494 Visa: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa

The Subclass 494 visa allows skilled workers to live and work in designated regional areas of Australia for up to five years, with a pathway to permanent residency.

Can My Employer Sponsor Me for a 494 Visa?

Yes, but they must meet specific conditions:

• Your position must be located in a designated regional area of Australia

• Your occupation must appear on the relevant occupation list

• The position must be full-time, genuine, and likely to be ongoing for five years

• Your employer must:

  • Be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (or otherwise eligible to sponsor under the program).

  • Obtain advice from the relevant Regional Certifying Body (RCB).

  • Pay you at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) (AUD $79,499 from 1 July 2026, indexed annually), or the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), whichever is higher.

  • Pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.

Am I Eligible for the 494 Visa?

To apply for a 494 visa, you must:

• Have a valid skills assessment for your nominated occupation (if required)

• Have at least one year ofrelevant skilled work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field.

• Meet the Competent English requirement.

• Meet Australia's health and character requirements.

How Does the 494 Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?

After holding a Subclass 494 visa and meeting the eligibility requirements, you may be able to apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.

Generally, you must:

• Have held an eligible regional provisional visa for at least three years.

• Have complied with your visa conditions.

• Meet the legislative requirements in place at the time of application.

No employer nomination is required when applying for the Subclass 191 visa..

Can I Change Employers on a 494 Visa?

Yes. Current visa conditions provide greater flexibility.

If you stop working for your sponsoring employer, you generally have up to:

• 180 consecutive days at a time; or

• 365 days in total during your visa grant period

to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa, or make arrangements to leave Australia.

Any new employer must meet the sponsorship and nomination requirements for the Subclass 494 visa.

What Is the SAF Levy?

Employers must pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy for each Subclass 494 nomination.

The current levy is:

• AUD $3,000 for businesses with an annual turnover of less than AUD $10 million.

• AUD $5,000 for businesses with an annual turnover of AUD $10 million or more.

The levy helps fund training opportunities for Australian workers.

Do I Need Private Health Insurance?

It depends.

Some Subclass 494 visa holders may be eligible for Medicare, while others may need to maintain adequate private health insurance depending on their circumstances and country of passport.

Other Visa Conditions to Know

• While holding a Subclass 494 visa:

  • You must live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia.

  • You must continue to work in accordance with your visa conditions.

  • You must maintain any required occupational registration or licensing.

  • You must comply with all visa conditions throughout your stay.

Need Help Navigating the 494 Visa?

Whether you're an employer or a skilled worker, our Registered Migration Agents can assess your eligibility and guide you through every stage of the Subclass 494 visa process—from sponsorship and nomination through to permanent residency.

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