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Immigration Law
Employer Sponsored Visa

494
(Regional Employer Sponsored) visa

HOW TO APPLY

494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)

Overview

The 494 visa is a provisional, employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers who will be employed by an approved sponsor in a designated regional area of Australia, to fill roles local labour cannot satisfy. It provides a pathway to permanent residency (via Subclass 191) after meeting certain regional residency and work requirements.

Key features
  • Valid for up to 5 years under the employer-sponsored stream.
  • May convert to PR via the Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence – Skilled Regional) after 3 years of specified regional residence and work.
  • The primary applicant and eligible family members can live, work and study in designated regional areas.
  • Travel in and out of Australia permitted while the visa is valid.
Eligibility requirements

(Employer requirements)

  • Must be an approved sponsor (or be willing to apply).
  • The position must be located in a designated regional area and must be full-time and ongoing (or expected to continue).
  • The nomination must satisfy the salary, market rate and TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) rules (i.e. annual salary must not be less than AMSR and must meet the TSMIT standard).

(Applicant requirements)

  • Must nominate an occupation on a relevant skilled occupation list (ROL, MLTSSL or STSOL) as applicable.
  • Positive skills assessment may be required (unless exempt).
  • Work experience requirement, typically 3 years in the nominated field (full-time equivalent).
  • Must be under 45 years of age at time of application (some exemptions may apply).
  • Competent English (or meet exemption) and satisfy health and character checks.
Contact Us
How we assist employers & applicants
  • For employers: sponsorship setup, regional business justification, salary benchmarking (AMSR and TSMIT compliance), regional nomination strategy and compliance obligations.
  • For applicants: preparing skills assessment, ensuring work history meets standards, English and evidence preparation, timing alignment with permanent pathway (Subclass 191) and regional compliance.
Document checklist – 494 (applicant)
  • Identity: passport, previous visa history, biography pages.
  • Skills assessment (if required), academic transcripts, registration/licensing.
  • Verified work history: payslips, employer references, time sheets.
  • English test results (or evidence of exemption).
  • Health (HAP ID) and police/character checks.
  • Dependents: identity documents, relationship proofs, custody/consent evidence.
Document checklist – 494 (employer)
  • Standard Business Sponsorship or approval evidence.
  • Business legitimacy: financials, ASIC documents, leases/utilities, website records.
  • Nomination paperwork: role description, ANZSCO mapping, regional location, salary benchmarking, allowances, tools.
  • Evidence of compliance with regional obligations and labour market obligations (if any).
Pitfalls and risks
  • Mis-placing the role outside a designated regional area.
  • Salary or earnings below TSMIT or AMSR.
  • Insufficient work experience evidence or failing skills assessment.
  • Not meeting continuous residency/work requirement before applying for PR via 191.
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