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Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

Updated 22 July 2026

This is general information, not migration advice. Visa rules, fees and eligibility change often — always confirm on the Department of Home Affairs website, and speak to a registered migration agent about your own situation.

Overview

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. It has an Employer Sponsored stream, a Labour Agreement stream, and a Subsequent Entrant pathway for members of the family unit of a subclass 494 holder. With this visa you can live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years and travel to and from Australia while the visa is valid. If eligible, you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time the visa is granted. How long you can stay: 5 years. This is a provisional visa: "You can stay in Australia for a period of 5 years from when we grant your visa." You can't stay longer by extending this visa, but if eligible you can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time the visa is granted.

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Step 1 - Before you apply: arrange what you need, including a skills assessment if required, an English test (at least Competent English), and health examinations. You can also decide whether to get help from a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person. Make sure your employer has submitted the nomination application and ask them for the nomination Transaction Reference Number (TRN) - you need it to apply.

  2. Step 2: Step 2 - Gather your documents: identity documents (passport pages, national identity card, change of name evidence), skills and qualifications, work experience, English language, health and character documents, plus partner and dependant documents. Have all non-English documents translated into English and scan or photograph them in colour.

  3. Step 3: Step 3 - Apply for the visa: apply online in ImmiAccount. Log in or create an ImmiAccount, attach your documents, pay the application charge (the application is not processed until you pay), and note the Transaction Reference Number.

  4. Step 4: Step 4 - After you apply: the Department confirms it has received your application. Complete health exams and biometrics if required, attach more information if asked, stay lawful in Australia, pay the second instalment if invoiced, and tell the Department if your circumstances change.

  5. Step 5: Step 5 - Visa outcome: the Department notifies you of the decision in writing. If the visa is granted you are told your visa grant number, the date the visa starts and your visa conditions.

Eligibility & requirements

  • Be under 45 years of age when you apply, unless an exemption applies (exemptions cover certain academics, some medical practitioners, certain scientists/researchers, some subclass 444 or 461 holders, and some subclass 457/482 holders earning at least the Fair Work High Income Threshold).
  • Be nominated by an approved work sponsor - an employer whose business is lawfully operating in Australia - for a position within that business or an associated entity located in a designated regional area of Australia. In the Labour Agreement stream, your employer must have a labour agreement with the Australian government in effect.
  • Have a nomination to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list (see the official list linked below - do not rely on unofficial lists).
  • Have relevant skills, qualifications and work experience: you must have been employed in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years on a full-time basis at the required skill level (generally gained within the last 5 years; the period need not be continuous; casual work is not counted).
  • Have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority, obtained before you lodge your application, unless an exemption applies (a skills assessment obtained for a subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa is not valid for this visa).
  • Have at least Competent English.
  • Meet the health and character requirements - you and family members who apply with you (character applies to family members aged 16 and over); family members not travelling with you may also need to meet them.
  • Have paid back, or arranged to pay back, any debt to the Australian government, and (if 16 or older) sign the Australian Values Statement after reading the Life in Australia booklet.

Costs

ItemIndicative cost
Application charge - main applicantAUD6,140.00 (published as "From AUD6,140.00"; concessions apply in limited circumstances)
Application charge - each dependent 18 years and overAUD3,070.00
Application charge - each dependent under 18 yearsAUD1,535.00
Second instalment (for an applicant 18 or over with less than Functional English)Current fee is published on the Home Affairs page for this visa — see Key links.
Other costs (English tests, health checks, police certificates, biometrics)Current fee is published on the Home Affairs page for this visa — see Key links.

Key links

Contacts

Registered migration agent (MARA)
For advice about your own circumstances, use a registered migration agent or a legal service. This page is general information only.