Subclass 494

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, subclass 494, is an Australian visa that allows regional employers to sponsor skilled workers to fill genuine, full-time positions where they can't find a suitable Australian worker. It's a provisional visa that can lead to permanent residency after meeting specific requirements, including working and living in the designated regional area for a certain period.

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Key Facts

General Info

Fees $4,910

Location Onshore / Offshore

Age Requirement Under 45

Visa Status

Visa Type Temporary Visa

Medium and Long term Employer Sponsored Stream

Further Requirements

✓ Occupation: Nominated proposed occupation must be approved under 140GB.

✓ Skill Assessment: YES — Must be obtained within the last 3 years.

✓ Work Experience: 3 years of relevant professional experience required.

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Subclass 494: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa represents Australia's commitment to regional development. It allows regional employers to sponsor skilled workers for positions they cannot fill locally.

Goal: Serves as a 5-year provisional visa that acts as a direct stepping stone to Permanent Residency (after living/working in the region for a specified period).

Governing Legislation: Item 1242 of Class PE. Key instruments include LIN 19/211 (Arrangements), LIN 19/260 (Assessing Authorities), and LIN 19/216 (Exemptions).

Key Features & Requirements

Visa Type

Cost: $4,770 (Application Fee)
Type: Provisional (Pathway to PR)
Lodgement: Onshore or Offshore

Age Limit

Applicants must be under 45 years of age at the time of application to ensure long-term contribution to regional areas.

Skills & Experience

Assessment: Mandatory positive skills assessment (valid for 3 years).
Experience: Minimum 3 years of relevant work experience required.

English Language

Must demonstrate Competent English proficiency (e.g., at least 6.0 in each component of IELTS or equivalent).

Available Streams

The visa offers flexibility through multiple streams:

Employer Sponsored
Labour Agreement
Regional Stream
Medium & Long-term Stream

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) Visa – Subclass 494

If an Australian employer wants to bring in an overseas worker through the SESR visa (Subclass 494), the process generally unfolds in three key stages: Sponsorship, Nomination, and Visa Application.

Understanding how these steps connect makes the journey smoother for both employers and prospective visa holders.

Becoming an Approved Sponsor

Before anything else, the employer needs to be recognized as an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS).

✅ Good News: If you already sponsor workers under the TSS visa program, your existing SBS approval carries over to SESR automatically!

Nominating the Right Occupation

Once sponsorship is in place, the employer nominates a specific occupation. This can be for a future applicant or an existing visa holder already working with them.

Crucial: The nomination determines which "stream" of the visa the applicant will apply under.

Applying for the Visa

With an approved nomination in hand, the overseas worker can submit their SESR visa application.

The application must align with the exact stream identified during the nomination stage.

What About the Labour Agreement Stream?

Different Process: Instead of a standard sponsorship application, the employer negotiates and signs a formal Labour Agreement directly with the Australian Government.

Note: The nomination and visa application steps still apply; the agreement simply replaces the standard sponsorship stage.

For Existing SESR Visa Holders

If you are already on an SESR visa and considering a change, the rules differ significantly depending on the type of change:

Changing Employers

You can switch to a new employer without applying for a brand-new visa (provided your current visa isn't expiring).

Requirement: You must wait for the new employer's nomination to be approved before you start working for them.

Changing Occupations

Changing to a different occupation requires a new nomination AND a new SESR visa to be granted before you start.

Warning: Working in a different occupation without completing this process is a breach of Condition 8608, which has serious consequences.

Who Can Lodge a Nomination?

How Are Nominations Lodged?

Form 494N

Standard Lodgement

In most cases, nominations must be submitted online using Form 494N.

Paper-Based Exceptions

A paper alternative is only available in strictly limited circumstances (e.g., system outages when a visa is expiring).

⚠️ Requirement: The Department of Home Affairs must have explicitly authorized the paper submission.

"Understanding the SESR visa process from start to finish is essential. Whether you're a business filling a critical skills gap or an overseas worker exploring your options, getting the steps right from the beginning can save significant time and avoid complications down the track."

Additional Requirements for the SESR Visa

Navigating the SESR (Subclass 494) visa involves more than just ticking the basic boxes. Depending on the stream, there are specific eligibility requirements that must be met before approval.

