESTIMATED PROCESSING TIME
4 - 12 months*
*Government charges and processing times are indicative and subject to change. Current at September 2026.
Who is the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 494 visa for?
Regional employment. Employer sponsorship. A pathway to permanent residence.
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) allows employers in designated regional areas to sponsor skilled overseas workers for eligible positions that they need to fill.
The subclass 494 is a five-year provisional visa. The nominated employment must be located in a designated regional area and be available for at least five years after visa grant.
Eligible subclass 494 holders can progress towards permanent residence through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after meeting the relevant regional residence, work and other requirements.
Labour Agreement pathways, including some DAMA arrangements, may also provide access to the subclass 494 where the standard employer-sponsored pathway is not available.
02
Eligible Occupation
The nominated position must correspond to an occupation available for the relevant subclass 494 stream. Regional employer-sponsored migration has access to a broad range of occupations.
01
Regional Employer Sponsorship
An approved employer must sponsor the worker for a position located in a designated regional area.
Key requirements for a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 494 visa
03
Skills & Experience
Employer Sponsored stream applicants generally require a suitable skills assessment unless exempt and must meet the applicable skills and experience requirements.
04
Five-year position
The nominated employment must be available for at least five years after the subclass 494 visa is granted.
05
Salary & regional assessment
Salary and employment conditions must meet the applicable requirements. For Employer Sponsored nominations, a Regional Certifying Body assesses the annual market salary rate for the nominated position.
06
Licensing & Registration
Any mandatory registration or licensing required to perform the occupation must be held where applicable.
01
Assess the pathway
Check the regional location, occupation, salary and appropriate subclass 494 pathway.
How the subclass 494 process works
02
Sponsorship
Confirm or obtain the employer's required sponsorship approval. Standard business sponsorship can be used for subclass 494
03
Nomination & Regional Assessment
The employer nominates the position and the relevant regional requirements are addressed.
04
Visa Application
The subclass 494 application with evidence addressing the skills and visa requirements is lodged.
05
Regional pathway to PR
If granted, the visa provides a five-year regional pathway with potential eligibility for subclass 191 permanent residence.
Things to check before applying for a subclass 494 visa
Occupation & skills assessment
The occupation must fit the position and the applicable occupation requirements. A skills assessment is generally required in the Employer Sponsored stream unless an exemption applies.
Is the location regional?
The position must be in a designated regional area. “Regional” for migration purposes is defined by the visa program and is broader than simply rural Australia.
Salary & Regional Certifying Body assessment
The salary and market rate should be checked early because the RCB has a specific role in assessing the annual market salary rate for Employer Sponsored nominations.
Permanent residence planning
The 494 is provisional rather than permanent. The conditions and requirements relevant to the eventual subclass 191 pathway should be understood from the outset
Not sure whether the 494 visa pathway is right for your business or circumstances?
Regional employer-sponsored migration involves both employer and visa requirements, as well as regional and occupation-specific considerations. We can assess the position and the appropriate pathway before the nomination and visa applications are prepared.