2025 Subclass 494 Visa: Five-Year Regional Work Pathway to PR

This guide helps you quickly check if you qualify for the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa and what to do if you don’t. It also explains recent rule changes, common pitfalls, and how to improve your chances for both the 494 and the permanent Subclass 191 pathway.

Fast yes/no checklist — who qualifies

• Job offer from an approved employer in a designated regional area?
  • Yes: Employer genuinely operates in regional areas and is ready to nominate you.
  • No: Job is in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.
• Is the role on the relevant skilled occupation list and full-time?
  • Yes: Nominated occupation is eligible, the role is ongoing, and paid at market rate.
  • No: Role is casual, not on the list, or pay is below market rate.
• Under 45 at time of application?
  • Yes: You haven’t turned 45 when you lodge (limited exemptions exist).
  • No: You’re 45+ without a valid exemption.
• Positive skills assessment in the nominated occupation?
  • Yes: Recognised assessing authority issued it and it’s still valid.
  • No: Assessment missing, expired, or for the wrong occupation.
• At least competent English?
  • Yes: Meet minimum test scores accepted by Home Affairs or hold an appropriate passport.
  • No: Test scores below the required level or expired.
• At least three years of skilled, relevant work experience?
  • Yes: Experience matches the occupation and is post-qualification.
  • No: Experience is mostly unrelated, junior, or not verifiable.
• Employer can meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)?
  • Yes: Guaranteed pay is at least AUD 76,515 (from 1 July 2025) and at or above market rate.
  • No: Pay is lower than TSMIT or lower than Australians receive for similar work.
• Ready to live, work, and study only in regional areas?
  • Yes: You agree to stay in regional areas (Perth and the Gold Coast count as regional).
  • No: You plan to move to Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.
• Meet health and character rules?
  • Yes: Pass medicals and police checks.
  • No: Health risks or serious character issues.

If most answers are yes, you’re likely on track. If you hit one or more no answers, read the disqualifying factors and alternatives below.

Detailed eligibility and requirements

Sponsorship and nomination

• You must be sponsored by an approved regional employer under the Employer Sponsored stream.
• The employer lodges a nomination showing the role is genuine, full-time, and paid at the Australian market salary rate.
• Employer responsibilities: pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy and usually seek Regional Certifying Body advice to confirm local need and pay level.

Applicant requirements

• Age: Under 45 at application time (limited exemptions may apply).
• Skills assessment: Must be positive and suitable for the nominated occupation.
• Work experience: At least three years of skilled, relevant employment.
• English: Competent English or higher, depending on occupation.
• Health and character: Standard checks apply for you and included family members.

Income and fees (current settings)

• TSMIT: From 1 July 2025, the salary floor is AUD 76,515 for new Subclass 494 nominations.
• Visa charges (indexed July 2025):
  • Main applicant: AUD 4,910
  • Additional adult: AUD 2,455
  • Child: AUD 1,230

Regional commitment

• You and family must live, work, and study in regional areas for the life of the visa (up to five years).
• Regional areas include most of Australia (e.g., Perth and the Gold Coast) but exclude Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Disqualifying factors that trigger a likely refusal

• Job not truly in a regional area (e.g., based in Sydney but with occasional regional travel).
• Salary below TSMIT or below the Australian market salary rate for your occupation.
• Missing or invalid skills assessment, or occupation not on the eligible list.
• Age 45+ without a valid exemption.
• English results below competent or expired at time of application.
• Inadequate evidence of three years’ skilled, relevant work experience.
• Conflicts with visa conditions, such as living or working outside regional areas.
• Health or character concerns that fail standard checks.

Examples to make this concrete

• Meets criteria: Civil engineer with a positive Engineers Australia assessment, 5 years’ experience, an offer in Perth at AUD 95,000, and competent English. Family agrees to live in Perth — a clear yes.
• Fails criteria: Marketing specialist offered AUD 70,000 on the Gold Coast. Area is regional, but pay is below TSMIT (AUD 76,515) — a no unless salary increases.
• Borderline: Chef aged 44 with an expiring skills assessment and IELTS from two years ago. If assessment and English are still valid, and pay meets market rate and TSMIT, this can be a yes, but timing matters.

