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Australia · Work

Australia Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494)

15 facts quoted from the official source

This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

Route type
Work
Can bring
—
Not stated in the official source
Requirements
6
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

6 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Age RequirementYou must be under 45 years of age when you apply for the visa.
  • Language requirementYou must meet minimum standards of English language proficiency.
  • Nomination RequiredYou must be nominated by an employer whose business is lawfully operating in Australia.
  • Relevant Work ExperienceYou must have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation.
  • Skills Assessment RequiredYou must have a relevant skills assessment, unless an exemption applies.
  • Sponsor RequiredYou must work only for your sponsor or associated entity, unless an exemption applies.
Also stated by the source
  • Eligibility summaryYou must be under 45 years of age when you apply for the visa.
  • Occupation List SourceThe Department publishes the current eligible skilled occupations and the visas for which each occupation is available.
  • Official Rights Textlive, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia for 5 years, travel to and from Australia for 5 years, if eligible, apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time we grant your visa.
  • Official source basisYou must be under 45 years of age when you apply for the visa.
  • Official StreamThe official page identifies the Employer Sponsored.
  • Report summaryYou must be under 45 years of age when you apply for the visa.
  • Visa SubclassThe official page identifies this route as subclass 494.
Family

Who you can bring

— Not stated in the official source. The official page for this route does not address dependent-family rights, so we do not publish a claim either way.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Fees
1 proven from the official source.
  • Official Cost TextFrom AUD6,140.00checked 2026-07-26
Validity
1 proven from the official source.
  • Official Stay Text5 years
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every Australia route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for the Subclass 494 to Australia?
The official source states: This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

Every answer is quoted from the official immi.homeaffairs.gov.au page for this route, last read 2026-07-26.

We checked 15 points against the official source; 15 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Processing time is not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source immi.homeaffairs.gov.auLast read 2026-07-26 Every quote on this page is from this Australia government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-26 · Our methodology
 · Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
Same category, same country

Other work routes to Australia

42 other work routes to Australia.

Crew Travel Authority (Subclass 942)Employer Nomination Scheme - Labour Agreement stream (Subclass 186)Employer Nomination Scheme - Temporary Residence Transition stream (Subclass 186)Employer Nomination Scheme visa - Direct Entry stream (Subclass 186)Labour agreement stream (Subclass 482)Maritime Crew visa (Subclass 988)
Same category, elsewhere

Work routes in other countries

224 other countries publish at least one work route. Nearest first.

New Zealand41 work routes Canada68 work routes Japan56 work routes Germany40 work routes Denmark30 work routes France30 work routes

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