Secure Your Australian Permanent Residency Pathway Through The 494 Visa - Backed by Our No Visa, No Fee Guarantee!

Thousands of Skilled Workers Have Trusted Us to Manage Their Australian Visas — With Transparent Fees, Fast Action, and Real Results.

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494 Visa - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)

The subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (SESR) visa allows Australian regional employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers where local labour cannot fill the need. This visa is valid for up to 5 years and offers a pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 191 visa, provided certain criteria are met.

Streams

The 494 visa has two streams:

Employer Sponsored Stream
Labour Agreement Stream

Employer & Position Requirements

Employer

Must be actively and lawfully operating in Australia.
Must not have adverse information against the business (e.g. insolvency, tax or immigration breaches, false documents).

Accreditation

Certain employers may apply for accredited status for priority processing.

Nominated Position

Must be on the MLTSSL or ROL.
Must be located in a designated regional area.
Must be full-time, likely to exist for at least 5 years, and supported by a signed employment contract.
Salary must be:
- At least $79,423/year (excluding benefits), and
- Equal to or higher than the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) unless exempted (e.g. salary > $250,000).
Must meet fair employment terms in line with Australian labour laws.
Must meet Labour Market Testing (LMT) unless exempt (e.g. under International Trade Obligations).
Must be certified by a Regional Certifying Body (RCB) prior to nomination.

Visa Applicant Requirements

Unless exempt, applicants must:

Be under 45 years of age.
Have a positive skills assessment from the relevant authority.
Have 3 years of full-time work experience (or equivalent) in the nominated occupation.
Genuinely intend to work in the nominated position.
Meet any required licensing, registration or memberships.
Meet health and character requirements.
Demonstrate competent English

Tests must be completed within 3 years prior to visa lodgement.

Our Process

Step 1: Consultation:
Book a video consultation with our Registered Migration Agents. We assess your eligibility and your sponsor’s capacity, then provide a fixed fee quote with split payment options. We can also speak with your employer directly.

Step 2: Eligibility Assessment:
We review your documents, work history, English results, and skills. We also assess your nominated occupation’s RCB criteria and help you understand your path to permanent residency.

Step 3: Skills Assessment:
If needed, we prepare and lodge your skills assessment with the relevant assessing authority, using a tailored document checklist.

Step 4: Sponsorship Application:
If the employer is not already an approved sponsor, we lodge the standard business sponsorship application. This lasts 5 years and covers future 494 and 482 visa nominations.

Step 5: Nomination Application:
We prepare the nomination application with RCB certification. We also manage Labour Market Testing and ensure the salary meets legislative and AMSR requirements.

Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy:

<$10M turnover: $3,000 per nomination
≥$10M turnover: $5,000 per nomination

A pro-rated levy applies if the visa holder changes employer.

Step 6: Visa Application:
We prepare and lodge your 494 visa application either at the same time as the nomination or shortly after. You may apply from within or outside Australia (eligibility conditions apply).

We aim for a decision-ready application that maximises your chance of success.

Visa Conditions

Below are some conditions that may be imposed:

8515 – Must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entry
8578 – Notify the DHA if your passport or contact details change
8579 – Live, study and work in a designated regional area
8580 – Provide evidence of your live, study or work address if requested
8581 – You must attend an interview if the DHA ask you to in a letter
8608 – Must work only in the nominated occupation

Permanent Residency Pathway

After holding the 494 visa for at least 3 years, you may become eligible for the subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa. You must:

Have lived and worked in a designated regional area for 3 years.
Have complied with your 494 visa conditions.

The 191 visa does not require employer sponsorship.

Processing Times & Preparation

The preparation period depends on how quickly you and your sponsor provide documents. Processing timeframes are set by the DOHA and depend on case complexity.

Book a Consultation

Our experienced team has helped many regional employers and skilled workers navigate the 494 process with confidence. Let us guide you every step of the way.

How to Maximise Your Chances of a Successful Employer Sponsored Visa — Without the Stress, Delays, or Expensive Mistakes

Are you being offered a role by an Australian employer — or already working for one who’s ready to sponsor you?

Feeling unsure about the sponsorship process, eligibility, or whether your employer is doing it right?

We get it. The employer sponsored visa process can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re navigating it for the first time. One small error in the application or sponsorship setup can delay — or even derail — your future in Australia.

