Australia Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa

Skilled workers nominated for an eligible occupation by an employer operating in Australia, for a position in a designated regional area.

• Employer nomination

  An employer whose business is lawfully operating in Australia must lodge a nomination application for you before you apply. The employer must be an approved work sponsor or have lodged an application to become a standard business sponsor; its nomination must be approved before your visa can be granted.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Eligible occupation

  You must be nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Regional position

  You must be employed in the nominated occupation in a position within the sponsoring business or an associated entity, located in a designated regional area of Australia.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Nominated salary

  For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, both the annual market salary rate and the worker’s guaranteed annual earnings must be at least AUD79,423. If the worker’s annual salary is less than AUD250,000, the employer must also show that it determined the annual market salary rate correctly and will not pay less than that rate. Non-monetary benefits do not count towards the income threshold.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Regional salary assessment

  For an Employer Sponsored stream nomination, a regional certifying body must assess the annual market salary rate for the nominated position.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Skills and qualifications

  You must show that you have the skills, qualifications and work experience necessary to perform the nominated occupation. If a skills assessment is not mandatory for you, you must provide other evidence.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Work experience

  You must have been employed in the nominated occupation for at least three years on a full-time basis and at the skill level required for that occupation. Generally, the experience should have been gained within the last five years; it need not be continuous. Equivalent part-time work might be considered, but casual work is not considered.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Skills assessment

  You must have a suitable assessment for the nominated occupation from the relevant assessing authority before lodging your application, unless an exemption applies. An assessment obtained for a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) is not valid for this visa.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Age

  You must be under 45 when you apply, unless an exemption applies. The route page lists exemptions for certain nominated academics, medical practitioners, scientists or researchers, some subclass 444 or 461 holders, and certain subclass 457 or 482 holders meeting specified work and earnings conditions.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Competent English

  You must have at least Competent English. One way to demonstrate this is an IELTS Academic or General Training score of at least 6 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking; the official Competent English page also specifies other accepted evidence and tests.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Health

  You and family members applying with you must meet the health requirement. Family members not accompanying you might also need to meet it if requested.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Character

  You and family members aged 16 or over applying with you must meet the character requirement. Family members not accompanying you must also meet it.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian Government debts

  If you or any family members, including those not applying with you, owe the Australian Government money, the debt must have been repaid or arrangements made to repay it.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian values statement

  If you are 16 or older, you must have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Where you apply

  You can apply from inside or outside Australia, but not while in immigration clearance. If applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Visa application charge, fromimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$6,140 per person

1. Get ready

   • Check the occupation and regional position

     Check that the nominated occupation is on the relevant skilled occupation list and that the employer’s position is in a designated regional area.

   • Get your skills assessed

     Obtain a suitable assessment from the relevant assessing authority before lodging your visa application, unless you are exempt.

     You’ll need: Suitable skills assessment, if required, Qualifications, Evidence of work experience

   • Prepare English and health evidence

     Check that your evidence of Competent English is current and arrange a test if needed; health examinations can be completed before or after applying.

     You’ll need: Evidence of Competent English

   • Get the nomination reference

     Ask your employer to lodge its nomination application and give you its Transaction Reference Number, which you need to apply.

     You’ll need: Nomination Transaction Reference Number

   • Gather your documents

     Gather the identity, character, skills, qualifications, work-experience and English-language documents relevant to your application.

     You’ll need: Passport identity pages, CV or résumé, Qualifications and employment references, if required, Police certificates where required, English-language evidence

2. Apply

   • Apply online

     Log in to or create an ImmiAccount, attach your documents, pay the application charge and note your application Transaction Reference Number.

     You’ll need: Supporting documents, Nomination Transaction Reference Number

   • Respond to requests

     Check ImmiAccount for any request for further information or health examinations and tell the department if your circumstances change.

     You’ll need: Any further documents requested

3. Visa

   • Check your visa decision

     If the visa is granted, keep the written decision showing its start date, grant number and conditions.

     You’ll need: Visa grant notification

4. Travel

   • Travel with valid documents

     Before travelling, check that you have a valid visa and passport or other travel document, and complete an Incoming Passenger Card when arriving.

     You’ll need: Valid visa, Passport or other travel document, Incoming Passenger Card

5. Settle in

   • Start your nominated work

     If granted the visa outside Australia, begin employment within 90 days of entering Australia and work in your nominated occupation for your nominating employer in regional Australia.

     You’ll need: Visa grant notification

If eligible, the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after holding the subclass 494 visa for at least three years.

• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/employer-subsite/Pages/salary-requirements.as…Official
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) Employer Sponsored stream immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-emp…Official
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/gl…Official
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/english…Official

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.