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If a regional employer has offered you a job in Australia, understanding every Subclass 494 Visa Requirement before you apply can save you months of delay. This guide breaks the visa down into a simple checklist — eligibility, documents, fees, and processing time — all in one place.
What Is the Subclass 494 Visa?
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 494 lets a regional Australian employer sponsor a skilled worker for up to five years. It’s a direct pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa after three years.
Unlike the Subclass 482, this visa only allows you to live, work and study in a designated regional area — which covers most of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Cities like Adelaide, Perth, Gold Coast and Canberra all count as regional under this program.
What Is the Basic Subclass 494 Visa Requirement Checklist?
You’ll need employer sponsorship, a skills assessment, competent English, and to be under the age limit at the time of application.
Here’s the full checklist:
- Employer nomination – A regional employer approved as a sponsor must nominate you for an eligible role.
- Occupation on the relevant list – Your job must appear on the skilled occupation list that applies to the 494 visa.
- Positive skills assessment – From the relevant assessing authority for your nominated occupation.
- Competent English – Usually IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) in each band, unless you’re exempt.
- Age limit – You must generally be under 45 years old at the time of application.
- Health and character checks – Medical exams and police clearances from every country you’ve lived in.
- Salary meeting the threshold – Your pay must meet or exceed both the TSMIT and the market salary rate for the role.
Who Can Sponsor You Under the 494 Visa?
Only businesses approved as regional sponsors by the Department of Home Affairs can nominate you — either through the standard Employer Sponsored stream or the Labour Agreement stream, where the employer holds a current labour agreement with the government.
What Documents Do You Need to Meet the Subclass 494 Visa Requirement?
Quick answer: You’ll need identity documents, a skills assessment, English test results, employment references, and health and police checks.
| Document Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Identity | Passport, birth certificate, national ID |
| Skills | Skills assessment, qualification certificates, transcripts |
| Employment | Reference letters, payslips, employment contract |
| English | IELTS, PTE or equivalent test results |
| Health & Character | Medical exam, police clearance certificates |
| Employer documents | Nomination approval, labour market testing evidence |
Getting these ready before your employer lodges the nomination is one of the easiest ways to avoid delays.
How Long Does 494 Visa Processing Take in 2026?
From nomination lodgement to visa grant, most applications are finalised within 6 to 12 months, though this varies case by case.
Processing happens in two stages:
- Nomination stage: Usually 3 to 6 months, depending on how complete the employer’s documentation is.
- Visa application stage: Lodged once nomination is approved; most decisions follow within a further few months.
Applications with missing documents, unclear labour market testing, or incomplete health checks tend to take longer. A decision-ready application is genuinely the biggest factor within your control.
What Does the Subclass 494 Visa Cost in 2026?
Quick answer: The base visa application charge starts from around AUD 6,140, plus a one-off SAF levy paid by the employer at nomination stage.
| Visa | Sponsor Type | Base Application Charge | PR Pathway | Regional Only? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 494 | Regional employer | From ~AUD 6,140 | Subclass 191 (3 years) | Yes |
| Subclass 482 | Any employer | From ~AUD 5,000+ | Subclass 186 (varies) | No |
| Subclass 491 | State/territory or family | Points-tested, lower charge | Subclass 191 (3 years) | Yes |
Fees change regularly — always confirm the current amount on the Department of Home Affairs website before lodging.
The SAF levy for the 494 visa is paid once by the employer, unlike the Subclass 482 where it’s charged annually. By law, employers can’t pass this cost on to you or deduct it from your wages.
What’s the Latest Policy Update Affecting the Subclass 494 Visa Requirement?
From 1 July 2026, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) for 494 nominations rose to AUD 79,423 per year.
This means your nominated salary now needs to meet or exceed this new threshold, along with the market salary rate for your specific role and location. If your offer was negotiated before this date, it’s worth checking with your employer that the salary still clears the updated bar.
How Do You Meet the Subclass 494 Visa Requirement for a PR Pathway?
After holding the 494 visa for three years and meeting income requirements while working in a regional area, you become eligible to apply for the Subclass 191.
Since 1 July 2024, 494 visa holders who lose their job get up to 180 days at a time (365 days total across the visa) to find a new regional sponsor, and can work for other employers during that search.
Thinking about applying? Talk to a Registered Migration Agent first
Every Subclass 494 Visa Requirement above sounds simple on paper, but small errors in labour market testing, salary benchmarking, or skills assessment paperwork are exactly what cause refusals and long delays. Before your employer lodges anything, get your documents reviewed by a licensed expert so nothing gets missed.
Ready to check your eligibility?
Every regional employer and occupation is different, so the safest way to confirm you meet every Subclass 494 Visa Requirement is a proper eligibility check. As a Best Immigration Agent Perth applicants trust, our team can review your documents, salary, and occupation before you lodge — book a consultation today and apply with confidence.
FAQs
1. What is the minimum salary for the Subclass 494 visa in 2026?
Your nominated salary must meet or exceed the TSMIT of AUD 79,423 (from 1 July 2026) and the market salary rate for your role, whichever is higher.
2. Is there an age limit for the Subclass 494 visa?
Yes, applicants generally need to be under 45 years old at the time of application, with limited exemptions.
3. Can I include my partner and children in my 494 visa application?
Yes. Your partner (including de facto) and dependent children under 18 (or under 23 in some cases) can be included as secondary applicants.
4. How is the Subclass 494 different from the Subclass 482?
The 494 only allows work in designated regional areas and leads to permanent residency through the Subclass 191, while the 482 covers metro areas too and has a different PR pathway.
5. Can I change employers on a 494 visa?
Yes, but your new employer must also be an approved regional sponsor. Get advice before switching, since it can affect your PR timeline.
6. Do I need a skills assessment for every occupation?
Most nominated occupations require a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority, though a few are exempt — check your specific occupation before applying.
