Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa
The Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visa lets employers in regional Australia sponsor skilled workers for up to 5 years, with a clear pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 after three years. For workers willing to live and work in regional Queensland (or elsewhere in regional Australia), the 494 opens roles, and a PR pathway, that the city-based 482 does not. Nationwide Migration and Education helps regional employers and skilled workers navigate it.
What Is the 494 Visa?
Introduced on 16 November 2019, the 494 is a 5-year provisional visa for skilled workers sponsored by an employer to fill a position in a designated regional area. The common stream is Employer Sponsored (there is also a Labour Agreement stream), and it uses the same Standard Business Sponsor framework as the 482.
Where Can You Work on a 494?
Most of Australia counts as a designated regional area. Metropolitan Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are excluded. On the current list that means roles on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Cairns and Townsville and most of regional Queensland qualify, as do South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, the ACT and centres such as Newcastle, Wollongong, Geelong, Hobart, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.
The designated regional areas are set by the Department of Home Affairs in a legislative instrument and can change. We check the postcode against the current list before anything is lodged.
Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
Among the regional Queensland locations that qualify
Toowoomba, Cairns, Townsville
Plus most of regional Queensland and regional Australia
Metro Brisbane
Not eligible for the 494. That is where the 482 comes in instead
Important: A position physically located in metro Brisbane is not eligible for the 494. That is where the 482 comes in instead. Designated regional areas are set by the Department of Home Affairs and can change, so we confirm the postcode against the current list before anything is lodged.
How the 494 Works
Like the 482, it is a three-part process.
Sponsorship
The employer is approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (the same approval used for the 482, with no separate regional sponsor status needed).
Nomination
The nominated position must:
- Be located in a designated regional area
- Be in an occupation eligible for the 494 at the time of nomination
- Be genuine and likely to exist for at least 5 years
- Pay at or above the annual market salary rate and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). The TSMIT is AUD79,423 for nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027
- Have Regional Certifying Body (RCB) advice on the market salary
- Meet the Labour Market Testing requirement, unless an exemption applies
The TSMIT is the threshold used for the 494 and the 187. The 482 and the 186 use the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) instead, which is a different test even though the figure is currently the same. Both are indexed by the Department each 1 July. Check the Department's salary requirements page for the current figure.
Visa Application
The Department requires the worker to be under 45 unless an exemption applies, to have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation, to have a relevant skills assessment unless an exemption applies, to meet minimum standards of English language proficiency (generally Competent English, which is IELTS 6.0 in each component or an equivalent result in another accepted test), and to meet health and character requirements.
Requirements and accepted English tests can change. We check the current criteria on the Department's 494 visa page before you spend money on tests or assessments.
494 Visa Conditions
The 494 carries more conditions than the 482 because it is a regional visa. Conditions commonly attached to this visa include:
You must live, work and study only in a designated regional area.
Notify the Department of changes to your address, contact details, passport, employer or work location within 14 days.
Work only in your nominated occupation for your sponsor or an associated entity.
Provide evidence and attend an interview if requested.
Maintain adequate health insurance, where this condition is imposed on your visa.
Note: The 191 is the intended permanent pathway. You become eligible to apply for it once you have held the 494 for at least 3 years and have complied with the conditions of the visa. The Migration Regulations also restrict which other visas a regional provisional visa holder can apply for during that period, and that restricted list is set in legislation and can change.
The conditions that actually apply to you are the ones listed in your grant letter, and you can check them at any time using VEVO. We confirm what applies to your visa before you plan around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 5-year provisional employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers in regional Australia, with a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 after 3 years, if you are eligible at that time.
No. Metropolitan Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are excluded. The Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and most of regional Queensland do qualify. Designated regional areas are set by the Department and can change, so we check the postcode against the current list.
After holding the 494 for at least 3 years, and having complied with the conditions of that visa, you may be eligible to apply for the Subclass 191 permanent visa. The Department states there is no minimum income requirement for the 191. You provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa. Applying does not guarantee a grant, because all decisions are made by the Department.
Up to 5 years.
No. Condition 8579 requires you to live, work and study only in a designated regional area. The Migration Regulations also restrict which other visas a regional provisional visa holder can apply for during the first 3 years, and that list is set in legislation and can change, so we check what applies to your visa.
No. The Department states there is no minimum income requirement for the Subclass 191. What you must provide is ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa. One practical point: if you or a family member owes money to the ATO, provide evidence it has been repaid or that an approved payment plan is in place, or it can hold up processing.
Processing times are set and published by the Department of Home Affairs and change over time. Check the current guide on the Department's website for your visa. No migration agent can influence or speed up how long the Department takes.
The Pathway to Permanent Residence (Subclass 191)
After holding the 494 for at least 3 years, and having complied with the conditions of that visa (especially living in the region), you may be eligible to apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. The Department states there is no minimum income requirement for the 191. You provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa.
Eligibility is assessed by the Department at the time you apply. No migration agent can guarantee a visa outcome.
Hold the 494 for 3 Years
Comply with its conditions, especially living and working in the region
Apply for the Subclass 191
Provide ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of the five years of your eligible visa
494 vs 482: Which One?
Which visa is open to you depends on the position, the occupation and your own circumstances. This is general guidance, not advice on your case.
The 482 may suit when
- The position is in metro Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne, which are not designated regional areas
- The worker does not want to be tied to a region, or the 186 rather than the 191 is the intended permanent pathway
The 494 may suit when
- The position is in regional Queensland or regional Australia, with a worker willing to commit to the region for 3 or more years
- The 191 pathway suits, and the Department states there is no minimum income requirement at the 191 stage
Why Choose Nationwide Migration and Education?
Registered Migration Agent
Our principal, Suman Dua, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) under MARN 1800859 and is bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
We Check Before You Commit
We check your location and occupation against the current requirements before you commit time or money.
RCB and LMT Coordination
We coordinate Regional Certifying Body advice and Labour Market Testing for regional employers.
494 to 191 Planned Early
We look at the 191 requirements from the start, so the three years of conditions and tax records are not a problem later.
Where we act for both a sponsoring business and a visa applicant on the same matter, we tell each of you in writing about the potential conflict of interest and ask each of you to confirm in writing that you still want us to act. You receive a written service agreement setting out the work and the fees before we act for you.
Our Google Reviews
Reviews are published by reviewers on Google and reflect their own experience. Every matter is different and past outcomes are not an indication of what may happen in your case.
This page is general information only and does not constitute personal migration advice. Visa criteria, income thresholds, occupation lists and designated regional areas are set by the Australian Government and can change. All visa decisions are made solely by the Department of Home Affairs. No migration agent can guarantee a visa outcome or a processing time.
Talk to a Brisbane Registered Migration Agent
Nationwide Migration and Education is a migration practice. Immigration assistance is provided by a registered migration agent. Suman Dua, MARN 1800859. This page is general information only and does not constitute personal migration advice. We do not guarantee visa outcomes; all decisions, queue positions and processing times are set by the Department of Home Affairs and may change.
Code of Conduct
Consumer Guide
Whether you are sponsoring talent or seeking sponsorship, our Registered Migration Agent, Suman Dua (MARN 1800859), manages the full process and maps the permanent residency options that may apply to you.
Contact
Phone: +61 7 37265183
Email: [email protected]
Address: 320 Adelaide St Brisbane QLD 4000
Nationwide Migration and Education
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