Live and work in regional Australia sponsored by an approved employer, with a pathway to 191 permanent residency.
Visa type
5-year provisional
Live and work in a designated regional area
PR pathway
191 after 3 years
Hold the visa 3 years + ATO tax records
Occupations
Broader list
Wider than 482 Core Skills
The subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa is a provisional (temporary) visa granted for up to 5 years. It lets a skilled worker live and work in a designated regional area of Australia, sponsored by an approved regional employer.
The former Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) is now closed to new applications, and the 494 is the current regional employer sponsored pathway. The key difference from the 482 and 186 is geographic: the 494 is tied to regional Australia — and many postcodes across South East Queensland, including parts of Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich, fall within the designated regional area — with its permanent pathway running through the subclass 191. We confirm whether your specific postcode qualifies.
For employers and workers in and around regional Queensland, the 494 can open up a broader occupation list than the 482 Core Skills stream. Because the regional postcode rules and thresholds are set by the Department and updated periodically, the details below link back to the Department of Home Affairs.
Read the official overview on the Department of Home Affairs, or see the regional visas overview.
Most applicants come through the standard Employer Sponsored stream. We confirm which fits your case.
The standard pathway — a regional employer nominates you for a skilled position. By far the most common way onto the 494.
For workers sponsored by a regional employer that holds a labour agreement with the Australian Government — where concessions may apply.
What makes the regional pathway different — and who it suits.
You must live and work in a designated regional area while holding the 494. We confirm your location and employer qualify.
After holding an eligible visa for 3 years and providing ATO notices of assessment for 3 income years, you may apply for permanent residency via subclass 191. There is no minimum income requirement.
The 494 draws on a broader regional occupation list than the 482 Core Skills stream, opening options for more workers.
Partner and dependent children can live, work and study with you in the regional area.
The 494 is provisional — but it is built as a runway to permanent residency in regional Australia.
Years 1-3
Hold your 494 and work in your nominated role in a designated regional area.
ATO records
Provide ATO notices of assessment for 3 income years within your 5-year eligible visa period. No minimum income applies.
After 3 yrs
Apply for the subclass 191 permanent visa — Australia’s regional PR pathway.
PR granted
Once 191 is granted, the regional restriction lifts — you can live and work anywhere in Australia.
There is no minimum income requirement — you provide ATO notices of assessment for 3 of the 5 years. See the official subclass 191 page, or ask us to map your timeline.
End-to-end support from nomination to your 191 PR pathway
We confirm your occupation, regional location and employer eligibility.
Where required, we guide your skills assessment with the relevant authority.
We prepare and lodge the regional employer’s nomination.
We prepare and lodge your 494 application with full supporting documents.
We map your path to 191 permanent residency after meeting regional requirements.
Government charges split into two sides — and by law the employer’s costs cannot be passed to you.
Government fees are indexed periodically. We give you a written, itemised estimate for your situation — or try our sponsorship cost estimator.
Answer a few questions and we will tell you if you qualify for the 494 regional visa.
Related Visas
📍 Serving South East Queensland — Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Logan and Toowoomba. Remote consultations for clients across Australia and overseas, including the Philippines, China, India, Malaysia and Singapore.
The subclass 494 is a provisional (temporary) visa that lets skilled workers live and work in regional Australia, sponsored by an approved regional employer. It provides a pathway to permanent residency via the subclass 191 visa.
Book a consultation or start with a free AI assessment — our MARA registered specialists will guide you.