Moving on a 494 Visa: Check Regional Conditions, Worksites and 14-Day Notices
Before signing a lease or paying relocation costs on a subclass 494 visa, check the new home, the actual work location and each family member’s study arrangements. Condition 8579 requires the primary visa holder and family members to live, work and study only in a designated regional area during the relevant regional residency period. For a 494, the relevant area is assessed by reference to the nomination date set out in the regulations. A landlord’s description of a place as regional, or a current postcode map alone, does not decide an individual case.
Work out which nomination and period apply
The 494 rule is not identical to the condition for a subclass 491 visa. For a 494, check the approved nomination linked to the visa and the date the holder started the nominated work. If a later nomination is approved and the primary holder starts work in that nominated position, the relevant nomination and regional residency period may change. Keep each nomination notice and the genuine employment start date; do not calculate the period from the visa grant date alone.
Home Affairs publishes postcode categories for designated regional areas. Check the exact address and postcode rather than relying on a suburb’s reputation, a property advertisement or a broad city label. A head office can be in one place while the job is performed at a branch, worksite or client location elsewhere. Record each location separately.
Check where people actually live, work and study
For work, list the employer’s address and the place where the nominated position is actually performed. Include transfers, rotating rosters, client sites and remote work. For family members, record their actual residence and school or education address during the relevant period. If an arrangement spans several locations, describe the dates and frequency instead of selecting only the address that appears simplest.
Condition 8578 has a 14-day change notice
Condition 8578 requires the visa holder to notify Immigration within 14 days after a change to the specified information. This includes the holder’s residential address, email, phone number or passport details, as well as an employer’s address and the address of the position’s work location. A landlord, school, employer or bank knowing about a move does not mean Immigration has received notice. Record the actual change date, the submission date and the confirmation for each person who needs to update details.
Use the official process that matches the information and the person’s application status. Home Affairs says general contact details can be updated in ImmiAccount; an employer or position-location change may need its own relevant process. Do not assume one saved address field updates every immigration record.
A 28-day condition 8580 request is a different task
Condition 8580 applies when the Minister makes a written request. The holder must provide the evidence listed in that request within 28 days after its date. It may ask for residential, employer, worksite or education addresses. This is not a standing 28-day period for notifying every move, and an 8578 update does not replace a response to an 8580 request. Read the notice for the exact evidence and due date, and keep the submitted copy.
Keep a timeline that can be checked later
Keep leases, actual move-in and move-out dates, bills, work transfers, rosters, payslips and school records in date order. If a lease date differs from the actual move, explain the difference and preserve the original document. Do not change source records to make the timeline look tidy. If you have moved and discover that a notification was missed, establish the true dates and current status, then use the official process and obtain advice suited to your circumstances.
Before accepting a new role, changing schools or committing to a long lease, review the address, actual worksite, nomination history and family arrangements together. If a planned move may fall outside the applicable designated area, do not decide from a property listing or a general description of the city.
Official sources and checked date
20 October 2026
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