494 Visa | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)

The 494 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. The SESR Visa will be valid for five years and visa holders can live, study and work in a specified regional area. Additionally, eligible family members can be included in the application. The 494 visa does not grant immediate permanent residency. You can, however, apply for the Skilled Regional Permanent Residency Visa (Subclass 191) once you meet certain eligibility criteria.

What are the requirements for the 494 Visa?

The 494 Visa application process is made up of three important stages:

1. Sponsorship by the employer

To sponsor someone for the 494 Visa, the business must first apply and be approved as a sponsor (Employer Sponsored stream), or have a labour agreement in place (Labour Agreement stream) that includes an option for permanent residence under this visa program. The business must pay the Skilling Australian funds levy when they submit a nomination application (see below for cost breakdown).

The business must be an approved standard business sponsor to sponsor an overseas applicant to come work under the Employer Sponsored stream. If the business is already standard business sponsor, then they can apply for accredited status. An accredited sponsor will receive priority when their 482 or 494 Visa nominations and applications are processed by the DHA.

Under the Labour Agreement stream, the sponsor must currently have a labour agreement in place with the Australian Government, and have met any nomination requirements specified under the agreement. Furthermore, the business must have no adverse information regarding it or any person associated with it and the business have complied with Australian immigration and workplace relations laws.

2. Nomination by the employer

To nominate a position under the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (494 Visa), Employer Sponsored stream, the employer must:

nominate the overseas worker in an occupation from the relevant skilled occupations list.
prove that there is a genuine need for a full-time position to be filled within the business, which cannot be filled by an Australian worker.
pay the nominee at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for the role if the nominee will be paid an annual salary of less than AU$250,000. The determined AMSR must be at least as much as the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). The TSMIT is AU$76,515 for nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
show the terms of employment are no less favourable than those that would apply to an equivalent Australian worker.
undertake labour market testing for the nominated position if the occupation is not exempt.
contribute to the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. A business with a turnover less than $10 million has to pay a one-off fee of $3,000 per nomination for a SESR visa (Subclass 494). A large business with a turnover of more than $10 million will pay $5,000 per nomination.
have no adverse information associated with the business.

Please see above for more information about nomination under the Labour Agreement stream of the SESR Visa.

3. Visa application

To apply for a visa under the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494), the applicant must meet the requirements under either the employer sponsored stream or the labour agreement stream.

Employer Sponsored stream

The applicant must:

be under 45 years of age at the time of application, unless exemptions apply.
be nominated by an approved sponsor.
have an employer who is willing to offer you a permanent position in a skilled occupation on the applicable occupation list.
have a valid skills assessment in your occupation, unless exempt.
have three years relevant employment experience in your nominated occupation on a full-time basis. Generally, this experience should have been gained within the last 5 years. The period does not need to be continuous.
have competent English.
meet health and character requirements.

Labour Agreement Stream

The applicant:

must be working under a labour agreement.
must be under 45 years of age at the time of application, unless the labour agreement states otherwise.
have an employer who is willing to offer you a permanent position in an occupation specified in the work agreement.
have a relevant skills assessment for your occupation, if this is specified in the labour agreement.
have three years relevant employment experience on a full-time basis in your nominated occupation. Generally, this experience should have been gained within the last 5 years. The period does not need to be continuous.
may be required to demonstrate that you have the necessary skills to perform tasks in your nominated occupation.
have the necessary English language skills suitable the occupation, as specified in the labour agreement.
meet health and character requirements.

What obligations do you have to meet if granted this visa?

If you are granted the 494 Visa, you need to meet the following obligations:

live, work and study in the designated regional area for at least three years.

If you do not comply with the conditions of your visa:

your visa and those of any accompanying family members may be cancelled.
you will not be able to apply for the Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 191).

What are the costs associated with applying for this visa?

We have outlined the fees that are most likely to be incurred in Australian Dollars. Fees can increase without notice, so the fees can vary at the time of application.

Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Visa Application fees – $ 4,910 (for primary applicant), $2,455 (for each secondary applicant over 18), $1,230 (for each secondary applicant under 18)
Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy – $3,000 per nomination per year (for businesses with annual turnover less than $10 million) or $5,000 per nomination per year (businesses with annual turnover over $10 million)
Skills Assessment Application fees – $395 to $1,450 for most occupations
IELTS or PTE Academic – IELTS $460 (GST if applicable) or PTE $460
Medical Examination fees – as applicable
Police Clearance Certificate – as applicable
Regional certifying body fees – may be applicable
Translations/Certifications – as applicable
Credit card processing fees for DHA – as applicable

How long will the application process take?

There are a range of different factors that determines how long it takes for the 494 Visa to be granted. The skills assessment application process can take 10 days to a few months depending on the skills assessing authority. For current visa processing times please refer to the information on the Department of Home Affairs website.

What are the benefits of this visa?

The 494 Visa allows you and your dependents to:

temporarily live, study and work in a designated regional area in Australia for up to 5 years.
travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid.
apply for permanent residence through the Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 191) after three years from the time the 494 visa was granted if certain conditions have been met.

How we can help you?

Better Life Migration can assist you with the whole process from start to finish. Call us on 0415 419 414 for more information on how we can better assist you in making your dreams of a better life in Australia a reality.

Purchase Services