Subclass 494 visa: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

How the 494 works

Home Affairs describes the 494 as a provisional visa for skilled workers whose employer in a designated regional area sponsors them, through the Employer Sponsored or Labour Agreement stream.

Streams

Home Affairs lists two streams for the 494:

• Employer Sponsored stream: for workers nominated by a regional employer in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.
• Labour Agreement stream: for workers nominated in a specified occupation under the terms of a labour agreement.

494 visa requirements

The Employer Sponsored stream eligibility list on Home Affairs includes:

• Nomination by an approved work sponsor (or an employer that has applied to be a standard business sponsor) for a position in a designated regional area.
• An occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.
• At least 3 years of full-time work in the nominated occupation, at the required skill level.
• A positive skills assessment before applying, unless exempt. Home Affairs says a skills assessment obtained for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is not valid for this visa.
• Work only for the sponsor or an associated entity, unless exempt.
• Under 45 when applying, unless exempt.
• At least Competent English.
• Health and character requirements, for the applicant and family members.
• No debt to the Australian Government, and signing the Australian values statement (16 and over).

In the Labour Agreement stream, the age limit, skills assessment and English level follow the labour agreement. Applicants still need at least 3 years of relevant work experience and must work only for the sponsor.

Age exemptions

The Employer Sponsored stream page lists exemptions from the under-45 rule for:

• Academics (Academic Level A to E) nominated by an Australian university.
• Medical practitioners who have worked in a designated regional area for 2 of the last 3 years on a 457 or 482, where the nominated position is also regional.
• Scientists, researchers or technical (scientific) specialists at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 nominated by a government scientific agency or an Australian university.
• Holders of a subclass 444 or 461 visa for the last 3 years who have worked for the nominating employer for at least 2 years in that time.
• 457 or 482 holders who have worked for the nominating employer for at least 2 of the last 3 years and earned at least the Fair Work High Income Threshold in each year.

Income threshold

Home Affairs' salary requirements page says the 494 is assessed against the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). It lists the TSMIT as AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. Both the annual market salary rate and the worker's guaranteed annual earnings must be at least the TSMIT. A Regional Certifying Body also assesses the annual market salary rate.

What the visa lets you do

Home Affairs says that with this visa the holder can:

• Live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years.
• Travel to and from Australia as many times as they want while the visa is valid.
• Apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the grant date, if eligible.

Holders must work only in the nominated occupation and only for the nominating employer in regional Australia, and must begin work within 90 days of arriving (or of the grant date, if already in Australia). Home Affairs says the visa can't be extended.

Where the job must be

The employer and the position must be in a designated regional area. Home Affairs says designated regional areas include all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. See Home Affairs' designated regional areas and the city pages on Settledin.

494 visa to permanent residence

Home Affairs says a 494 holder can apply for permanent residence after holding the visa for 3 years, if eligible. Until then, a 494 holder can't be granted certain visas, including the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) and the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 191), as listed on the Employer Sponsored stream page.

Family members and cost

Members of the family unit can be included when applying. Home Affairs says a dependent child can be added after lodging but before a decision. Family members who apply must meet health and character requirements. Family members can also apply later as subsequent entrants.

Visa application charges listed on the Home Affairs stream pages:

The Labour Agreement stream page adds a second instalment of AUD 4,890 if any dependant 18 or over does not have Functional English. Concessions apply in limited circumstances. Other costs can include English tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

Employer costs listed by Home Affairs:

Levy amounts are from Home Affairs' cost of sponsoring page, which also lists a reduced levy when the nominee already holds a 494. Employers must not pass the levy on to the visa applicant.

Step by step

Home Affairs' Employer Sponsored stream Step by step tabs set out two parts.

What the employer does

1. Becomes, or applies to become, a standard business sponsor. The sponsorship must be approved before the nomination can be approved.
2. Does labour market testing, unless exempt, and offers a genuine full-time position likely to exist for at least 5 years.
3. Lodges the nomination before, or at the same time as, the visa application and pays the Skilling Australians Fund levy.
4. Gets a nomination outcome. Approved nominations generally last 12 months.

What the applicant does

1. Gets a skills assessment (unless exempt) and arranges English tests and health exams.
2. Gets the nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN) from the employer.
3. Gathers identity, skills, work experience, English and character documents, plus documents for family members.
4. Applies online in ImmiAccount and pays the visa charge.
5. Provides more information if Home Affairs asks.
6. Receives a decision. Home Affairs must approve the nomination before it can grant the visa.

Applying in or outside Australia

Home Affairs says applicants can be in or outside Australia when they apply, but not in immigration clearance. Applicants in Australia must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C. Applicants can be in or outside Australia when the decision is made.

494 visa processing time

Home Affairs publishes current processing times in its global visa processing times guide.

Compare: 482, 186 and 494