494 visa - Best Australian Migration Agents

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494 visa Australia

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) is an excellent choice for skilled workers who are looking to build a future in Australia’s growing regional areas. It allows skilled workers to contribute to the regional workforce while offering a direct route to permanent residency.

It does’t matter if you’re applying from overseas or are already in Australia, the subclass 494 visa offers a secure and promising path to make Australia your long-term home.

494 visa Australia Eligibility

To apply for the visa 494, which is also known as the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, you must fulfil various important eligibility requirements. Your Work must be in an eligible skilled occupation listed for the 494 visa stream. This visa is for skilled workers who want to work and live in designated regional areas of Australia and have been nominated by an approved employer.

The subclass 494 visa helps regional employers to fill job vacancies with skilled migrants when no suitable Australian worker is available. It’s also a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 visa.

General Eligibility Criteria

You must meet the following to apply for the subclass 494 visa:

Be nominated by an approved Australian employer in a designated regional area.
Work in an eligible skilled occupation listed for the visa 494 stream.
Have a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation (unless exempt).
Be under 45 years of age at the time of application.
Meet English language requirements (usually Competent English).
Satisfy health and character checks required by the Department of Home Affairs.
Have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation.
Hold a suitable visa if applying from inside Australia, such as a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C visa.

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Include Family in 494 visa

The 494 visa offers one of the main benefits in allowing you to include qualified family members on your application. This means you don’t have to move to Australia alone—you can bring your loved ones with you. You can include your spouse or de facto partner, your dependent children and in some limited situations, even other dependent relatives. This makes the skilled employer sponsored regional provisional visa subclass 494 a great choice for families looking to start a new life in regional Australia.

To be eligible, your family members must meet the same health and character requirements set by the Department of Home Affairs. If you don’t take in them when you first apply, there’s still an option—they can submit a separate application later as subsequent entrants under the subclass 494 visa stream.

Once granted, the visa 494 gives your family the same rights as you.They can live, work and study in appointed regional areas of Australia, helping the whole family settle into a new community. Family members also get access to Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system, they can access basic health services. Additionally the visa allows multiple entries, so your family can travel in and out of Australia freely as long as the visa remains valid.

Where Can I Apply From?

You have the flexibility to apply for the subclass 494 visa from either inside or outside Australia; it depends on your current situation. If you’re already in Australia, you must be holding a valid substantive visa or a Bridging Visa A, B, or C at the time you submit your application. This makes sure that you’re legally staying in the country while your 494 visa is being processed.

If you’re applying from outside Australia, you must make sure you meet all the visa 494 requirements before starting your application. One of the most important conditions is that your sponsoring employer must be based in a designated regional area and approved to sponsor workers under the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional Visa subclass 494.

No matter where you’re applying from—whether you’re in Australia or overseas—the visa application process is the same. All applications must be submitted online using ImmiAccount, the official platform provided by the Department of Home Affairs.

This flexibility in application location makes the skilled employer-sponsored regional visa subclass 494 a practical option for skilled workers worldwide, as long as they meet all the eligibility and sponsorship conditions.

Permanent Residence

The Subclass 494 visa offers a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. To be eligible for permanent residency, you must:

Hold a 494 visa for at least 3 years.
Have a minimum taxable income of AUD 53,900* per year for 3 years.
Continue to live and work in designated regional areas.
Comply with all visa conditions.

Entitlements of the 494 Visa

The 494 visa gives you and your family Various rights while living in regional Australia. These include:

Stay in Australia for up to 5 years.
Live and work only in regional areas.
Include eligible family members in your visa.
Access Medicare for healthcare services.
Apply for permanent residency after 3 years.

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frequently asked questions

You can learn more from our asked questions

Can My Employer Sponsor Me for the 494 Visa?

Indeed, you could be nominated for the 494 visa should your company be authorized as a sponsor and are located in a certain Australian regional area. You must also meet the 494 visa requirements, such as having a valid skills assessment, English language proficiency and relevant work experience. This process helps skilled workers live and work in regional areas through the skilled employer sponsored regional provisional visa subclass 494.

Can I Change Jobs After Getting a 494 Visa?

If you’re granted a subclass 494 visa, you must work for your sponsoring employer for at least 3 years in the nominated position. Changing jobs without proper approval may breach your visa conditions. However, in special situations, you may be able to transfer sponsorship to another eligible regional employer. For Further deatils speak to a GIEC GLOBAL UK migration agent or the Department of Home Affairs before changing employment.

Is It Difficult to Get a 494 Visa in Australia?

Getting a 494 visa in Australia is not necessarily hard, but it does require careful preparation. You must meet requirements such as:

Being under 45 years of age

Having competent English

Holding a skills assessment for an eligible occupation

Securing sponsorship from an approved regional employer

If all these conditions are met, and your documentation is accurate, the visa 494 process can be smooth. For further hassle-free processing, contact the GIEC GLOBAL UK agent.

What Are the Different Streams Under the 494 Visa?

The 494 visa has three streams:

Employer Sponsored Stream – for skilled workers sponsored by an employer in a regional area.
Labour Agreement Stream – for workers whose employer has a labour agreement with the Australian Government.
Subsequent Entrant Stream – for family members of a 494 visa holder applying separately.

Each stream has different eligibility criteria and application processes, but all fall under the skilled employer sponsored regional visa subclass 494.

What If My Employer Is Asking Me to Pay for Sponsorship?

It is illegal for an employer to ask you to pay for visa sponsorship under Australian law. If your employer is making you repay visa costs or threatening your visa status, seek help from Fair Work Ombudsman or speak to GIEC GLOBAL UK registered migration agent. You are protected by Australian workplace laws, regardless of your visa status under the subclass 494.

Can a 494 Visa Lead to Permanent Residency in Australia?

Yes, the 494 visa is a pathway to permanent residency. After holding the visa for 3 years, you may be eligible to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa subclass 191. You must show you have lived and worked in a specific regional area and met income thresholds during your stay. This makes the skilled employer sponsored regional provisional visa subclass 494 an important step toward becoming a permanent resident in Australia.