Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494)
The Subclass 494 provisional visa enables eligible regional employers to sponsor skilled workers where a suitably qualified Australian worker cannot be sourced for a genuine position.
Subclass 494 requires regional employer nomination. Visa holders must live, work and study only in designated regional Australia and comply with the nominated employment conditions.
What is the Subclass 494 Visa?
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa supports employers outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in addressing identified skills shortages. It allows eligible workers and accompanying family members to live in designated regional Australia for up to five years.
The visa is provisional, not permanent. After holding an eligible regional provisional visa for at least three years, a holder may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Subclass 191 Regional Provisional stream if all requirements are met.
Subclass 494 pathways
Key eligibility requirements
For the Employer Sponsored stream, you generally need nomination by an approved employer for a genuine full-time position in a designated regional area. The occupation must be eligible, and the nomination must satisfy salary, employment, labour market and regional certification requirements where applicable.
The primary applicant generally must be under 45 at application, hold a suitable skills assessment, have at least three years of full-time skilled employment at the required level, and demonstrate at least Competent English. Specific exemptions can apply in limited circumstances.
How the Subclass 494 process works
Assess the regional position
Confirm the work location, eligible occupation, genuine vacancy, salary and stream requirements.
Complete employer requirements
The employer arranges sponsorship status, labour market testing and regional certification where required.
Obtain skills and English evidence
The worker completes a valid skills assessment and English test unless an applicable exemption applies.
Lodge nomination and visa
The employer lodges the nomination and the applicant submits a complete visa application through ImmiAccount.
Start regional employment
After grant, begin work within the required period and comply with the occupation, employer and regional conditions.
Skills assessment and work experience
A suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority is generally required before lodging an Employer Sponsored stream application. A skills assessment obtained only for a Temporary Graduate visa is not accepted for this purpose.
The applicant generally needs at least three years of full-time employment in the nominated occupation at the required skill level, usually gained within the previous five years. Equivalent part-time experience may be considered, but casual work is not counted.
Regional residence and employment conditions
Visa holders and accompanying family members must live, work and study only in designated regional areas. For migration purposes, designated regional Australia includes all locations except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
The primary applicant generally works only in the nominated occupation for the sponsoring business or an eligible associated entity in regional Australia. Employment must usually commence within 90 days of entry when granted overseas, or within 90 days of grant when granted in Australia.
Pathway to permanent residence
After holding the Subclass 494 visa for at least three years, eligible applicants may apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191). They must satisfy the requirements operating at the time of application, including relevant regional and visa-compliance criteria.
The pathway is not automatic. A Subclass 494 grant does not guarantee a future permanent visa, and restrictions can limit access to certain other visa subclasses before the three-year holding period is completed.
Important Subclass 494 Conditions
- Live, work and study only in designated regional Australia.
- Work in the nominated occupation for the sponsoring employer.
- Commence employment within the required 90-day period.
- Maintain required licences and professional registration.
- Notify the Department when relevant circumstances change.
- Follow all visa conditions and Australian workplace laws.
- Check employer, work and stay conditions in VEVO.
Including family members
Eligible members of the family unit can be included in the primary application, and qualifying family members may later apply as subsequent entrants. Applicants and relevant non-migrating family members may need to meet health and character requirements.
Documents commonly required
Documents can include passport and identity records, employer nomination details, employment contract, occupation and salary evidence, skills assessment, qualifications, registration, work references, English test results, health examinations, police certificates, relationship evidence and dependent documents.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can assess the occupation, regional position and stream; prepare employer and applicant checklists; review skills, experience and English evidence; and assist with the nomination and Subclass 494 visa application.