Live and work in regional Australia for up to 5 years with a direct pathway to permanent residency. We manage your entire Subclass 494 visa application—from Regional Certifying Body (RCB) advice and employer nomination compliance to skills assessment guidance and formal Department lodgement.
The Subclass 494 is a regional employer-sponsored visa designed to address labor shortages outside major Australian cities. To qualify, both the sponsoring regional employer and the skilled professional must meet strict statutory criteria.
You must be sponsored by an actively operating Australian business located strictly within a designated regional area of Australia.
Your occupation must be included on the relevant Regional Employer Sponsored Skilled Occupation List for the Subclass 494 program.
You must demonstrate at least three years of full-time, relevant skilled work experience in your nominated occupation before applying.
You must hold a valid, positive Skills Assessment for your nominated occupation at the time the visa application is lodged.
You must achieve at least Competent English test scores (e.g., IELTS 6.0 across all bands or equivalent PTE) unless an official exemption applies.
You must be under 45 years of age at the time of visa application lodgement, unless you qualify for specific legislative age exemptions.
Avoid Common Disqualifying Mistakes: Sponsoring a role without obtaining prior salary certification from the local Regional Certifying Body (RCB), offering a salary below statutory income thresholds, or submitting employment references that fail to prove three full years of post-qualification experience are leading causes of 494 nomination and visa refusals.
We manage the three-stage regional application workflow—protecting employers from statutory compliance pitfalls while preparing a complete evidentiary case for the applicant.
We audit the regional business location, benchmark the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), and prepare the application for local RCB advice.
We guide skilled professionals through their formal qualification and employment evaluation with authorized Australian assessing bodies.
We apply for or confirm active Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) status for the regional employer with the Department of Home Affairs.
We lodge the official employer nomination linked to the approved RCB certification and manage Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy compliance.
We submit the applicant's complete visa documentation and map out the 3-year regional residency timeline required for Subclass 191 PR.
A successful regional employer-sponsored application requires structured documentation from both the sponsoring regional business and the skilled applicant.
We believe in transparent budgeting so both sponsoring regional employers and skilled professionals understand government application charges and professional fees.
This is the standard government visa application charge for a primary applicant. The employer also pays nomination fees, RCB assessment charges, and the SAF levy.
* Fees are set by the Department and subject to change — confirm current fees during your initial assessment.
Our professional service fees are tailored to the specific complexity of your case. We evaluate your unique profile and corporate sponsorship structure before providing a clear quotation.
* Our fee covers RCB certification advice, employer nomination preparation, Skills Assessment guidance, and full visa representation.
Processing times apply from the date of nomination and visa lodgement. Regional employer-sponsored applications often benefit from priority Departmental allocation.
* Clean, decision-ready applications with complete RCB, corporate, and individual evidence tend to be processed significantly faster.
The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa involves a unique three-tier approval structure that makes it significantly more complex than standard metropolitan work visas. Before the Department of Home Affairs even considers an employer's nomination, the position and salary must be evaluated and certified by a local Regional Certifying Body (RCB) operating within that specific regional jurisdiction.
A frequent cause of nomination refusal or visa rejection is failing to satisfy the RCB that the offered Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) is genuine, or submitting applicant employment references that do not legally substantiate three full years of post-qualification experience. If the employer's nomination is rejected, the applicant's visa application cannot proceed.
As registered MARN professionals, we represent both sponsoring regional Australian employers and skilled workers. We conduct thorough pre-lodgement audits of RCB salary criteria, corporate financials, and individual work histories to ensure complete compliance with Australian Migration Regulations—establishing a secure bridge toward permanent residency.
Clear, direct answers regarding the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa program.
The Subclass 482 is a general temporary employer-sponsored work visa that can be used across metropolitan and regional Australia, whereas the Subclass 494 is specifically designed for designated regional areas and requires Regional Certifying Body (RCB) advice. The 494 is a 5-year provisional visa with a direct legislative pathway to permanent residency via Subclass 191 after three years.
Yes. Unlike some temporary employer-sponsored visas, primary applicants under the Employer Sponsored stream of the Subclass 494 visa must hold a valid, positive Skills Assessment for their nominated occupation at the time of application, unless an official exemption applies.
Before the Department of Home Affairs approves an employer's 494 nomination, the position must be assessed by the local Regional Certifying Body (RCB). The RCB verifies that the offered Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) is genuine and comparable to what an Australian worker would earn in that regional location.
After holding the Subclass 494 visa and living and working in a designated regional area of Australia for at least three years, you become eligible to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191) without needing a second employer nomination.
Yes. If you cease working for your sponsoring employer, you generally have up to 180 days to find a new eligible regional employer to take over your sponsorship before your visa is subject to cancellation.
Yes. Included family members receive full work and study rights in Australia, provided they also live, work, and study strictly within a designated regional area.
Speak directly with registered MARN migration agents in Melbourne. Send us a message on WhatsApp to discuss regional employer sponsorship, RCB advice, and PR eligibility.