Requirements, documents and costs
An employer-sponsored regional route
Subclass 494 is a five-year provisional visa for eligible sponsored employment in designated regional Australia. It is not the permanent 186 visa. A genuine role, suitable employer and willingness to live and work in the permitted area are central to this route.
Is this the right option for your plans?
Start with your actual duties, experience, qualifications, intended location and employer arrangements. A job title alone does not establish the occupation. Assess whether your family, housing and professional registration plans fit regional employment before committing.
Three parties must fit together
Review the employer’s sponsorship arrangements, nomination and your visa eligibility together. Approval of one component does not guarantee approval of another. Labour agreement cases have their own terms and should not be treated as general concessions.
Core employer-sponsored stream requirements
The standard criteria include being under 45 unless an exemption applies, a relevant eligible occupation, at least three years of relevant experience, a suitable skills assessment unless exempt, and Competent English. Health, character and other requirements also apply.
The role and location
The employer must nominate a genuine eligible position with suitable employment and salary arrangements. Regional eligibility is based on designated areas and postcodes; it does not simply mean remote countryside. Review the worksite and regional certification requirements where applicable.
Skills and work evidence
Prepare qualifications, employment references with duties and dates, payslips and other consistent evidence. A skills assessment used for a 485 graduate visa is not valid as the assessment for 494. Confirm the appropriate assessing authority and any professional registration requirements.
Application process and our services
Application and family planning
1. Review your profile and the occupation. 2. Assess the employer, role and worksite. 3. Prepare sponsorship and nomination evidence as applicable. 4. Complete your skills, English and visa documents. 5. Lodge the relevant applications and respond to requests.
Budget and scope of service
Separate employer obligations and nomination costs from applicant visa charges, skills assessment, English tests, health checks, translation and professional fees. Relocation, housing, schooling and a contingency fund are also part of a family decision. We explain which work is included in our engagement.
Our role
PremierVisa can review the occupation and applicant evidence, identify issues in the proposed arrangement and assist with agreed employer and visa work. We do not sell an immigration entitlement or guarantee an employer, nomination, approval or fixed processing time.
Permanent residence: a separate review
An eligible 494 holder may later qualify for subclass 191. Current criteria include holding an eligible visa for at least three years, complying with its conditions and providing the required ATO notices of assessment for three income years out of five. There is no minimum income requirement for 191. Time passing alone does not grant permanent residence.
How does 494 differ from 186 and 482?
186 is an employer-nominated permanent visa; 494 is a regional provisional route; 482 Skills in Demand is temporary employer sponsorship. Each has distinct nomination, occupation and applicant conditions. Compare the real arrangement rather than only the visa name.
What should I provide for an initial assessment?
Send a summary of age, passport, occupation, duties, years of experience, qualifications, English and the proposed employer and work location. Discuss visa history and family plans early.
Request a free assessment
We will help identify the checks needed before you rely on a proposed regional job or decide which employer-sponsored route to pursue.