Immigration experts in Australia and NZ

Immigration experts in Australia and NZ
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Subscribe
News
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Subscribe
News
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Regional Sponsorship 494 visa

Regional Sponsorship visa 494

The Australia Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) is a specialized pathway designed to address skilled worker shortages in regional areas of the country. This visa category serves a dual purpose: it allows employers in designated regional areas to access skilled workers they need, while also offering a pathway to permanent residency for these skilled workers.

Schedule a Call
Email us
Regional Sponsorship 494 visa

Regional sponsorship visa 494

The Australia Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) is a specialized pathway designed to address skilled worker shortages in regional areas of the country. This visa category serves a dual purpose: it allows employers in designated regional areas to access skilled workers they need, while also offering a pathway to permanent residency for these skilled workers.

Schedule a Call
Email us

Requirements to apply for a Regional Employer Sponsored Visa (Subclass 494)

To be eligible for the Subclass 494 visa, applicants must have a job offer in a regional area of Australia and meet specific criteria related to their occupation, skills, and qualifications. The sponsoring employer must also meet certain requirements, including demonstrating a genuine need for the position and complying with labour market testing requirements.

One of the notable features of this visa is its pathway to permanent residency. After holding the Subclass 494 visa for at least three years and satisfying other criteria, individuals can apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. This pathway underscores the Australian government’s commitment to supporting regional development by retaining skilled workers in regional areas.

The Subclass 494 visa not only benefits employers by addressing skill shortages but also provides skilled workers with an opportunity to live and work in Australia’s vibrant regional communities. It reflects the government’s recognition of the important role skilled migration plays in regional growth and development.

Types of 494 visas

Employer Sponsored
stream

All 494 visa applicants require an approved sponsored employer to first nominate them. Once nominated, the skilled workers can start the visa application process to work, live or study in regional Australia. 

Labour Agreement stream

This stream follows the same pathway as the Employer Sponsored Stream; however, the employer must have a labour agreement in place. This is best suited for applications that currently work or will work for an employer with a labour agreement. 

Subsequent
entrant stream

Family members can be included in the 494 visa application as subsequent entrants if they meet the Australian Government’s health and character requirements.

Apply for a Regional Sponsorship visa

If you want to apply for the 494 visa, book a discovery call with one of our visa and immigration experts. We’ll help you navigate the application process and support your journey to live, work or study in regional Australia as a skilled worker.

Step 1

Once you reach out to Absolute Immigration, we set up a discovery call to understand what your needs are and what Visa best suits you.

Step 2

From there, we will send you a Strategy proposal outlining the steps we will take to assist you in getting a Visa for you to sign off on.

Step 3

Now our team leaps into action, following immigration pathways, taking care of the paperwork and helping you through the entire application process.

Take the first step and schedule a call

Call us

You can reach our team via our support lines at 1300 227 658 or +61 3 9827 3721 or schedule a consultation through our Acuity Portal.

Schedule a Call

Email us

You can get in touch with the team through our support email: aisupport@absoluteimmigration.com

Email Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You can study in designated areas of Australia on a 494 visa for up to five years. 

No. You can’t extend a 494 visa. However, if eligible, you can apply for permanent residence after three years of having your visa. If you’re not eligible for permanent residency, you can explore our other visa options.

The 494 visa processing time varies from case to case and will depend on individual circumstances. According to the Australian Government, the average processing times for this visa type are: 

    • 25% of applications: 5 Months
    • 50% of applications: 10 Months
    • 75% of applications: 14 Months
    • 90% of applications: 16 Months

Subscribe for the latest immigration updates

Subscribe to keep current with the latest immigration changes affecting your situation and industry. Follow us on our social media channels so you don’t miss an update.

Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram
Subscribe

Recent articles

Data matching boosts employer compliance on skilled visa workforce

Since 2009, the Government has invested in data-matching between Home Affairs and the ATO to monitor skilled visa employer compliance. In 2024–25, $1.9 million was allocated to support ongoing monitoring
Read More

WA construction workforce boosted with $37.5M investment

The Cook Government is investing $37.5 million to expand WA’s construction workforce through new apprenticeship subsidies and extended incentives to attract skilled workers from interstate and overseas.
Read More

Salary thresholds, Superannuation, and Immigration Fees to Rise from 1 July

As of 1 July 2025, key changes have taken effect, including higher skilled visa income thresholds, increased superannuation, and updated fees for visas, citizenship, and tribunals.
Read More

Absolute Immigration welcomes new Office for Multicultural Affairs

Absolute Immigration Group welcomes the new Office for Multicultural Affairs as a crucial step towards supporting Australia’s multicultural communities.
Read More

New Multi-Factor Authentication Requirements for ImmiAccount

From 18 June 2025, all ImmiAccount users must enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) using either an authenticator app or email token, as required by the Department of Home Affairs.
Read More

Visa processing delays impacting businesses and migrants

Employers and migrants are facing significant delays across a range of Australian visa categories, including the subclass 482 visa, subclass 400 visa, and permanent residence applications.
Read More
Read more resources

Our Services

Why Absolute

Location

Schedule a call

You can get in touch with the team on our support lines: 1300 227 658 or
+61 (03) 9827 3721. Alternatively, you can book a free 10 minute consultation through our Acuity Portal.

Schedule a Call

Stay connected

Subscribe to keep current with the latest immigration changes affecting your situation and industry.
Subscribe

Follow us

Follow us on our social media channels so you don’t miss an update
Linkedin-in Facebook-f Instagram Twitter

© Absolute Immigration 2019
MARN: 0108123 | Privacy Policy | Code of Conduct

Disclaimer: Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice and is provided for general information and education purposes only. Accordingly, before taking any actions based on such information, we encourage you to consult with one of our Migration Agents who are all bound by the MARA Code of Conduct.

Certain images featured on our website and social media accounts are credited to Freepik, NZ Story, Tourism Australia, and 100% Pure New Zealand.
Subscribe
download

About Sleek

Sleek.com is your one-stop shop for everything back office related, from setting up your company to handling day-to-day accounting, taxes, ASIC/ATO compliance, payroll and more – all on a single platform.

We take a human-first approach, using technology to tackle the boring stuff so you can focus on building your business. Our expert team is always here to give you personalised advice, with in-house tax experts who can handle your big questions.

With a presence in Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Hong Kong, we’ve gained the trust of over 450,000+ modern businesses, and are a team of 500 strong devoted to your success.

Free initial consultation with Sleek experts:

Get your free initial consultation with Sleek experts. Mention ‘Absolute Immigration’ and enjoy a free initial consultation and subsequent discounting.

Find out more