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494 Visa: Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

Planning to apply for a 494 visa or the Temporary Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa? Your pathway to career advancement and permanent residency in exciting regional Australia is here. For a stress-free 494 visa application this 2024, consult with a legal expert and migration specialist at Parish Patience.

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    What is a 494 Visa?

    The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa 494 lets recipients study, work, and live in Australia for up to five (5) years. It’s also meant to benefit regional employers who can’t find skilled Australian workers in the region, making it necessary to source skilled workers overseas.

    Regional areas are any area in Australia except Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. For migration purposes, the city of Perth and Gold Coast are also classified as regional areas where local employers can nominate eligible migrant workers.

    494 Visa Benefits

    As a holder of a visa 494 in Australia, you can:

    • Stay, live, work, and study in any of the country’s designated regional areas for up to five (5) years
    • Have unrestricted travel opportunities to and from Australia while your visa is still in effect
    • Become an Australian permanent resident once you fulfil the three-year residency requirement alongside other PR criteria.

    494 visa requirements for applicants

    To qualify for this visa, applicants must satisfy the following eligibility conditions:

    • Stay, live, work, and study in any of the country’s designated regional areas for up to five (5) years
    • Have unrestricted travel opportunities to and from Australia while your visa is still in effect
    • Become an Australian permanent resident once you fulfil the three-year residency requirement alongside other PR criteria.

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    Talk to one of our Visa Experts Now.

    494 visa conditions for employers

    Regional employers also need to be evaluated. They must meet the following criteria:

    • Your nominating employer must be residing and operating business in regional Australia
    • The nominated position or occupation must be included on the 494 visa occupation list
    • The nominated occupation must be for full-time employment for at least the next five (5) years
    • Your nominating employer must secure approval from the Regional Certifying Body
    • Your nominating employer must pay the Australian Market Salary Rate

    494 Visa Processing Time

    The subclass 494 visa in Australia is a huge opportunity for skilled migrant workers who wish to live and render work in Regional Australia. To help set proper expectations, here is the general processing time for 494 visa applications under the employer-sponsored stream.

    • 25% of applications are processed within: Five (5) months
    • 50% of applications are processed within: Nine (9) months
    • 75% of applications are processed within: 12 months
    • 90% of applications are processed within: 14 months

    494 Visa to PR (Permanent Residence)

    One of the benefits of holding a 494 visa is the prospect of attaining a permanent resident status through an appropriate PR visa, the most common of which is the subclass 191 permanent visa.

    In order to qualify for PR, the following conditions must first be met:

    • You must have resided and worked in Regional Australia for at least three (3) years
    • You must have an annual taxable income of at least AUD $53,900 for the last three (3) years
    • You must be able to juggle multiple job in your regional area if necessary to meet the required income requirement
    • You must not and cannot apply for other skilled PR or partner visa types for three (3) years
    • You must satisfy the health and character requirements
    • You must not have a history of criminal records or visa refusals

    Need Visa Assistance?

    Talk to one of our Visa Experts Now.

    How a Parish Patience Visa Specialist Can Help

    Parish Patience has been in existence as an Australian law firm since 1888. In the 1980s when substantial changes to immigration law were implemented, Parish Patience specialised in visa and all things immigration and has been serving international students, refugees, skilled migrant workers, and more since then.

    With our extensive law and visa practice, you can rest easy knowing you’re in the hands of certified professionals.

    Registered & Licensed Visa Specialists

    Work only with a registered visa agent or an immigration lawyer who can expertly guide you through the entire visa application procedure.

    Fast and Efficient Visa Processing

    While processing times vary case by case, you can at least assure that your application wouldn’t be frustratingly denied on the basis of incorrect information and missing documents, which mostly stem from the lack of professional assistance.

    Cost-Effective Immigration Services

    Just applying for a visa can cost you a significant amount of money, but make it all worth it by ensuring your application is successful the first time with a visa specialist’s assistance.

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    Success Stories of 389+ Highly Rated Reviews


    Our customers are always happy to share their thoughts with us.
    Here is what some of them had said!

    Haroon Parvez

    The team at parish Patience Immigration Lawyers were incredibly helpful throughout the application process. Their assistance made our lives so much less stressful and their expertise cleared up any confusion we had. They remained engaged with us the whole time and quickly responded to any questions with thoughtful, detailed answers. Special thanks to Usman Ali and Shan . We highly recommend the team at Parish patience immigration lawyer for anyone considering help regarding any kind of visa .

    W. A.

    Highly recommended lawyers! Extremely professional and reliable service, with outstanding outcomes. A special thanks to Mr Thong and Marlene, for helping us with our difficult case. Not only did they ensure that everything was ready to go, but their professionalism came in favor when we were granted our visa within just under 6 months!

    J P

    Thong and Marlene helped my partner gain permanent residency in Australia. We did the application ourselves but it turned out lots of information we needed to provide was missing. Thong and Marlene picked our case up and helped amend it. I really appreciate their help and guidance and look forward to contacting them again in the future. I am pleased by their efforts and professionalism.

    Alaa Omer

    Successfully handled my case. He had been prompt, caring and very professional in dealing with my case. I am glad to have received very strong support, guidance and service from them. I would highly recommend Parish patience immigration lawyers. I wish the best for their future prospects.

