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AU Skilled & work Provisional

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)

Employer-sponsored work in regional Australia for 5 years, with a built-in path to permanent residence via subclass 191.

Official Australia page

Who this route is for

Skilled workers with a job offer from an approved employer in a designated regional area who can commit to living and working regionally on the road to PR.

Eligibility requirements

  • Be nominated by an approved employer in a designated regional area for an occupation on the relevant skilled list.
  • At least 3 years of full-time relevant work experience in the nominated occupation.
  • Hold a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation.
  • Under 45 years of age at the time of application (with limited exemptions).
  • At least Competent English (IELTS 6 in each band, or equivalent).
  • Salary at least the Core Skills Income Threshold / market salary rate; meet health and character requirements.

Requirements reviewed June 2026. They change frequently — confirm the current rules on the official page before relying on them.

Recent changes & caveats

The regional employer-sponsored counterpart to the 482; it remains a smaller, niche route. Holders use the subclass 191 to convert to PR after meeting the 3-year regional residence and income-evidence tests.

Check your points first

Use the free Skilled Migration Points Calculator to see if you're likely to qualify before you start.
Australia visa requirements on VisaGlance — Before the points test, check whether you need a visa just to enter Australia — and which one fits your passport — on our companion site VisaGlance.

Other Australia routes

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) - Points-tested stream

Permanent

The flagship 'no sponsor needed' permanent visa: score enough points, get invited, then live and work anywhere in Australia.

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

Permanent

Points-tested permanent residence with a state/territory nomination that adds 5 points and can rescue a borderline score.

Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)

Provisional

A 5-year regional provisional visa worth a big +15 points, designed as a stepping stone to PR via subclass 191.

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)

Permanent

The permanent-residence finish line for 491 (and old 494) holders who have lived and earned in regional Australia for three years.
All Australia immigration routes