Written by Navpreet Aulakh, Registered Migration Agent MARN 2619467
Checked against Department of Home Affairs guidance on 26 October 2026
The main 494 visa requirements are simple to list: a regional employer must nominate you, your occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list, and you need at least 3 years of relevant work experience, a suitable skills assessment (unless exempt), Competent English, and to be under 45 at the time you apply (unless an exemption applies). The detail sits underneath each of those points, and that is where most applications run into trouble. This guide covers both sides: what the worker needs and what the employer needs to nominate.
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) is a 5-year visa for skilled workers sponsored by employers in designated regional areas. After holding it for 3 years, many holders move to permanent residence through the subclass 191 visa. For a quick overview of the visa itself, see our 494 visa page.
What are the 494 visa requirements for the worker?
Home Affairs lists the following criteria for the Employer Sponsored stream. You must:
- be nominated by an approved work sponsor for a position in a designated regional area
- have a nominated occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- have worked in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years full-time, at the skill level the occupation requires
- have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority, unless an exemption applies
- be under 45 years of age when you apply, unless an exemption applies
- have at least Competent English
- meet the health and character requirements, along with your family members
- have paid back, or arranged to pay back, any debt to the Australian Government
- sign the Australian Values Statement if you are 16 or older.
How much work experience do you need?
At least 3 years full-time in the nominated occupation, at the skill level required. Home Affairs says the experience should generally have been gained within the last 5 years. It does not need to be continuous, and equivalent part-time work might be considered, but casual work is not counted.
Do you need a skills assessment for the 494?
Yes, in most cases. The assessment must be done before you lodge the visa application, and an assessment obtained for a Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa is not accepted. You do not need a new assessment if, at the time you apply, you hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa for the nominated occupation and you had to provide a suitable skills assessment to get that visa. There are also exemptions for some academics nominated by Australian universities and for certain long-term subclass 444 or 461 holders. Our skills assessment guide explains how the assessing authorities work.
What is the 494 visa age limit?
You must be under 45 when you apply. Home Affairs lists exemptions for some university academics and scientific researchers, certain regional medical practitioners, long-term 444 or 461 holders, and 457 or 482 holders who have worked for the nominating employer for at least 2 of the last 3 years while earning at least the Fair Work High Income Threshold.
What English level is required?
The main applicant needs at least Competent English. Partners and dependants aged 18 or over must show Functional English, or pay the second instalment of the visa application charge. Check the accepted tests and scores on our English requirements page.
Which occupations are on the 494 visa occupation list?
There is no separate list called the "494 occupation list". The Employer Sponsored stream uses occupations from the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and the Regional Occupation List (ROL), as set out in the relevant legislative instrument. The Regional Occupation List is the one to watch, because it includes occupations that are only available for regional visas.
A few points that catch people out:
- The 494 uses the 2013 version of ANZSCO, while the 186 and 482 use the 2022 version. Your occupation code and title may differ between visas.
- The nominated duties must match the ANZSCO tasks for the occupation, not just the job title.
- The Labour Agreement stream works differently. The occupations available depend on the employer's labour agreement, not the standard list.
Search the official Home Affairs skilled occupation list and filter for subclass 494, or use our occupation search tool to see which visas your occupation fits.
Where can you live and work on a 494 visa?
You can live, work and study only in a designated regional area. Home Affairs defines designated regional areas as all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. That means cities such as Perth, Adelaide, Geelong and Hobart are included. Check the postcode of the actual workplace, not the head office, on our regional areas page.
You must start work within 90 days of arriving in Australia (if granted offshore) or within 90 days of the grant date (if granted onshore). You can generally only work for your sponsor or an associated entity, in your nominated occupation, in regional Australia.
What does the employer need to sponsor a 494 worker?
The employer side is often where a 494 application succeeds or fails. Home Affairs requires the sponsor to:
- be an approved standard business sponsor, or have applied to become one (the sponsorship must be approved before the nomination can be approved)
- nominate a position in a designated regional area for an occupation on the relevant list
- carry out labour market testing, unless an exemption applies
- pay at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) if the salary is under AUD250,000, and have a Regional Certifying Body assess that rate
- offer a genuine, full-time position likely to exist for at least 5 years
- provide a written employment contract signed by both parties
- offer terms and conditions no less favourable than an Australian worker doing the same job in the same location
- pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy when lodging the nomination.
What salary does the employer have to pay?
