Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa Occupation List Australia (2026 Complete Guide)

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494) allows eligible regional Australian employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers for approved occupations in designated regional areas of Australia. The visa was introduced to strengthen regional communities, address genuine workforce shortages, and provide skilled professionals with a pathway to Australian permanent residency.

The Subclass 494 visa replaced the former Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Subclass 187) for new applications and forms part of Australia's long-term regional skilled migration strategy. Eligible applicants can live, work and study in regional Australia for up to five years and may become eligible for permanent residency through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) after meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.

What is the Subclass 494 Skilled Occupation List?

The Subclass 494 Skilled Occupation List identifies occupations that may be nominated by eligible regional employers under Australia's employer-sponsored regional migration program.

Occupation eligibility is determined by the Department of Home Affairs through legislative instruments and the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) framework. Every nominated occupation is linked to an approved assessing authority responsible for assessing overseas qualifications and professional experience.

Choosing the correct occupation is one of the most important parts of a successful Subclass 494 visa application.

Who Can Apply for the Subclass 494 Visa?

The Subclass 494 visa may be suitable for skilled workers who:

• Have a genuine job offer from an eligible employer in regional Australia.

• Work in an approved skilled occupation.

• Meet the required skills assessment requirements (unless exempt).

• Have relevant skilled employment experience.

• Meet English language, health and character requirements.

• Are generally under 45 years of age unless an exemption applies.

This visa is available through the Employer Sponsored Stream and the Labour Agreement Stream, depending on the sponsoring employer's circumstances.

What is Considered Regional Australia?

For migration purposes, regional Australia includes many cities and towns outside Australia's largest metropolitan centres.

Areas generally excluded from designated regional Australia include:

• Sydney

• Melbourne

• Brisbane

Many locations across Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and regional parts of New South Wales and Queensland are considered designated regional areas.

Examples of designated regional locations include:

• Adelaide

• Perth

• Canberra

• Hobart

• Gold Coast

• Newcastle

• Geelong

• Ballarat

• Bendigo

• Townsville

• Cairns

• Toowoomba

• Darwin

• Launceston

• Wollongong

• Albury

• Mildura

Applicants should always confirm the postcode of their proposed workplace before lodging an application.

Pathway to Permanent Residency – Subclass 191

One of the biggest advantages of the Subclass 494 visa is the opportunity to transition to the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191).

Eligible visa holders may become eligible for permanent residency after satisfying the applicable regional residence and income requirements while holding an eligible regional provisional visa.

Subclass 494 does not automatically grant permanent residency. Applicants must independently qualify for Subclass 191 at the time they apply.

Eligible Occupations and Assessing Authorities

Each occupation requires assessment by the appropriate Australian assessing authority before a visa application can proceed (unless an exemption applies).

Engineering Occupations

Information Technology (IT) Occupations

Healthcare Occupations

Education Occupations

Business, Finance and Management Occupations

Trade Occupations

Construction Occupations

Popular Subclass 494 Occupations in Regional Australia

Many regional employers regularly sponsor skilled workers across industries experiencing workforce shortages.

Popular occupations include:

• Registered Nurses

• Aged Care Professionals

• Childcare Centre Managers

• Early Childhood Teachers

• Civil Engineers

• Mechanical Engineers

• Electricians

• Motor Mechanics

• Chefs and Cooks

• Carpenters

• Plumbers

• Software Engineers

• ICT Business Analysts

• Construction Project Managers

• Accountants

The availability of occupations may change depending on updates made by the Australian Government.

Skills Assessment Requirements

A positive skills assessment is generally required before applying for the Employer Sponsored Stream of the Subclass 494 visa.

Your assessing authority depends on your nominated occupation.

Applicants usually need to provide:

• Educational qualifications.

• Employment references.

• Professional registrations (if required).

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).

• Identity documents.

• Additional evidence requested by the assessing authority.

Skills assessments are valid for a specified period and should remain valid when the visa application is lodged.

English Language Requirement

Applicants generally need to demonstrate Competent English unless an exemption applies.

Accepted English tests may include:

• IELTS

• PTE Academic

• TOEFL iBT

• Cambridge English

• Occupational English Test (OET) for eligible healthcare occupations.

Applicants should ensure their English test remains valid when lodging the application.

Work Experience Requirement

Applicants generally need at least three years of relevant full-time skilled work experience in their nominated occupation or a closely related occupation.

Employment should be supported by:

• Employer reference letters.

• Payslips.

• Tax documents.

• Employment contracts.

• Superannuation or payroll records where applicable.

Occupations Not Eligible Under Subclass 494

Not every occupation in ANZSCO is eligible for employer-sponsored regional migration.

Examples of occupations generally not available under the standard Subclass 494 Employer Sponsored framework include:

• Defence Force Personnel.

• Members of Parliament.

• Police Officers.

• Fire Officers.

• Magistrates and Judges.

• Air Traffic Controllers.

• Intelligence Officers.

• Certain elected government officials.

Eligibility depends on the current legislative occupation framework.

Employer Requirements for Subclass 494

Regional employers sponsoring overseas workers must generally:

• Operate lawfully in regional Australia.

• Nominate a genuine full-time position.

• Meet salary and employment requirements.

• Demonstrate compliance with Australian workplace laws.

• Meet sponsorship obligations.

• Pay applicable nomination charges and employer obligations where required.

Documents Required for the Subclass 494 Visa

Applicants generally need to provide:

Identity Documents

• Passport

• Birth certificate (where applicable)

• National identity documents

Employment Documents

• Job offer

• Employment contract

• Position description

• Employer nomination details

Qualification Documents

• Degree or diploma certificates

• Academic transcripts

• Professional licences

• Skills assessment outcome

Supporting Documents

• English test results

• Police clearance certificates

• Health examination documents

• Marriage or relationship documents (if applicable)

• Children's documents (if applicable)

Benefits of the Subclass 494 Visa

The Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa offers several advantages for skilled workers and their families:

• Live and work in designated regional Australia for up to 5 years.

• Study in regional Australia.

• Include eligible family members in the application.

• Travel in and out of Australia while the visa remains valid.

• Access a pathway to permanent residency through Subclass 191 if eligible.

• Gain valuable regional Australian work experience.

Why Choose The Visa for Your Subclass 494 Application?

At The Visa and Education Services Pty Ltd, we help skilled workers and regional employers navigate Australia's employer-sponsored migration pathways.

Our Registered Migration Agent can assist with:

• Occupation eligibility assessment.

• Skills assessment guidance.

• Employer sponsorship advice.

• Subclass 494 visa applications.

• Regional employer nominations.

• Pathway planning towards Subclass 191 Permanent Residency.

If you're planning to live and work in regional Australia, our team can help determine whether the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa is the right pathway for your circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Subclass 494 Visa?

The Subclass 494 is a regional employer-sponsored provisional visa that allows eligible skilled workers to live and work in designated regional Australia.

Does Subclass 494 lead to permanent residency?

Yes. Eligible holders may apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa after meeting the applicable eligibility requirements.

Do I need a skills assessment for Subclass 494?

Most applicants in the Employer Sponsored Stream require a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority unless an exemption applies.

How long is the Subclass 494 visa valid?

The visa can be granted for up to five years.

Can my family be included?

Yes. Eligible family members can usually be included in the visa application if they meet health and character requirements.

Is Adelaide considered regional Australia?

Yes. Adelaide is classified as a designated regional area for Australian migration purposes.

What occupations are available for Subclass 494?

Hundreds of skilled occupations may be eligible across healthcare, engineering, IT, education, construction, hospitality and trade industries, subject to current Australian Government occupation requirements.