494 Visa Processing Time

The subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where they cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

How long does a 494 visa take?

Processing times depend on the stream and on how complete the nomination and visa applications are. As a guide, most 494 applications take several months from lodgement, and the nomination and visa are usually processed together. The Department of Home Affairs updates its global processing times each month. See our employer sponsored visa processing times page for the latest figures for each stream:

• Employer Sponsored stream: the standard stream for regional employers, which needs advice from a Regional Certifying Body.
• Labour Agreement stream: for employers with a labour agreement or a DAMA.

What affects 494 processing times?

• Regional priority: applications for positions in regional Australia are generally given priority under the government’s processing priorities.
• Regional Certifying Body advice: the time the RCB takes to give advice on the salary and the need for the position is added before or during the nomination.
• Accredited sponsors: nominations from accredited sponsors receive priority processing.
• Complete applications: missing documents, an expired skills assessment or English test, or late health checks are the most common causes of delay.

After the 494 visa is granted

The 494 visa lasts 5 years. After living and working in a designated regional area for at least 3 years and meeting the income requirement, you may be able to apply for permanent residency through the 191 visa.