Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494)
The 494 visa helps employers in regional Australia fill skilled roles, and gives the worker a route to permanent residence. It suits businesses outside the major capitals that struggle to recruit locally. We check the location, the role and the candidate first, so the pathway is realistic before you commit.
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa is for employers in regional Australia who need skilled workers and can sponsor them. The visa is provisional, and holders can later apply for permanent residence once they meet the requirements. The location of the business and the role are the first things we check.
- TypeProvisional
- SponsorRegional employer
- WhereDesignated regional area
- Leads toPermanent residence (191)
Why sponsor
Why regional employers use the 494
Regional businesses often struggle to recruit locally. The 494 is built for exactly that.
Fill regional roles
A dedicated pathway for skilled positions in designated regional areas.
Workers who put down roots
Employees live and work in your area, with a route to permanent residence.
Retention built in
The route to permanent residence gives workers a reason to stay and grow with you.
A stronger local economy
Skilled people and their families add to your community as well as your business.
Overview
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494) visa lets employers in designated regional areas sponsor skilled workers.
- It has three stages: sponsorship, nomination, and the worker’s visa application.
- It is provisional, and holders can later apply for permanent residence through the 191 once they meet the requirements.
Who this suits
Regional employers with skilled vacancies
Skilled workers happy to live and work outside the major capital cities
Key facts
- Provisional stay of up to 5 years
- Employer-sponsored, with a job in a designated regional area
- A skills assessment is mandatory
- Permanent residence is available after 3 years, subject to regional work and income requirements
Employer fees: sponsorship, nomination and levy
- Standard business sponsorship (482 and 494)$420
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levyCheck
The levy may apply to this nomination. Confirm the amount with Home Affairs before you lodge.
These are the Department of Home Affairs charges paid by the employer. They can change, so confirm the current amounts with the Department before you lodge. The Skilling Australians Fund levy cannot be passed on to the worker. The visa application charge for the worker is separate, and our professional fees are separate.
Main criteria
What the 494 asks for
These are the main criteria. The exact settings depend on the occupation and the location, so we confirm them before anything is lodged.
- The employerAn approved sponsor with a genuine position in a designated regional area.
- The occupationAn occupation on the eligible list for the 494, nominated at the right skill level.
- Skills and experienceRelevant qualifications and work experience, and a mandatory skills assessment in the nominated occupation.
- EnglishEnglish at the level the visa requires.
- SalaryPay at or above the market rate and the salary threshold.
- Age, health and characterAn age requirement with some exemptions, plus health and police checks.
Permanent residence is available after 3 years, subject to the regional work and income requirements.
Skills assessment
Skills assessment, with our help
A skills assessment in the nominated occupation is mandatory for the 494. It needs to be in place before the application can proceed.
Many applicants ask us to help with their skills assessment, because the assessing authority’s rules are strict and a weak application can cost months.
Ask about a skills assessmentAssessing authority fees are set by the authority and are separate from ours.
- The right authorityWe identify the assessing authority and the assessment that applies to your occupation.
- Eligibility firstWe review your qualifications and experience against the requirements before you pay any fees.
- Guidance on your evidenceWe explain what the authority expects, such as employment references and duties, and review what you have gathered before you submit.
- Support to the outcomeWe help you understand and respond to the authority’s requests until the outcome is issued.
Documents you will need
- Business records, including evidence of its regional location
- Position details, including duties, salary and market rate evidence
- The worker’s identity documents, qualifications, employment history and English results
- Skills assessment outcome for the nominated occupation
- Police certificates and health examination results when requested
After the visa is granted
- The worker must live and work in a designated regional area and keep to the visa conditions.
- The sponsor must meet its sponsorship obligations.
- Keep records of regional residence, work and income from day one, as the 191 asks for evidence of them.
- We plan the step to permanent residence with you from the start.
How we help
- Confirm that your location and role qualify as regional
- Prepare sponsorship, nomination and visa applications
- Plan the regional work and income evidence needed for permanent residence
Common pitfalls
- Assuming a location is regional without checking the current definition
- Nominating a role that does not match what the worker will really do
- Leaving income and work evidence until the end
Not sure whether this applies to your business? Ask us
Frequently asked questions
Does our business need to be an approved sponsor?
Yes. Sponsorship approval comes first, then the nomination for a position in a designated regional area. We check your status and prepare whatever is missing.
Is a skills assessment required for the 494?
Yes. A positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation is mandatory, and it needs to be in place before the application can proceed. We can help you with it.
How do we know if our location counts as regional?
The 494 requires a job in a designated regional area, and the definition can change. We confirm the current position for your location and role before you commit, rather than assuming a place qualifies.
How long can a worker stay on the 494?
It is a provisional visa with a stay of up to 5 years. During that time, the worker is expected to live and work in the regional area while building toward the requirements for permanent residence.
What evidence should we keep along the way?
Keep records that show the regional work and the income earned over the period, such as payslips and employment records. Leaving this until the end makes it harder, so we help you set up a simple routine early.
Talk to us about your sponsorship
Tell us about your business and the role you need to fill. We will review your circumstances and explain the suitable pathway and next steps.