Subclass 494 visa (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional)

What Is the 494 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.

Designated Regional Areas

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:

• All of South Australia (including Adelaide)
• All of Tasmania (including Hobart)
• All of the Northern Territory (including Darwin)
• All of Western Australia (including Perth)
• All of the ACT (including Canberra)
• New South Wales outside Sydney (including Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Wollongong and the Illawarra, and the Central Coast)
• Regional Victoria (everywhere except Melbourne metropolitan area)
• Regional Queensland (everywhere except Greater Brisbane)
• Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in Queensland

Visa Streams

The 494 visa has two streams:

Employer Sponsored Stream

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.

Labour Agreement Stream

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.

Employer Requirements

To sponsor a worker for a 494 visa, the employer must:

• Be an approved sponsor: The employer must hold a Standard Business Sponsorship approval or apply for one.
• Operate in a regional area: The business must be actively and lawfully operating in a designated regional area, and the nominated position must be located in that regional area.
• Genuine position: The role must be a genuine, full-time position that matches the nominated occupation.
• Labour market testing: The employer must have advertised the position in Australia and demonstrated that no suitable Australian worker was available.
• Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) and income threshold: The salary offered must meet AMSR and the applicable 494 income threshold: the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), which the 494 retains under the Skills in Demand framework — A$79,423 from 1 July 2026 (A$76,515 for nominations lodged in 2025–26). Indexed figure from 1 July 2026: A$79,423.
• Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: Payable at nomination — a one-off A$3,000 for businesses with annual turnover under A$10 million, A$5,000 for larger businesses (the 494 levy is a single payment, not per year).

Worker Requirements

The visa applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Age: Be under the maximum age (currently 45) at time of application, unless an exemption applies: under 45 at the time the visa application is lodged; limited exemptions apply, including for certain academics and researchers, regional medical practitioners and high income earners above the Fair Work high income threshold (A$190,100 from 1 July 2026).
• Skills assessment: Positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority within the relevant recency window: the skills assessment must be no more than 3 years old at the time of application (or within the validity period stated on the assessment, if shorter).
• Work experience: Required relevant work experience in the nominated occupation: at least 3 years of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in the nominated occupation at the required skill level, usually gained within the 5 years before application; the years need not be continuous.
• English language: Required English standard for 494: Competent English — IELTS 6.0 in each component, or the Department’s equivalent in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge or OET; UK, US, Canadian, NZ and Irish passport holders are generally exempt.
• Health and character: Meet standard health and character requirements, including health examinations and police clearances.

Occupation List

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.

Application Process

The 494 visa application follows a three-stage process similar to other employer-sponsored visas:

Stage 1: Standard Business Sponsorship

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.

Stage 2: Nomination

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.

Stage 3: Visa Application

The worker lodges their visa application with supporting documents including skills assessment, English test results, qualifications, work experience evidence, health examinations, and police clearances.

Pathway to 191 Permanent Residency

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.

Requirements for the 191 Visa

• Hold (or have held) a 494 visa for the required period: at least 3 years
• Have lived and worked in a designated regional area of Australia for the required period while holding the 494 visa
• Have met the 191 minimum taxable-income requirement for each qualifying income year — current figure: the Department sets and indexes the minimum-income figure (the A$53,900 figure quoted in older guides is out of date); evidence is the Australian Taxation Office notice of assessment for each of the 3 qualifying income years — check the DHA subclass 191 page for the amount that applies to your years
• Have complied with the conditions of the 494 visa
• Meet health and character requirements

Costs and Fees

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

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move to Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane on a 494 visa?

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.

Can I change employers on a 494 visa?

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.

Is the 494 visa better than the 482 visa?

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.

What happens after five years if I have not applied for the 191 visa?

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.