Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
Visa Cost
AUD 4,910
Processing Time
About 3-8 months (50%) / 8-18 months (90%)
Eligibility
- Sponsored by a regional employer
- The occupation is on the relevant skills list
- At least 3 years of relevant work experience
- English at IELTS 6 in all four bands or equivalent
- Under 45 years of age
Key Information
Validity / Stay / Residence
Provisional, valid 5 years; you must live, work and study in a designated regional area (excluding Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Perth).
Eligible Dependants
You can bring the spouse/de facto partner and dependent children; for 191, only the primary applicant or the partner needs to meet the 3-year income requirement.
PR / Permanent Residence Pathway
After living and working in a designated area on a 494 visa for 3 years, with taxable income meeting the threshold (about AUD 53,900 per year) in 3 tax years, you can apply for the 191 regional skilled permanent visa (no employer sponsorship required); once 191 is granted you are a permanent resident.
View provisional-to-permanent transition overview →Common Visa Conditions
Full explanations of condition codes are in the Visa Conditions Lookup
Application Steps
Find Regional Employer
Find Regional Employer
Find a regional employer willing to sponsor you
- The employer must be in a regional area
- The employer must be an approved sponsor
- The position must be on the relevant skills list
Employer Nomination
Employer Nomination
The employer lodges the nomination application
- The employer lodges the nomination
- Provide the position and salary details
Lodge Application
Lodge Application
Lodge the visa application
- Lodge the application online
- Upload documents
- Pay the visa fee
- Wait for the decision
Required Documents
| Document Name | English Name | Required | Description | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | Passport | Valid passport | - | |
| Nomination | Nomination | Employer nomination approval | - | |
| Skills Assessment | Skills Assessment | Skills assessment outcome | - | |
| English Test | English Test | English test score | - | |
| Work Experience | Work Experience | Evidence of at least 3 years of experience | - | |
| Health Examination | Health Examination | Health examination report | - | |
| Police Clearance | Police Clearance | Police clearance | - |
FAQ
Can the 494 visa lead to permanent residence?
Which cities are included in regional areas?
Common Refusal Reasons
- The nominated occupation is not on the applicable occupation list, or the Regional Certifying Body (RCB) does not certify it
- Insufficient three years of relevant post-qualification skilled work experience
- The genuineness of the employer/position, or the requirement of 5 years of continuous full-time work, is not met
- The skills assessment, English, health or character falls short
- Salary below the TSMIT/not meeting the market salary rate
Can you appeal after a refusal? See the Visa Refusal & Review (ART) Guide.