Labour Agreement (LA) Stream

If lodging under this stream, decision makers must verify the following extra conditions:

Listed Occupation: The occupation must be specifically listed in the labour agreement as one the sponsor is permitted to nominate.
Conditions Met: All other conditions outlined in the specific labour agreement must be fulfilled.
Within the Cap: The total number of approved nominations for the year must be within the set limit.

⚠️ Nomination Cap Limit:
Once the limit set in the labour agreement is reached, no further nominations can be approved for that year.

The Nominator Must Be an Approved Sponsor

A fundamental requirement for lodging an SESR nomination is holding the correct type of approved sponsor status. This differs by stream:

Employer Sponsored (ES) Stream

The employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS).

🚫 Restriction: Overseas Business Sponsors (OBS) are not eligible to nominate under this stream.

Labour Agreement (LA) Stream

The employer must be a party to a formally signed work agreement that specifically authorizes them to recruit or employ someone as an SESR visa holder.

What This Means in Practice

✅ Status: Approved If the employer already holds approved SBS status (excluding OBS) or has an approved labour agreement, the nomination proceeds through assessment without delay.

⏳ Status: Pending If the SBS application or labour agreement request is still pending, the nomination is put on hold. It cannot be decided until the sponsorship outcome is finalized.

❌ Status: Refused or Withdrawn If the sponsorship application is refused or withdrawn, the nomination must also be refused (unless previously withdrawn by the employer).

Note: No procedural fairness letter will be sent in this case, as the applicant is considered aware of the refusal.

Position Must Be in a Designated Regional Area

A core requirement of the SESR visa is that the nominated position must be located in a designated regional area of Australia at the time the nomination is lodged.

This visa is specifically designed to direct skilled workers to parts of Australia that need them most.

✅ Eligible Regional Areas

Basically everywhere else!

All other cities
Regional towns
Remote locations
Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra, etc.

🚫 Excluded Cities

You cannot be sponsored in these major metropolitan centers:

Sydney
Melbourne
Brisbane

"Under current rules, all of Australia qualifies as a designated regional area, except for Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane."

Nominated Occupation Must Be on the Approved List

Getting the occupation right is crucial. The rules differ slightly between the two streams:

Automatic Check

Employer Sponsored (ES)

The occupation (and 6-digit ANZSCO code) must appear on the relevant legislative instrument.

How it works: The online system usually handles this automatically by preventing lodgement if the occupation isn't on the list.

Manual Check

Labour Agreement (LA)

Decision makers must manually confirm that the occupation is specifically listed in the relevant labour agreement.

How it works: A hands-on check is required because every agreement is individually negotiated.

Important Points to Note

No Task Comparison: At this stage, decision makers do not assess if job tasks match the ANZSCO description—they only check if the occupation is on the list.
Genuineness Check: Concerns about whether the role is "real" are handled separately under the "genuineness assessment," not here.
Caveats & Conditions: If an occupation has a caveat or specific condition, decision makers must confirm it applies correctly to the nominee.

💡 Pro Tip: Getting these details right prevents unnecessary delays. If you're unsure whether your role meets the criteria, seeking advice from a registered migration agent is always a smart first step.

Subclass 494 — Frequently Asked Questions

1 What is the Subclass 494 visa?

The Subclass 494 is a 5-year provisional visa that allows regional Australian employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers for genuine full-time positions they cannot fill locally — with a direct pathway to Permanent Residency.

2 What is the age limit for the 494 visa?

Applicants must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.

3 How much does the Subclass 494 visa cost?

The primary applicant visa application fee is $4,910. Employers must also pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy separately.

4 Does the 494 visa lead to permanent residency?

Yes. After holding the 494 visa and living and working in a regional area for at least 3 years, you can apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residency visa.

5 What English level is required for the 494 visa?

Competent English is required — at least 6.0 in each band of IELTS, or an equivalent score in PTE, TOEFL, or OET.

6 Do I need a skills assessment for the 494 visa?

Yes. A positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority is mandatory and must be valid — obtained within the last 3 years.

7 How much work experience is required for the 494 visa?

A minimum of 3 years of relevant full-time work experience in your nominated occupation is required.

8 Which cities are excluded from the regional requirement?

Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are excluded. All other locations — including Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, and Canberra — qualify as designated regional areas.

9 Can I change employers on a 494 visa?

Yes, but you must wait until the new employer's nomination is approved before starting work with them.

10 How long does 494 visa processing take?

Most straightforward applications are processed within a few months. Complex cases may take longer depending on the Department of Home Affairs workload and documentation completeness.