    Jabir Ibna Mohammad

    I’m really thankful for the guidance and assistance I’ve received regarding my Partner visa from Shan and his assistance Asha at Parish Patience. They handled my matter professionally and there were clear instructions from the beginning till end. I got my partner visa 820 granted in less than 7 months, thanks to their knowledge and expertise. I wish them all the best and highly recommend Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers for any sort of immigration matters.

    Apply for a 494 Visa With Parish Patience and Work in Regional Australia


    The prospect of working and living in the beautiful backdrop of Regional Australia is absolutely exciting, but the stressful process of acquiring a visa may dampen your spirit. Allow our highly experienced immigration specialists to deal with the hassle of processing your visa. Let’s discuss your case more and assess your eligibility in a consultation.

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      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


      What is a 494 visa?

      The Australian 494 visa is an employer-sponsored visa that allows regional employers to hire temporary skilled migrant workers if an Australian permanent resident or citizen is unavailable at the time. For successful applicants, holding this visa allows them to stay, live, work, travel, and study in Regional Australia for up to five (5) years. 

      Which Visa is Better, 482 or 494?

      Both visa types are employer-sponsored that have individual advantages. In terms of age requirement, a 482 visa is better as there is no age limit. If you’re eyeing to obtain permanent residency, meanwhile, a 494 visa might be considered more preferable as it does not require employer sponsorship for the permanent 191 visa application.

      If you need more detailed advice for your visa application, consult with a migration specialist from Parish Patience.

      Do I need a skills assessment for 494 visas?

      In order to qualify for a provisional 494 visa, one of the key eligibility requirements is to pass a mandatory skills assessment for the nominated regional skilled occupation.

      What is the IELTS requirement for 494?

      The 494 visa English requirements specify that you must have a ‘competent’ level of English which, if you take the IELTS, means having a score of no less than 6.0 on each part of the test.

      How to get PR after 494?

      After being a 494 visa holder for at least three (3) years, you can apply for a permanent visa under subclass 191. Aside from the minimum residency and work requirements, you must also have an annual taxable income of at least AUD $53,900 for each year. You may have to work more than one job in your regional area to meet this income requirement, but it’s definitely worth it.

      Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers Sydney
      Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers Sydney
      381 Google reviews
      Sadia Ahmed
      Sadia Ahmed
      2024-03-13
      Usman looked after my file and we are granted 189 today . Very supportive team
      T Malhi
      T Malhi
      2024-03-07
      I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Parish Patience for the exceptional service they provided throughout my journey from Winning MRT(student visa ), 485 Visa and another student visa extensions to finally obtaining skilled migration. Usman demonstrated remarkable expertise and unwavering patience in addressing all my inquiries. I never felt the need to persistently follow up for updates on my application. His consistently kind, generous, and positive demeanor was truly commendable. I highly recommend Usman's services and extend my heartfelt appreciation to him.Thank you, Usman for bringing joy to those who have lost hope. You should be proud of the work you do
      Yaad Matharu
      Yaad Matharu
      2024-03-07
      I highly recommend their service. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Usman for his exceptional professionalism and expertise.
      Umer Saeed
      Umer Saeed
      2024-03-04
      Very professional, high standards of service and comprehensive knowledge of immigration, i strongly recommend them to anyone who requires immigration advice.
      Safat Aqib
      Safat Aqib
      2024-02-27
      I received excellent service from Parish patience. Usman and Billah were extremely proficient and courteous, and they assisted me throughout every stage. I strongly recommend them to anyone who requires immigration advice.
      Kanika Dua
      Kanika Dua
      2024-02-22
      Hi Just want to share my recent experience with parish patience. I was depressed and hopeless about my case and MR PRASAD at parish patience gave me hope and prepared my file very strong so I win in the AAT hearing. The case is in my favour now and hopefully i will get PR very soon. Highly recommend their service. They all are professionals and experts in their fields.
      Anand Inbasekaran
      Anand Inbasekaran
      2024-02-19
      I thank Upasna for making the visa process smooth and stress- free. Her attention to detail, prompt responsiveness, and in-depth knowledge of immigration procedures reflect a high standard of service. It was a pleasure to work with Parish Patience, and I would confidently recommend your services to others.
      Thihan Oo
      Thihan Oo
      2024-02-17
      Very happy and grateful for your services, fast, reliable, approachable and super efficient team, Shan and Asha, you guys are the best.
      Sarma B
      Sarma B
      2024-02-16
      I can't express enough gratitude for the outstanding service provided by my lawyer in helping me secure my partner visa. From the moment I walked into their office, I felt reassured by their warm demeanor and professionalism. Throughout the entire process, they were not only knowledgeable but also incredibly supportive, guiding me through each step with patience and clarity. What truly sets them apart is their accessibility. Whenever I had a question or concern, they were readily available, promptly responding to calls and emails, which alleviated any anxiety I had about the process. Their dedication to their clients is truly commendable. Thanks to their expertise and unwavering support, I am now able to build a future with my partner without the stress of immigration uncertainties. I wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone in need of legal assistance, especially for partner visas. Thank you immensely for your outstanding representation!
      Rohan chowdhury
      Rohan chowdhury
      2024-02-06
      Usman Ali is by far one of the best lawyers I’ve met, very knowledgeable, very professional, calm, supportive, prompt in replying with his emails, basically everything that you look in a lawyer. He made the process unbelievable quick, effective and successful. Heartily thankful for him and the whole team.