Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
The Subclass 494 visa lets approved regional employers sponsor skilled workers when they cannot fill a position locally in regional Australia. It is a five-year provisional visa requiring the holder to live, work, and study only in a designated regional area. After three years of meeting the regional requirement and income threshold, holders can apply for permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa.
At a glance
- Points test
- Not points-tested
- Sponsor
- Employer sponsor required
- Base application charge
- from $4,770 (check immi.gov.au for current fee)
- Processing time
- ~9-18 months (median)
- Pathway
- Provides a pathway to permanent residency via the Subclass 191 visa after three years of regional residence and meeting the minimum income threshold.
Recent updates
See all updates →- watch2026-27 visa application charges now in effect
Visa Application Charges (VAC) for Australian skilled visas were indexed as of 1 July 2026 as part of the annual Federal Budget fee adjustment. Charges for Subclass 189, 190, 491, 482 (Skills in Demand), 186, 494, and 858 have been updated. Always verify the current fee schedule on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before applying — secondary applicant charges also increase proportionally. The 'Base fee' figures shown on individual visa pages on this site reflect the last editorial review date shown.
- infoOSCA launched as ABS classification standard
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA), progressively replacing the long-standing ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations). OSCA preserves a similar 6-digit structure but introduces revised major groups, updated occupation definitions, and new entries for emerging roles. The Department of Home Affairs is adopting OSCA progressively across 2025-2026 — most skilled-visa occupation lists still reference ANZSCO codes during the transition. Always cross-check the live occupation list on home affairs at application time.
- infoDirection 110 replaces Direction 99 for s501 character decisions
Ministerial Direction 110 issued under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958, providing the framework decision-makers must apply when refusing or cancelling visas on character grounds under section 501. Direction 110 replaces Direction 99 and re-emphasises Australia's expectations of non-citizens. Affects character considerations across all visa subclasses, including skilled visas at the application and post-grant stage.
Key requirements
High-level eligibility criteria. Each criterion has further sub-rules; verify with immi.gov.au before applying.
- Under 45 years of age at application
- Competent English (IELTS 6 or equivalent)
- Positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation
- Three years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation
- Nominated by an approved regional employer in a designated regional area
- Health and character requirements
Skills assessment
Each occupation has a single designated assessing authority — refer to the occupation page for the body that assesses it.
Eligible occupations
ANZSCO occupations currently flagged for Subclass 494 in our latest dataset.
No occupations matched this subclass in our latest sync. Occupation list updates frequently — check immi.gov.au for the current list.
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