Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa
The subclass 494 is a five-year visa for skilled workers sponsored by an employer in regional Australia. After three years of living and working in a regional area, you can apply for permanent residence through the subclass 191. It covers a wider range of occupations than the standard employer-sponsored visa, and regional employers are often more willing to sponsor because they find it harder to hire.
494 at a glance
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | An employer in a designated regional area |
| Visa length | 5 years |
| Experience needed | 3 years in the occupation |
| Skills assessment | Required |
| Age | Under 45, with limited exemptions |
| English | Competent |
| Route to PR | Subclass 191 after 3 years |
| Places in 2026-27 | Regional allocations were reduced this year |
Requirements
- A nomination from an approved employer whose business is in a designated regional area
- An occupation on the list for this visa, which includes the regional occupation list
- A positive skills assessment
- At least three years of full-time experience in the occupation
- Competent English
- Under 45 at the time of application
- A salary at or above the income threshold and the local market rate
A regional certifying body must also advise on whether the salary offered matches what a local worker would be paid.
What counts as regional
Everywhere except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, Darwin, the Gold Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong all qualify.
Conditions
- You must work only in your nominated occupation, for your sponsor, in a regional area
- You and your family must live in a regional area
- If your employment ends, you have a limited period to find another regional sponsor
- You cannot move to most other skilled visas until you have held the 494 for three years
494 compared with the 482
| 482 | 494 | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you can work | Anywhere your sponsor operates | Regional areas only |
| Experience needed | 1 year | 3 years |
| Skills assessment | Sometimes | Always |
| Age limit | None | Under 45 |
| Visa length | Up to 4 years | 5 years |
| PR route | 186 after 2 years, needing a new nomination | 191 after 3 years, with no further nomination |
| Occupations | Core Skills list | Wider, including regional occupations |
The 494’s advantage is that PR does not depend on your employer nominating you a second time. Its cost is the higher bar to entry and the regional commitment.
From the 494 to PR
After three years you apply for the subclass 191. You need to have held the 494 for three years, kept to its conditions, and lodged tax returns for those years. There is no points test and no new nomination.
Questions people ask us most
Is the 494 a PR visa?
No. It is a five-year provisional visa leading to PR through the 191.
Can I change employers on a 494?
Yes, to another approved regional employer who lodges a new nomination.
Can I live in Perth or Adelaide on a 494?
Yes. Both count as regional for this visa.
Do I need a skills assessment?
Yes, in the employer-sponsored stream.
See whether a regional sponsor is realistic
Tell us your occupation and experience. We will check the list and explain what regional employers look for.