At Migration Unity, we help skilled workers and their employers confidently navigate every step of the visa process — from 482 sponsorship to PR through the 186. Our team of registered migration agents has years of experience managing employer sponsored cases across dozens of industries, with fixed fees and a No Visa, No Fee Guarantee.

How can Migration Unity help you?

Your trusted partner, guiding you every step of the way to Permanent Residence or Citizenship!

Eligibility Assessment

We’ll assess whether you and your sponsoring employer meet the specific legal criteria for the 494 visa — including age, English, skills, experience, and regional requirements. We’ll also confirm the nominated occupation, RCB requirements, and your most suitable permanent residency pathway.

Employer Nomination

We manage the entire nomination process on behalf of your employer. From preparing documents, meeting salary and labour market testing requirements, to coordinating RCB certification, we ensure the strongest application possible.

Visa Application

We prepare and lodge your 494 visa application thoroughly. From compiling the evidence and skills assessments to ensuring health and character documents are in order, we build a legally sound and decision-ready application.

Bridging Visas

If you’re applying onshore, we’ll guide you through obtaining the correct Bridging Visa to maintain lawful status while your 494 visa is being processed — so there’s no disruption to your work or life.

Visa Grant and Post-Grant Support

Once your 494 visa is granted, we’ll explain your visa conditions — such as the need to live and work in regional Australia, and only in your nominated occupation.

Permanent Residency Pathway

After holding your 494 visa for at least 3 years, we’ll help you assess your eligibility for the subclass 191 permanent residency visa. We’ll ensure you understand the requirements so your transition is smooth when the time comes.

Which Employer Sponsored Visa Is Right for Your Situation?

Information is general only and may change. Always check with a Registered Migration Agent for personalised advice.

Perks of becoming an Australian permanent resident

Live and work in Australia without any restrictions

Access to a stable economy and job market

Access to public healthcare and education

Exposure to a diverse and multicultural society

Increased earning potential compared to your home country

Freedom to choose any employer or industry for work

You can sponsor certain eligible family members to come and live with you in Australia

You can apply for Australian citizenship and enjoy all the rights and privileges that come with it

Global Trust, Proven Results

Skilled Professionals From Around the World Trust Us to Help Them Migrate to Australia

Thousands of sponsored visa applicants — and the employers who support them — have trusted Migration Unity to manage every step of the employer-sponsored visa process. From temporary work visas to permanent residency pathways, we make the complex simple.

We’ve helped healthcare workers, engineers, tradespeople, hospitality professionals, and hundreds of businesses across Australia bring global talent onboard — quickly, compliantly, and with full legal confidence.

400+

Occupations Assisted

100%

Fixed Fees — No Hidden Surprises

60+

Countries Reached

100%

Client Satisfaction

Why Choose Us

The Migration Unity Advantage

Expert & Personalised Visa Support

Get peace of mind with honest, expert advice tailored to you, not a one-size-fits-all checklist. We’ve helped many clients navigate this process with confidence.

Real Results, Backed by Experience

Maximise your chances of a successful outcome with our highly experienced team.

No Visa, No Fee Money-Back Guarantee

Rest assured that you will be covered by our No Visa, No Fee, money-back guarantee.

Fixed Fee & Split Fee Payments

Know exactly every cent you will be paying upfront with no hidden additional charges. We also offer split fee payments to assist you financially while your application is being prepared.

Stress-Free Process

We take the stress out of preparing and lodging visa applications so you don’t have to. We have done it thousands of times!

Global Service

Secure, online access to manage your application anytime, anywhere.

How It Works

Initial Consultation

During this stage, we assess your unique situation, find the correct visa, and confirm your eligibility so we can plan your application accordingly.

Quotation

Once we understand your unique requirements, we’ll put together a fixed-fee quotation for our end-to-end migration services.

Preparation & Lodgement

From here, your Registered Migration Agent in Australia who specialises in your visa subclass will look after the entire process, from paperwork to lodgments, on your behalf.

Visa Application Decision

Once the application is finalised, we’ll guide you through the next steps of your migration journey!

Our Team

Reliable and registered migration experts, here to help

Taina Brennan

Co-founder & Registered Migration Consultant

Scott Brennan

Co-founder & Managing Director