The Subclass 494 visa is an Australian employer-sponsored regional visa that can allow eligible skilled workers to stay for five years and include eligible family members. This 2026 guide explains the main requirements, the family arrangements and the checks to make before applying.
The visa’s official name is the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa. It requires an eligible employer nomination and is limited to designated regional areas. It is not a job offer, a free migration programme or an automatic grant of permanent residence.
Information checked against Australian Department of Home Affairs guidance on 9 November 2026. Rules, charges and processing estimates can change. This article provides general information, not personalised migration advice.
Subclass 494 visa at a glance
- Country: Australia.
- Visa type: Employer-sponsored, regional and provisional.
- Stay: Five years from the date the visa is granted.
- Main work requirement: An approved employer nomination for an eligible occupation.
- Location: Designated regional Australia. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are excluded.
- Family: Eligible members of the family unit may be included, subject to the applicable requirements.
- Closing date: This is a visa pathway, not an annual scholarship or recruitment call. Check the current application rules and nomination requirements before lodging.
How the Australia five-year regional work visa works
The Employer Sponsored stream helps regional employers fill skilled positions when they cannot find a suitably skilled Australian worker. The employer nominates an eligible position, and the worker must separately meet the visa requirements.
Holding this visa generally means working for the sponsoring employer or an associated entity, unless an exemption applies. Regional residence and work conditions also matter. A job title alone does not establish eligibility: the occupation, employer nomination, location and applicant’s evidence must all fit the relevant rules.
Home Affairs also lists a Labour Agreement stream. Its requirements depend on the relevant agreement. Applicants should select the correct stream rather than assume that every employer-sponsored role follows identical criteria.
Who can apply for the Employer Sponsored stream?
Home Affairs lists requirements that generally include:
- Being nominated by an approved work sponsor for an eligible occupation.
- Being under 45 when applying, unless an exemption applies.
- Having the required skills and usually at least three years of relevant work experience.
- Obtaining a suitable skills assessment where required.
- Meeting the applicable English-language standard.
- Meeting health, character and other visa requirements.
Exemptions are specific. Do not assume that a qualification, nationality or years of employment automatically removes an age, English or assessment requirement. Read the official eligibility section for your circumstances and seek advice from a suitably authorised migration professional if you need an individual assessment.
Can you include your family?
The main applicant may include eligible members of the family unit in the visa application. Home Affairs also allows a dependent child to be added after an application is submitted but before a decision is made, subject to its rules.
Family applicants must meet the relevant health and character requirements. Some family members who are not applying may also need to satisfy specified checks. The phrase “with family” therefore does not mean that every relative can be added or that family approval is guaranteed.
There is a separate Subclass 494 subsequent-entrant stream for eligible family members joining a visa holder later. Check that stream’s evidence and conditions rather than using the main applicant’s checklist unchanged.
Visa costs and practical planning
This pathway is not advertised by Home Affairs as fully funded. Visa application charges apply, and the amount can depend on the applicants included and any applicable concessions. Additional expenses may include skills assessment, English testing, health examinations, police certificates and document preparation.
Use the current charges and cost guidance on the official stream page before paying. A family’s overall budget should also allow for relocation and living costs. Employer assistance, if offered, should be confirmed in writing rather than assumed from the existence of sponsorship.
Before committing money, make a checklist of the position, regional location, nomination arrangements, qualifications, work-history evidence and family documents. Keep copies of the information supplied and check that names and dates are consistent across documents.
How to start your application
- Read the correct official stream page. Check eligibility, visa conditions, costs and the step-by-step process.
- Confirm the employer nomination. Establish whether the proposed occupation, employer and location meet the rules.
- Prepare the evidence requested. Follow the official checklist for identity, skills, experience, English, health, character and any accompanying family members.
- Use the official application route. Follow Home Affairs instructions for lodging through ImmiAccount and paying the applicable charges.
- Respond to any requests. Monitor the application and supply further information through the official channel if requested.
Processing-time information is a guide, not a promised decision date. Avoid making irreversible travel or employment commitments on the assumption that a visa will be granted by a particular day.
Check eligibility and apply through Home Affairs
Can a Subclass 494 visa lead to permanent residence?
Home Affairs says eligible holders may be able to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa, subclass 191, after holding the relevant visa for three years. This is a separate application with its own requirements. Permanent residence is not automatic, and the five-year subclass 494 visa cannot simply be extended.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Subclass 494 visa a guaranteed Australian job?
No. It is a visa pathway linked to an eligible employer nomination. Applicants still need the relevant position and must meet the visa requirements.
Can I live anywhere in Australia?
No. This is a regional visa. Check the designated regional areas and the conditions attached to the visa before choosing where to live or work.
Is there a single 2026 application deadline?
The official guidance describes a visa process rather than one annual intake. An employer’s vacancy may have its own deadline, which is separate from the visa requirements.
Can eligible family members apply with me?
Yes, eligible family-unit members may be included, subject to their own requirements. A subsequent-entrant pathway is also available for eligible family members joining later.
Does five years on this visa guarantee permanent residence?
No. Any later permanent-residence application must meet the rules of the relevant visa at that time.
Official sources
- Department of Home Affairs: Subclass 494 visa overview
- Employer Sponsored stream: eligibility, conditions, costs and application steps
- Subsequent-entrant stream for eligible family members
Opportunities Feed is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with the Australian Government. Always use the official Home Affairs website to confirm the latest requirements.
For more preparation resources, explore the Opportunities Feed career advice collection.
