Employer Nominated
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (subclass 494)
Navigating the migration process can feel overwhelming, but with MigrationBuro, you are never alone.
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa is a five-year provisional visa for workers sponsored by an employer in a regional area of Australia. It is available where the nominated position is in a designated regional area, which is everywhere in Australia outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and it leads to permanent residence via the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after three years of living and working in a regional area.
The 494 has a broader occupation list than the Skills in Demand (482) visa, making it accessible for some occupations that fall outside the standard CSOL. For regional employers in Toowoomba, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, and other regional Queensland areas, the 494 is often the stronger pathway because of its direct route to permanent residence.
WHO THE 494 IS RIGHT FOR
Employers with a regional position: businesses whose nominated role is located in a designated regional area, outside Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and that cannot access the standard 482 for a particular occupation, or that want to offer sponsored workers a clearer permanent residence pathway.
Workers on regional pathways: skilled workers who are prepared to live and work in a regional area for three years in exchange for permanent residence via the 191. The regional requirement is genuine and enforceable.
The 494 occupation list is broader than the 482 CSOL. Confirm current occupation list eligibility with MigrationBuro, occupation lists are updated periodically.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SUBCLASS 494 VISA
Step 1 Confirm regional eligibility
The nominated position must be located in a designated regional area; where the business is registered does not decide it. The nominated occupation must be on the relevant 494 occupation list, and the worker needs at least three years of full-time experience in that occupation. Confirm all three before proceeding.
Step 2 Standard Business Sponsorship
The employer registers as an approved sponsor. The SBS process is the same for 494 as for 482.
Regional Certifying Body advice. The nomination is referred to the Regional Certifying Body for the area for its advice before the Department decides it; we prepare that submission with the nomination.
Step 3 Nomination
The occupation is nominated at or above the relevant salary threshold. Labour Market Testing is required for most 494 nominations.
Step 4 Visa application
For current processing times, use the Department’s visa processing time guide, which shows recently decided applications. Regional area and condition details checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 10 October 2026.
Step 5 Three years regional, then apply for 191 PR
The worker must live and work in the regional area for the full three years. After that, apply for the subclass 191 permanent residence visa.
Speak to a Migration agent
Call 1300 VISA OZ (1300 8472 69) to discuss your visa or sponsorship options. Available Monday to Friday. Zoom consultations take 45-60 minutes and give you a clear answer on what is achievable.
Prefer to start in writing? Email info@migrationburo.com.au with the role title, the occupation, and the candidate's nationality and qualifications.
Your Australian Visa application
Some frequently asked questions
Answers to some questions we often hear from people in your situation.
What is the 494 occupation list?
The 494 has a combined occupation list that includes CSOL occupations plus additional occupations available only in regional areas. The full list is on the Home Affairs website. Confirm your occupation code with MigrationBuro before starting any application.
Is the 494 faster to PR than the 186 TRT pathway?
The 494 to 191 pathway requires three years holding the provisional visa. The 482 to 186 TRT requires two years on the 482. On a pure timeline, the 186 TRT route to PR can be faster, but the 494 is available for a broader occupation list and does not depend on where the employer is based; what matters is that the position is in a designated regional area.
The 191 visa application does not require a new skills assessment. It requires evidence of regional residence and income (three ATO Notices of Assessment) from the 494 period.
What happens if the employer closes or relocates?
If the sponsored employment ends, the worker has a limited period under the visa conditions, up to 180 consecutive days, to find a new regional sponsor, apply for another visa or leave Australia. Contact us before that period starts.
What is the difference between a 482 and a 186 visa?
Migration experience you can trust
MigrationBuro are your trusted migration agents in Brisbane. Founded and led by Andrew Heathcote, we specialise in Australian immigration services. Registered since 2008, Andrew is a registered migration agent (MARN 0850840) and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia, ensuring expert guidance through every step of the immigration process.
