Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
Your gateway to living, working, and building a future in regional Australia with a direct pathway to permanent residence
This 5-year provisional work visa allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia. After 3 years, you can transition to the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence visa, making it one of the most sought-after pathways for Australian immigration.
Why Choose the Subclass 494 Visa?
5-Year Work Visa
Live and work in regional Australia for up to 5 years with travel flexibility
Pathway to PR
Apply for permanent residency (Subclass 191) after just 3 years
Include Your Family
Bring your spouse/partner and dependent children with you
Work Rights for All
Full work rights for you and your partner in regional Australia
Study Opportunities
You and your family can study in Australia during your visa
Priority Processing
Regional visas often receive faster processing than other visa types
What Makes the Subclass 494 Visa Special?
A unique visa that balances employer needs with your migration goals
🌏 Regional Australia Benefits
- Live in cities like Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and more
- Lower cost of living than major metros
- Family-friendly communities
- Beautiful natural environments
- Growing job markets and industries
✅ Employer-Sponsored Security
- Employer-sponsored role secured before application
- Employer supports your visa process
- Salary must meet the current income threshold and annual market salary requirements
- The nominated role must remain genuine and satisfy visa requirements
- Australian work experience
🚀 Clear PR Pathway
- No points test for PR stage
- No need for new employer sponsorship
- Direct pathway after 3 years
- Meet minimum income requirements
- Live and work in regional areas
Visa Applicant Eligibility Requirements
Key requirements you must meet to qualify for the Subclass 494 visa
Nominated occupation must be on the eligible skilled occupation list
Positive skills assessment from relevant assessing authority
At least 3 years full-time work in nominated occupation
Must be under 45 years old at time of application
IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent English test results
Meet health examination and character requirements
Employer Sponsorship Requirements
What regional employers need to sponsor a worker
📍 Location Requirements
- Business in designated regional area
- Excludes Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
- Includes Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide, etc.
- RCB endorsement required
🏢 Business Requirements
- Approved Standard Business Sponsor
- Genuine full-time position
- Position available for 5 years
- Business operating legally
💰 Salary & Conditions
- Current income threshold and annual market salary requirements apply
- Market rate salary required
- Terms equal to Australian workers
- SAF levy payable
📢 Labour Market Testing
- Advertise position locally
- Evidence of recruitment efforts
- Demonstrate no suitable locals
- Meet advertising requirements
Required Documents Checklist
Comprehensive documentation needed for a successful 494 visa application
🆔 Identity Documents
- Valid passport (biographical pages)
- Birth certificate
- National ID card (if applicable)
- Passport photos (recent)
- Change of name documents (if applicable)
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
- Positive skills assessment certificate
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Trade qualifications or licenses
- Professional memberships
- Continuing education certificates
💼 Work Experience Evidence
- Detailed employment references
- Employment contracts
- Payslips (last 3 years minimum)
- Tax returns or income statements
- Job descriptions and duties
- Employer contact details
🗣️ English Language
- IELTS test results (or equivalent)
- English-speaking passport (if exempt)
- Evidence of English study (if applicable)
- Test must be less than 3 years old
🏥 Health Requirements
- Medical examination (Form 26 or 160)
- Chest x-ray (if required)
- HIV test (if required)
- Health insurance details
- Medical history declarations
📋 Character Requirements
- Police clearances (all countries 12+ months)
- Australian Federal Police check (if in Australia)
- Military service records (if applicable)
- Court documents (if applicable)
- Character statutory declarations
💰 Employment Offer Details
- Job offer letter from employer
- Employment contract
- Position description
- Salary details and benefits
- Terms and conditions of employment
👨👩👧 Family Member Documents
- Partner’s identity documents
- Marriage certificate or de facto evidence
- Children’s birth certificates
- Custody documents (if applicable)
- Family member health & character docs
- Dependency evidence (if applicable)
Application Process
Step-by-step journey from consultation to visa grant
Initial Consultation & Eligibility Assessment
We evaluate your qualifications, employer situation, and confirm eligibility for both applicant and sponsoring employer
Sponsorship Approval (if required)
If employer not already approved, we prepare and lodge Standard Business Sponsor application with Home Affairs
Labour Market Testing
Guide employer through advertising requirements and document recruitment efforts to meet LMT obligations
RCB Endorsement Application
Prepare and submit nomination to Regional Certifying Body for endorsement of position and salary
Nomination Application
Lodge employer nomination with comprehensive evidence of genuine position, LMT, and RCB approval
Visa Application
Submit visa application with skills assessment, work experience, English test, health exams, and character documents
Processing & Case Management
Monitor progress, respond to case officer requests, and keep all parties informed throughout processing
Visa Grant!
Receive 494 visa approval. Must commence work within 90 days of grant or arrival in Australia
Transition to PR (After 3 Years)
After 3 years on 494 visa, we assist with Subclass 191 permanent residence application
Why Choose VisaTasker for Your Subclass 494 Visa?
Expert migration services with proven results and competitive pricing
Evidence-Led Case Preparation
Careful subclass 494 preparation with eligibility, evidence and risks assessed; no outcome is guaranteed.