How the sponsored process works in practice

1. Secure a real job offer with an approved regional employer willing to nominate you. Role must be on occupation list and full-time at market pay.
2. Confirm your skills assessment, English, age, and experience. Fix gaps before lodging.
3. Employer lodges the nomination. You then lodge your visa with documents and pay fees.
4. You can live and work in the regional area once the visa is granted. From March 2025, you can keep working if you move to a new sponsor while the fresh nomination is processing.
5. Track your income and residence each year to maintain eligibility for permanent residence later.

Family inclusion made simple

• You can include your partner and dependent children. They can live, work, and study in regional areas and access local services.
• Everyone included must meet health and character rules. If a family member fails checks, the whole application can be refused.

How the permanent Subclass 191 pathway works

• Timeline: After three years on Subclass 494 with consistent regional residence and work, you can apply for permanent residence under Subclass 191.
• Income requirement: Show taxable income at or above AUD 53,900 for at least three years during your 494 period.
• No new nomination: No new employer backing required for 191, but you must prove regional residence and employment compliance.
• Smart habit: Keep annual tax documents, payslips, and lease agreements to prove income and regional residence when you lodge the 191.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Salary shortfall: Ask the employer to adjust pay and document the market rate comparison.
• Expired assessments or tests: Re-take English tests early and renew skills assessments before lodging.
• Wrong location: Double-check workplace postcodes. Don’t assume city-fringe sites are regional.
• Thin experience: If you lack three years, delay the application and build more verifiable, post-qualification experience.
• Incomplete documents: Use a checklist for identity, skills, employment letters, contracts, salary evidence, health, and police checks.

If you’re not eligible right now: realistic alternatives

• Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage): Useful if age or timing is an issue; can build experience or English scores, then shift to Subclass 494.
• State-nominated skilled visas (e.g., Subclass 491): Points-tested regional options for applicants without a sponsor but with strong points and skills.
• Skills improvement: Gain additional relevant experience, secure a stronger skills assessment, and raise English scores. Ask employer to review role classification and salary to meet market rate and TSMIT.
• Timing strategy: If near 45, lodge as soon as fully eligible. If English is borderline, prioritise test preparation.

How to improve your chances

• Align the occupation: Ensure the nominated role, skills assessment, and experience all match closely.
• Lock in salary compliance: Get written confirmation that salary meets market rate and TSMIT; include pay breakdowns.
• Prepare spotless evidence: Organise contracts, payslips, tax records, reference letters (duties and hours), and updated test results.
• Track regional compliance: Keep leases, school enrollments, and utility bills to prove you stayed in regional areas.
• Plan for employer changes: If you need to move sponsors, secure new nomination early. Since March 2025, you can keep working during processing.

Processing notes and timelines

• Processing times vary by occupation, completeness, and background checks. Delays often come from missing documents or unclear job evidence.
• From July 2025, fees rose by about 3% for skilled visas — budget accordingly.
• Keep your ImmiAccount updated and respond quickly to requests for more information.

Official reference and forms

• You can read the current official guidance for the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa on the Department of Home Affairs website by visiting the skilled employer sponsored regional (494) page. Use ImmiAccount to lodge. When you later qualify for permanent residence, you’ll apply for Subclass 191 using the official platform on the same site.
• VisaVerge.com reports that the TSMIT increase to AUD 76,515 and the ability to keep working while a new nomination processes have made Subclass 494 more stable for families planning long-term regional settlement.

Key takeaway: If you meet age, skills, English, work experience, and salary rules and commit to living in regional Australia, Subclass 494 can be a reliable route to temporary residence and later permanent residence via Subclass 191.

Final quick decision guide

• Likely eligible: Under 45, sponsor and role in regional areas, positive skills assessment, 3+ years’ relevant experience, competent English, and salary meets or beats AUD 76,515 and market rate. Family will live in regional areas.
• Not eligible yet: Fix gaps—raise pay to meet TSMIT, re-test English, renew skills assessment, gain targeted experience, or consider a stepping-stone visa (Subclass 482 or Subclass 491).
• Ready for PR plan: From day one, save proof of regional residence and target taxable income of at least AUD 53,900 each year to prepare for Subclass 191 after three years.

Next steps

1. Confirm employer’s nomination readiness and regional location.
2. Check your skills assessment validity, English scores, and experience documentation.
3. Ensure your pay meets TSMIT and the market rate.
4. Lodge a complete application and maintain regional residence and work throughout your stay.
5. Keep careful records to support a smooth Subclass 191 application when eligible.

By following these steps, staying in regional areas, and meeting salary and skills rules, many sponsored workers can use Subclass 494 to build a stable life with their families and transition to permanent residence under Subclass 191.