Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa

A provisional visa for skilled workers sponsored by an employer in regional Australia. It lasts up to five years and can lead to permanent residence.

At a glance

Visa typeProvisional

Valid forUp to 5 years

SponsorRegional employer

RequirementRegional area

Pathway to PRYes

Our officeCanberra, ACT

Overview

The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) lets a regional employer sponsor a skilled worker to live and work in a designated regional area. It is a provisional visa of up to five years, and after meeting the residence and income requirements it can lead to permanent residence.

How the pathway works

The flowchart below shows the journey and the key decision points along the way. Where the answer is “no”, we show how AuzRoo can help you find another way forward.

What this visa lets you do

Live and work in a designated regional area for up to five years
Work for your sponsoring employer
Include eligible family members
Enrol in Medicare
Access a pathway to permanent residence

Who can apply

To be granted this visa you generally need to meet all of the following. Every case is assessed on its own facts, so treat this as a guide rather than a checklist.

A regional sponsoring employer

An approved employer in a designated regional area must nominate a genuine position, often with regional certification.

Your occupation

Your occupation must be on the relevant list for this visa.

Skills and experience

You need a suitable skills assessment and the required years of relevant work experience.

English language

You must meet the English requirement, unless exempt.

Regional commitment

You must live and work in the designated regional area while you hold the visa.

How to apply, step by step

Confirm your occupation and that the position is in a regional area.
Employer becomes a sponsor and obtains any required certification.
Employer lodges the nomination for your position.
Prepare your evidence of skills, experience and English.
Lodge your visa application linked to the nomination.
Live and work in the region and meet the requirements for PR over time.

Costs and processing

Charges apply at the sponsorship, nomination and visa stages, with the Skilling Australians Fund levy paid by the employer. Separate costs apply for skills assessments, English tests, health and police checks. Government charges and processing times change and depend on your circumstances, so we confirm the current figures for your case during your consultation.

When you have the visa

You must live and work in the designated regional area for your sponsor. Keep evidence of your regional residence and income, which you will need for the permanent residence pathway.

Important: This page is general information only and is not personal migration advice. Points, age limits, occupation lists, charges and requirements change regularly. Confirm the current criteria for your situation in a consultation. No visa outcome can be guaranteed.

For more information on the current official requirements, read the Department of Home Affairs page for this visa. Click here →