MARA Registered
Registered migration agents (MARN 2318017)
End-to-End Support
Assist both employer and visa applicant through entire process
Competitive Pricing
Transparent, flat-fee structure with no hidden costs
Fast & Responsive
Quick turnaround times and proactive communication
Up-to-Date Knowledge
Current with all policy changes and regional requirements
Transparent Pricing
Clear, competitive pricing for professional migration services
Employer Nomination
Paid by sponsoring employer
- Sponsorship approval assistance (if needed)
- Labour market testing guidance
- RCB application preparation
- Nomination application lodgement
- Complete documentation support
- Communication with Home Affairs
Visa Application
Paid by visa applicant
- Comprehensive eligibility assessment
- Skills assessment guidance
- Document checklist & review
- Complete visa application preparation
- Health & character requirements
- Application lodgement
- Case management until grant
- 191 PR pathway consultation included
Current government charges
The subclass 494 main applicant visa charge is AUD $6,140 for applications lodged from 1 July 2026. Concessions apply in limited circumstances. Sponsorship, nomination, SAF levy and family-member charges depend on the application. Confirm all amounts using the Home Affairs pricing estimator before lodgement.
Designated Regional Areas
Where you can live and work with the Subclass 494 visa
✅ Included Regional Areas
- Perth and surrounding WA
- Gold Coast and regional QLD
- Adelaide and regional SA
- Newcastle, Wollongong, regional NSW
- Geelong and regional Victoria
- Hobart and all Tasmania
- Darwin and Northern Territory
- All of ACT
❌ Excluded Major Cities
- ✗ Sydney and surrounds
- ✗ Melbourne and surrounds
- ✗ Brisbane and surrounds
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does the Subclass 494 visa take to process?
Processing times change with the nomination, evidence and Home Affairs workload. Use the Home Affairs processing-time guide for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and no timeframe or outcome is guaranteed.
2. Can I change employers while on the 494 visa?
Yes, but with important conditions. You must notify the Department of Home Affairs and the change must meet specific requirements.
Requirements for changing employers:
- New employer must be in a designated regional area
- New position must be in your nominated occupation or closely related
- New employer must be an approved sponsor or become one
- Salary must meet minimum TSMIT threshold
- Must notify Home Affairs before or within 90 days of change
3. What happens after 3 years on the 494 visa?
After holding your 494 visa for 3 years and meeting eligibility requirements, you can apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.
Subclass 191 requirements:
- Hold 494 or 491 visa for at least 3 years
- Comply with all visa conditions during 3 years
- Live in designated regional area for 3 years
- Provide the required Australian Taxation Office notices of assessment for the relevant period; there is currently no prescribed minimum taxable-income amount for the subclass 191 Regional Provisional stream.
- Continue to meet health and character requirements
4. Can my family members work and study in Australia?
Yes! Family members included in your 494 visa have full rights:
- Spouse/Partner: Full work rights in any occupation, anywhere in regional Australia
- Dependent Children: Can attend school and study in Australia
- Adult Dependents: May have limited work rights depending on circumstances
Family members must:
- Be included in your initial visa application
- Meet health and character requirements
- Live in designated regional areas with you
- Be eligible dependents at time of application
5. Do I need a skills assessment for the 494 visa?
Yes, in most cases you need a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation.
The skills assessment verifies:
- Your qualifications are equivalent to Australian standards
- Your work experience is at the required skill level
- You have the skills to perform the nominated occupation
Limited exemptions apply for:
- Some executive and senior management positions
- Certain trades with direct employer assessment pathways
- Specific occupation exemptions (very limited)
6. What is the Regional Certifying Body (RCB) and why do I need their endorsement?
The Regional Certifying Body (RCB) is an authorized regional organization that reviews and endorses employer nominations for the 494 visa.
RCB endorsement confirms:
- The position is genuinely needed in the regional area
- The salary offered is appropriate for the region
- The position aligns with regional workforce needs
- Terms and conditions meet local standards
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t let these errors delay or jeopardize your 494 visa application
Failing to properly advertise the position or document recruitment efforts
Starting skills assessment too late (can take 3-6 months)
Not providing detailed employment references or payslips
Offering below TSMIT or not matching market rate
Incomplete or inadequate regional certification application
Failing to start work within 90 days of visa grant
494 vs Other Skilled Visas
How the Subclass 494 compares to other Australian work visas
| Feature | Subclass 494 | Subclass 482 (TSS) | Subclass 189 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Type | Regional Provisional | Temporary | Permanent |
| Duration | 5 years | 2-4 years | Permanent |
| Location | Regional Australia | Anywhere in Australia | Anywhere in Australia |
| Employer Sponsorship | Required | Required | Not required |
| PR Pathway | Yes (after 3 years) | Yes (varies by stream) | Already PR |
| Points Test | No | No | Yes (competitive) |
| Family Inclusion | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Processing Priority | High (regional incentive) | Standard | Competitive |
Ready to Start Your Regional Australia Journey?
Whether you’re a skilled worker seeking Australian PR or a regional employer needing talent, our experienced migration agents are here to guide you through the Subclass 494 visa process with our proven 100% success record.
Schedule ConsultationMARA Registered | Evidence-Led Case Preparation | Transparent Pricing | Expert Support
Reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services
MARA Registered Migration Agent · MARN 2318017
This page is written and reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services, a MARA-registered migration agency based in Australia. As registered agents, we are bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and required to provide accurate, up-to-date advice based on Australian migration legislation. Information is reviewed against the latest Department of Home Affairs policy.