The nominee must be paid the AMSR, which is what an Australian worker in the same role and location earns. Home Affairs also refers to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) for this visa. From 1 July 2026, the TSMIT increased from AUD76,515 to AUD79,423 for new 494 nominations. Our post on the 2026 salary thresholds explains how the different thresholds fit together.
How long does an approved nomination last?
An approved nomination generally lasts 12 months from approval. It can end earlier, for example if the employer withdraws it, the visa is granted, or the employer's sponsorship approval is cancelled or lapses.
How much does the 494 visa cost?
These are the government charges published by Home Affairs as at 26 October 2026. They do not include professional fees.
| Cost item | Who pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application charge - main applicant | Applicant | AUD6,140 |
| Each dependant 18 and over | Applicant | AUD3,070 |
| Each dependant under 18 | Applicant | AUD1,535 |
| Nomination application fee | Employer | Nil (no fee for this stream) |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy - turnover under AUD10 million | Employer | AUD3,000 |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy - turnover AUD10 million or more | Employer | AUD5,000 |
The levy amounts come from the Migration (Skilling Australians Fund) Charges Regulations 2018. The levy is not refunded if the nomination is refused. Read more on our SAF levy page. Applicants should also budget for skills assessment, English test, health check and police certificate costs.
What are the steps to apply?
- Check the occupation and workplace postcode.
- Finish the skills assessment and English test before the visa is lodged.
- Employer applies to be a standard business sponsor (this can be lodged with the nomination).
- Labour market testing and AMSR assessment by a Regional Certifying Body, unless exempt.
- Employer lodges the nomination and pays the SAF levy. The worker needs the nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN) to apply.
- Worker lodges the visa application in ImmiAccount, at the same time as or after the nomination, with identity, skills, employment, English and character documents.
- Health checks and biometrics when requested, then wait for a decision on the nomination and visa.
How long does a 494 visa take to process?
Home Affairs does not publish a fixed processing time for the 494. It points applicants to its processing time guide tool, which shows how long recently decided applications took. The 494 is prioritised under Ministerial Direction 122. On its 494 page, checked on 26 October 2026, Home Affairs said it was processing applications lodged in September 2025 for priority sectors (such as construction, healthcare, teaching and agriculture) and onshore applicants, and October 2025 for some offshore applications. It also warns these dates may fluctuate. Accredited sponsors get priority processing. See the Home Affairs 494 visa page for the latest dates.
How do you move from the 494 to the 191 visa?
After holding the 494 for at least 3 years, you may be able to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191). Home Affairs says you must provide ATO notices of assessment for 3 income years within the period you held the eligible visa, and that there is no minimum income requirement. You must also have complied with your 494 visa conditions, so working outside regional Australia or for a different employer without approval can put the 191 at risk.
Until you have held the 494 for 3 years, you also cannot be granted certain other visas, including the 186, 189 and 190, or make a valid application for an 820 partner visa. Our article on 191 visa processing time covers what happens after you apply.
Common mistakes with 494 applications
- Using a skills assessment obtained for a 485 visa, which Home Affairs does not accept for the 494.
- Choosing an occupation code from ANZSCO 2022 instead of 2013.
- Nominating a position whose real duties do not match the ANZSCO tasks, or that does not fit the size and nature of the business.
- Labour market testing that does not meet the legislative instrument requirements.
- Turning 45 before lodging when no exemption applies.
If your employer has a labour agreement, or is in a regional area covered by a designated area migration agreement, there may be different options. See our page on labour agreements.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a 494 visa without an employer?
No. Both the Employer Sponsored and Labour Agreement streams need a nomination from an employer. If you do not have an employer, the state-nominated or family-sponsored 491 may be worth looking at instead.
Is the 494 visa a pathway to permanent residence?
Yes, if eligible. After holding the 494 for 3 years, you can apply for the subclass 191 visa, which needs 3 income years of ATO notices of assessment and compliance with your visa conditions.
Can I include my family in a 494 application?
Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children when you apply, and family members can also apply later as subsequent entrants. Family members must meet health and character requirements.
Can I change employers on a 494 visa?
Only if a new regional employer nominates you. Your visa requires you to work for your sponsor or an associated entity, so get advice before you resign or accept another role.
Get help with your 494 application
The 494 involves both an employer nomination and a visa application, and a problem in either one can lead to a refusal. If you are a worker with a regional job offer, or an employer thinking about sponsoring someone, book your consultation with our registered migration agents to check your occupation, location and eligibility before you lodge.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. Visa laws, fees and occupation lists change often. Book a consultation with a registered migration agent before making any decision about your visa or nomination.