Employer Sponsored Regional (494)
A regional employer sponsors you for five years. Stay regional, keep your income up, and the 191 can make you permanent after three.
- Category
- Regional
- Type
- Employer-sponsored provisional visa, 5 years
- Salary floor
- A$79,423 and the market rate
- Government charge
- A$6,140 main applicant
- Leads to
- 191 PR after 3 years
- Our fee
- From A$4,950
Start here
Do this
- Confirm the postcode is designated regional
- Get your skills assessment started early
- Keep payslips and tax returns organised
- Plan the 191 from day one
Avoid this
- Moving to a city after grant
- Letting income dip below the threshold
- Changing employer without advice
- Missing tax return deadlines
What a wrong turn can cost: Leaving the region or a low-income year can close the 191 pathway.
Are you on the right track?
- Is the job in a designated regional area?
- Do you have 3 years' experience?
- Do you have a skills assessment, or are exempt?
Unsure about any of these? Talk it through on a free call — you're not alone in this.
Is this you?
- A regional employer wants to sponsor you.
- You're happy to build a life outside the big cities.
- You're a regional employer who can't fill roles.
What changed
2026–27 Regional places reportedly cut. Confirm timing with us.
Who qualifies
- An employer in a designated regional area.
- An eligible occupation and a skills assessment unless exempt.
- 3 years' experience, Competent English, under 45 (some exemptions).
- Live and work regionally while on the visa.
Step by step
- Regional checkPostcode, occupation and salary.
- Skills assessmentUnless exempt.
- Sponsorship and advertisingFor the employer.
- Nomination and visaLodged together where possible.
- 191 trackerIncome and addresses tracked.
Document checklist
Your ticks are saved on this device only.
Common problems
Myths and facts
How we help you with Employer Sponsored Regional
- 1UnderstandA regional check of postcode, occupation and salary.
- 2PlanA written plan for you and the employer.
- 3PrepareSkills assessment and employer documents prepared.
- 4LodgeNomination and visa lodged.
- 5DestinationA 191 tracker from day one.
What you'll receive
How we keep in touch: Updates to you and the employer, then yearly 191 check-ins.
Three ways to do it
An honest look at your options. Some people do this themselves, and that can work well.
| Topic | With Omar Nafiz | Doing it yourself | With another provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional check | Exact postcode confirmed | Assumed | Varies |
| Employer | Briefed with a pack | You chase them | Varies |
| Skills assessment | Coordinated with the visa | Separate project | Often separate |
| 191 | Tracked from day one | Remembered later | Rarely |
| Cost | A$4,950 package | Charges only | Varies |
A situation like yours
An illustrative situation, in Omar's words. Names and details are fictional. See all situations.
A regional employer offers a five-year visa
- Age 33
- English Proficient
- 🌾 Employer Sponsored Regional
The situation. Amira is 33. A regional employer wants to sponsor her. She likes the offer. She is not sure what living outside a capital city means for the next five years.
How I'd approach it
What I check first. Regional conditions apply for the life of the visa. She cannot move to Melbourne once she has it. I read the offer and the conditions with her.
The options. Sponsorship for five years. If she stays regional and keeps her income up, the 191 can make her permanent after three. The government charge is A$6,140 for the main applicant (as at 1 July 2026).
Age and English. The 494 is employer-sponsored, so her age (25 federally) and English (10) do not score. Whether her age fits the visa's own rules is something I confirm against Home Affairs before she accepts. English still matters for her later options, so I tell her to keep it current.
My caution. Regional places and rules change every year. I confirm the current position before she resigns anything.
Illustrative situation. The names and details are fictional.
Questions people ask
Is my town regional?
We check your exact postcode against the current Home Affairs list.
When can I get PR?
After 3 years on the 494 with qualifying income, through the 191.
Pricing
Consultation
A full review of your situation and a written plan.
Regional package
Nomination, visa, skills assessment coordination and 191 planning.
Government visa charge (Department of Home Affairs, as at 1 July 2026)
| Visa | Main applicant | Extra 18+ | Extra under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494) | A$6,140 | A$3,070 | A$1,535 |
Checked 22 October 2026. Official pricing table · Estimate for your family
Our prices as at 22 October 2026. Packages are paid in stages, only after you sign a written service agreement. All services and fees.
Book
Talk to us about Employer Sponsored Regional
Start with a free 15-minute phone call. If you need full advice, book a A$110 consultation — it comes off your package.
Often considered alongside
Official sources
Figures checked 8 October 2026. Visa rules and charges change — we confirm everything for your situation before you pay for a package.