Skilled Employer Regional Visa – Subclass 494

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) exists so employers based outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane can sponsor a skilled worker to help fill a genuine local vacancy, in exchange for a clear path to permanent residence.

It's a five-year provisional visa: while it's current you can live, work and study in your designated regional area, bring your family, and travel to and from Australia without restriction. After three years in the role, you can apply to convert to the permanent Subclass 191 visa.

Who It's Aimed At

Skilled workers who already have — or can secure — an offer from a regional Australian employer, and who are comfortable committing to living in that region for the medium term rather than a capital city.

What You'll Generally Need

• nomination by an employer that operates lawfully in the designated regional area and has a genuine need for the role;
• at least three years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) relevant work experience in the nominated occupation within the last five years — casual work doesn't count towards this;
• a positive skills assessment for the occupation (an assessment from a recent subclass 482 application may still be valid; one from a subclass 485 application usually needs to be redone);
• the required English language level, unless you're exempt;
• to be under 45 years of age, unless an exemption applies; and
• health and character clearances.

Family and the Regional Requirement

Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included in the application. Interestingly, the regional living requirement attaches to you as the primary applicant — your family members generally aren't restricted to the same regional area and can live, work and study anywhere in Australia.

Changing Employers

You're not locked to your original sponsor forever. If your employment situation changes, you can move to a new regional employer, but you'll need a fresh nomination lodged within 90 days of leaving your previous role, meeting the same sponsorship standards (including the Skilling Australians Fund levy) all over again.

The Road to Permanent Residence

The whole point of the 494 is the pathway it opens: after three years of holding the visa (generally while working for your nominating employer in the regional area), you become eligible to apply for the permanent Subclass 191 visa, subject to meeting that visa's own requirements at the time.

Application Steps

1. Employer Nomination

Your employer nominates you for the regional position.

2. Skills Assessment

You obtain (or confirm the validity of) a skills assessment for your occupation.

3. English and Health

You meet the English language standard, unless exempt, and complete health and character checks.

4. Documentation and Lodgement

Supporting documents are prepared, translated where necessary, and the application is lodged.

How I Can Help

I can help employers and workers with:

• confirming whether a role and location genuinely qualify as regional;
• employer nomination applications;
• skills assessment and English language guidance;
• preparing and lodging the subclass 494 visa application; and
• planning ahead for the subclass 191 permanent residence application.

Thinking About Regional Sponsorship?

Contact me to discuss whether the subclass 494 fits your circumstances.

Important Information

The information on this page is general only and doesn't constitute migration advice for your circumstances. Regional area definitions, occupation lists and visa requirements are reviewed periodically and can change. Meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee a nomination or visa will be approved.