Employer Sponsored
Skilled Employer Regional visa (Subclass 494)
The Subclass 494 lets a regional Australian employer sponsor a skilled worker for a position in a designated regional area. It is a provisional visa valid for 5 years and, once the regional and income conditions are met, it is a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191.
Visa type
Provisional, 5 years
Sponsor
Regional employer
Location
Designated regional area
Leads to
Permanent residence via the 191
How this works
- Us:We get your documents application-ready, match you with a registered migration agent we have vetted, and stay on the matter until it is lodged.
- Registered agent:A registered migration agent gives the migration advice and lodges your application.
- The Department:The Department of Home Affairs decides. No outcome is guaranteed.
Who it is for
- Skilled workers with a regional employer ready to sponsor them.
- People open to living and working in regional Australia.
- Applicants comfortable with a provisional visa first, then permanent residence via the 191.
What this pathway involves
A regional employer nomination
An approved employer must nominate you for a position located in a designated regional area.
A positive skills assessment
You generally need a skills assessment for your nominated occupation, which must be on the applicable list.
Relevant work experience
Typically several years of relevant experience in the occupation is required.
Under 45 and competent English
An age limit and English requirement apply, with some exemptions.
A commitment to the region
You must live and work in the designated regional area while you hold the visa.
An eye on the 191
Meeting the regional-residence and minimum-income conditions is what unlocks permanent residence later.
How the process works
- 1
Confirm eligibility
A registered migration agent checks the occupation, the region, and your experience against the 494 requirements. We organise the documents behind it.
- 2
Skills assessment
We assemble and prepare the evidence to obtain a positive assessment from the right assessing authority.
- 3
Guide the employer nomination
We help the regional employer organise the sponsorship and nomination paperwork, and a registered migration agent advises on their obligations.
- 4
Lodge the visa application
We prepare a thorough file. A registered migration agent lodges the application and deals with the Department.
- 5
Plan the 191 transition
Once granted, we help you organise and track the residence and income records needed for permanent residence.
Questions about the Skilled Employer Regional
Related visas
Employer Sponsored
Skills in Demand (482)
Employer-sponsored skilled work visa (replaced the TSS).
Learn moreEmployer Sponsored
Employer Nomination Scheme (186)
Permanent residence through employer nomination.
Learn moreSkilled Migration
Permanent Residence Regional (191)
PR after meeting the regional 491 requirements.
Learn moreNot sure where to start?
Tell us about your situation. We get your file application-ready and match you with a registered migration agent for the advice and lodgement, and we stay on it the whole way. No obligation.