Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494)

Quick answer

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) lets an employer in regional Australia sponsor a skilled worker for 5 years. It has two streams: Employer Sponsored and Labour Agreement. In the Employer Sponsored stream you generally need a nominated occupation on the relevant list, a skills assessment, at least 3 years of full-time experience, Competent English and to be under 45. You must live and work only in a designated regional area, which is all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. After holding the 494 for 3 years you may apply for permanent residence through the subclass 191.

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (494) at a Glance

The Two 494 Streams

Check whether your occupation can be nominated for the 494 with our occupation finder, and whether the work location is regional with our regional postcode checker.

Where You Can Live and Work

Home Affairs says designated regional areas include all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. In Victoria this includes, for example, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. You must live, work and study only in a designated regional area, and work only for your sponsor (or an associated entity) in the nominated occupation. You must start work within 90 days of arriving in Australia, or within 90 days of grant if you are already here.

Requirements for the Worker (Employer Sponsored Stream)

• Nomination: by an approved sponsor for a full-time position in a designated regional area that is likely to exist for at least 5 years.
• Skills assessment: from the relevant assessing authority before you apply, unless an exemption applies. A skills assessment obtained for a 485 visa is not accepted.
• Work experience: at least 3 years full-time in the nominated occupation, generally within the last 5 years. Casual work is not counted.
• English: at least Competent English, for example IELTS 6 in each band, unless exempt.
• Age: under 45 when you apply. Limited exemptions apply, for example some academics, scientists, medical practitioners and long-term 457 or 482 holders on high incomes.
• Health and character requirements for you and your family.

What Employers Need

• Standard Business Sponsorship, approved or applied for. Accredited sponsors get priority processing for 494 nominations.
• Labour market testing in Australia, unless an exemption applies.
• Salary: at least the annual market salary rate and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027). A Regional Certifying Body must assess the market salary rate unless an exemption applies, for example a salary of AUD 250,000 or more.
• Skilling Australians Fund levy: a one-off AUD 3,000 for businesses with turnover under AUD 10 million, or AUD 5,000 otherwise, paid with the nomination. It cannot be passed on to the worker.
• No nomination fee for the Employer Sponsored stream, according to Home Affairs.

Costs

From 1 July 2026 the visa application charge is AUD 6,140 for the main applicant, AUD 3,070 for each family member aged 18 or over and AUD 1,535 for each child. A second instalment is payable for adult family members who do not have Functional English (AUD 4,890 each). Lower charges apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders. Estimate your total with our visa cost estimator.

Restrictions Until You Have Held the 494 for 3 Years

Unless you have held the 494 for 3 years, you cannot apply for a Partner visa (subclass 820) or be granted certain other visas, including the 186, 189, 190, 191 and 858. After 3 years you can apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).

Processing

Home Affairs processes 494 applications under Ministerial Direction 122. In October 2026 it reported that it was processing applications lodged in September to October 2025, with priority for the construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources sectors. Check the global processing times for current figures.

How to Apply

1. Check the occupation and locationConfirm the occupation is eligible for the 494 and that the job is in a designated regional area.
2. Get your skills assessment and English testObtain a positive skills assessment and Competent English results before the visa application, unless exempt.
3. Employer becomes a sponsor and tests the marketThe business applies for Standard Business Sponsorship and completes labour market testing, unless exempt.
4. Regional Certifying Body adviceThe employer asks a Regional Certifying Body to assess that the salary meets the annual market salary rate.
5. Employer lodges the nominationThe employer nominates the position and pays the Skilling Australians Fund levy.
6. Worker lodges the visa applicationApply in ImmiAccount using the nomination TRN, with evidence of skills, experience, English, identity and character.
7. Live and work regionally, then plan for the 191Comply with your visa conditions, keep your ATO notices of assessment and apply for the 191 after 3 years.

How Aussie ASEAN Can Help

We act for regional employers and workers. For employers, we prepare the sponsorship, labour market testing evidence, Regional Certifying Body request and nomination. For workers, we check your occupation, skills assessment, experience and English, prepare the visa application and plan your pathway to permanent residence through the 191.

Free tools for this visa

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Sources: Home Affairs: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (494) · 494 Employer Sponsored stream · Salary requirements · Cost of sponsoring · Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1 item 1242