A provisional employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers in designated regional areas of Australia, with a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa.
The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa is a five-year provisional visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia. It was introduced on 16 November 2019 as part of the Australian Government's efforts to direct skilled migration to regional areas where labour shortages are most acute.
The 494 visa is specifically designed to address skills shortages in regional Australia. Unlike the 482 visa which can be used in any part of Australia, the 494 visa requires both the employer and the worker to be located in a designated regional area. In return for this regional commitment, the visa offers a broader range of eligible occupations and a clear pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa.
The 494 visa is granted for five years, giving both the employer and the worker long-term certainty. After meeting the required period of living and working in regional Australia on the 494 visa, and meeting the 191 minimum-income requirement for each qualifying income year, the visa holder may apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. Current 191 qualifying period and income rules: the 494 must have been held for at least 3 years, the holder must have complied with its conditions (including living and working in a designated regional area), and Australian Taxation Office notices of assessment must show taxable income for each of the 3 qualifying years; the Department sets and indexes the minimum-income figure, so check the DHA subclass 191 page for the amount that applies to your income years.
The 494 visa offers a broader occupation list than the standard 482, a five-year visa duration, and a pathway to permanent residence through the 191 visa once the required regional living-and-working period and income requirements have been met. Regional employers benefit from access to a larger pool of eligible occupations and workers.
For the purposes of the 494 visa, "regional Australia" includes all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. This means the following areas are classified as designated regional areas:
Many people assume "regional" means remote or rural. In reality, major cities like Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra, Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast are all classified as regional. These are modern cities with all amenities.
The 494 visa has two streams:
This is the primary stream for workers nominated by an employer in a designated regional area. The employer must be an approved sponsor and must nominate the worker for a position in a skilled occupation. This stream requires labour market testing and a skills assessment.
This stream is available to workers whose employer has a labour agreement with the Australian Government that specifically provides for the grant of 494 visas. The terms of the sponsorship, including eligible occupations and any concessions, are set out in the agreement. Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) are particularly relevant for regional employers.
To sponsor a worker for a 494 visa, the employer must:
The visa applicant must meet the following requirements:
The 494 visa has historically drawn from a broader combined list than the standard 482 to support regional skills shortages. Under the Skills in Demand framework, the applicable 494 occupation list is: the 494 keeps its own regional occupation list, which is broader than the 482 Core Skills list and is set by a separate legislative instrument — check the nominated occupation on the DHA subclass 494 page and the Skilled occupation list page rather than assuming the CSOL applies.
Always confirm a specific occupation against the live list on the DHA Skilled occupation list page.
Statements that the 494 draws from a combined MLTSSL + STSOL + ROL list reflect the pre-Skills in Demand framework. Confirm the current list arrangement on DHA before relying on it.
The 494 visa application follows a three-stage process similar to other employer-sponsored visas:
If the employer is not already an approved sponsor, they must first apply for and obtain Standard Business Sponsorship approval. This involves demonstrating the business is lawful, financially viable, and operating in a designated regional area.
The employer nominates a specific position for the overseas worker. This requires evidence of labour market testing, a genuine position in a designated regional area, and payment of the nomination fee and Skilling Australians Fund levy.
The worker lodges their visa application with supporting documents including skills assessment, English test results, qualifications, work experience evidence, health examinations, and police clearances.
The 494 visa provides a clear pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. This is one of the most attractive features of the 494 visa.
Unlike the 186 visa (TRT stream), the 191 visa does not require employer nomination. Once you meet the residence and income requirements, you can apply independently. This gives 494 visa holders more control over their PR pathway.
Current 494 fees: Standard Business Sponsorship application A$420 (not needed if the business is already an approved Standard Business Sponsor); nomination fee as published on the DHA 494 page; Skilling Australians Fund levy A$3,000 (turnover under A$10 million) or A$5,000 (other employers), paid once at nomination; visa application charge A$6,140 for the primary applicant, A$3,070 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and A$1,535 for each child under 18. A second instalment is charged before grant where an applicant aged 18 or over does not have functional English — A$4,890 (A$9,800 for a Labour Agreement stream primary applicant). The later subclass 191 application costs A$630 for the primary applicant, A$315 per additional adult and A$160 per child (Department of Home Affairs price list, checked 28 August 2026). Fees and the SAF levy are subject to change — confirm on the DHA 494 page before relying on any figure.
Processing times vary by application stage and current Department workload. Current published targets for SBS, nomination, and visa application stages: sponsorship approval — 50% within 12 days, 90% within 4 months; 494 visa applications — 50% decided within 7 months, 90% within 11 months (Department of Home Affairs, 4 August 2026); nomination processing is not published separately for the 494.
No. A condition of the 494 visa is that you must live, work, and study only in a designated regional area. Moving to Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane would breach your visa conditions and could result in visa cancellation.
Yes, but the new employer must also be in a designated regional area, must become an approved sponsor, and must nominate you for a position. You would need to lodge a new 494 visa application.
For regional employers and workers, the 494 visa often offers advantages: a five-year duration, broader occupation list, and a PR pathway through the 191 visa that does not require employer nomination. However, it restricts the worker to regional areas. The best option depends on your specific circumstances.
The 494 visa expires after five years. If you have not obtained the 191 visa or another visa by that time, you would need to leave Australia or apply for a different visa. It is important to plan your 191 visa application well in advance of your 494 visa expiry.
Whether you are a regional employer looking to fill skill shortages or a worker seeking a pathway to permanent residency, the 494 visa could be your ideal solution. Book a consultation to explore your options.
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