The 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa allows businesses in regional Australia to sponsor skilled overseas workers when no suitable local workers are available. From an employer’s perspective, this visa helps fill skill shortages and secure long-term employees.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional – Subclass 494 visa
To sponsor a worker under the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, employers must meet strict requirements through the following steps.
SBS approval
Becoming a Standard Business Sponsor is the first step you need to complete to be able to nominate overseas workers for the 494 visa.
To become an “SBS” you need to:
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Legally operating business – You must show that your business is lawfully operating in Australia and has a genuine need for the position.
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No adverse information – The business must have a clean record with respect to workplace relations, immigration, and other regulatory compliance.
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Financial capacity – Evidence that your business can meet the salary and employment conditions for the sponsored worker.
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Commitment to obligations – Sponsors must agree to follow ongoing obligations, including non-discriminatory recruitment, paying at least the market salary rate, and covering certain costs.
Once approved, the Standard Business Sponsorship approval will be valid for 5 years during which you can nominate overseas workers for the subclasses 494 and 482 (Skills in Demand)
RCB advice
As a Standard Business Sponsor wishing to nominate an overseas worker, you will need to request advice from a Regional Certifying Body operating in your area before you can lodge a 494 Nomination.
The RCB (Regional Certifying Body) advice on salary is mandatory for a 494 visa nomination and must confirm that:
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The salary offered is consistent with the Australian market rate for the nominated position in the regional area.
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The terms and conditions of employment are no less favourable than those provided to an Australian worker in a similar role.
Evidence usually includes job advertisements, enterprise agreements, or awards relevant to the position.
The RCB advice on salary is a mandatory step before the Department can finalise the 494 nomination decision.
494 Nomination
The 494 Nomination process requires your business to satisfy some extra requirements:
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The position must be located in a designated regional area of Australia (excluding Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane; includes Perth, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, NSW Central Coast).
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The nominated occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list (over 700 eligible occupations).
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The role must be full-time, genuine, and likely to exist for at least five years.
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The position must offer terms and conditions of employment equivalent to those provided to Australian workers, including payment at least at the market salary rate and above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) currently set at $76,515 until 1 July 2026.
FAQs - frequently asked questions
The first step to sponsor an employee under the 494 visa is to become a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). This is done through an online application on the immigration portal (IMMI account), where you provide evidence that your business is legally operating in Australia. Once approved, you can move to the next stages of sponsorship.
The next step is to apply for a Regional Certifying Body (RCB) Advice, which will confirm whether the salary you intend to pay is in line with the Market Salary Rate. After requesting the advice (and before it’s finalised if you wish), you can then proceed with a 494 nomination application. The 494 nomination requires identifying the employee you wish to sponsor, confirming that the position is on the relevant occupation list, and demonstrating that the role is genuine, full-time, and paid in line with legal requirements.
The next step is to apply for a Regional Certifying Body (RCB) Advice, which will confirm whether the salary you intend to pay is in line with the Market Salary Rate. After requesting the advice (and before it’s finalised if you wish), you can then proceed with a 494 nomination application. The 494 nomination requires identifying the employee you wish to sponsor, confirming that the position is on the relevant occupation list, and demonstrating that the role is genuine, full-time, and paid in line with legal requirements.
The costs of becoming an SBS, obtaining RCB Advice, and lodging the nomination (including any professional fees if you seek help) must legally be paid by the employer. The 494 visa application fee can be paid either by the employer or by the sponsored employee, depending on your arrangement.
Once the 494 nomination is submitted, the sponsored employee can lodge their 494 visa application. In this application, they must demonstrate that they meet the visa requirements, such as skills, English level, and other eligibility criteria. The process is only complete when both the nomination and visa are granted.
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