Employer visas / Subclass 494
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
Regional employer visa (494).
For businesses in regional Australia. Sponsor a skilled worker for 5 years, with a pathway to permanent residence after 3 years.
Our fees
Clear terms, agreed before you begin.
At Zest Legal, we believe in clear, upfront pricing. Our professional fees for standard visa applications are outlined below, so you know what to expect before getting started.
Contact us
Sponsoring multiple employees?
We offer tailored pricing for businesses with multiple applications or ongoing sponsorship needs. Contact us to discuss a fee arrangement suited to your business.
We act on fixed professional fees for most matters, confirmed in writing together with the scope of our services before you proceed. Government charges and third-party expenses are additional.
For businesses
What your business needs.
Your business must be in a designated regional area. That’s anywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Sponsorship and nomination
- Approved as a sponsor
- Genuine full-time role in a regional area
- Available for at least 5 years
- Salary meets the market rate and at least AUD 79,423
Also needed
- Job advertising (labour market testing), unless exempt
- Skilling Australians Fund levy
- Occupation on the regional skilled list
For employees
What the worker needs.
The worker must live and work in regional Australia while they hold the visa.
Eligibility
- Under 45, unless exempt
- Skills assessment for the occupation
- Usually 3 years’ relevant experience
- Competent English
With the visa
- Live and work in regional Australia for 5 years
- Include family members
- Apply for permanent residence (191) after 3 years, if eligible
How it works
From first call to a working visa.
Free 15-minute call
We confirm the right visa, the occupation and the salary, and flag anything that could hold it up.
Clear terms, then we begin
You receive a written quote and a checklist for the business and the employee.
We prepare everything
Sponsorship, nomination and visa, prepared together where we can. We guide any job advertising that’s needed.
Lodged and looked after
We lodge, deal with Home Affairs until a decision, and explain your obligations.
FAQ
Questions about the Subclass 494.
What counts as regional?
Everywhere in Australia except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Cities like Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong count as regional.
How does the worker get permanent residence?
After living and working in a regional area for 3 years on the 494 and meeting the income requirement, they may apply for the 191 permanent visa.
What will your fee be?
We give you a fixed-fee quote after your consultation.
Government charges are set by the Department of Home Affairs, change each July, and are paid on top of our fees. Figures checked October 2026. Use the Home Affairs estimator for exact visa charges.
Client reviews
What business owners say.
“I had an amazing experience with Zest Legal, they helped my company successfully secure visas for our employees. I'm so happy we switched over to Zest Legal from our previous lawyers, Rosa did an outstanding job and really went the extra mile to take care of all our immigration needs.”
“We had a really positive experience working with Zest Legal to organise a working visa for one of our employees. The team was amazing to deal with, kept us informed every step of the way, and made the whole process feel a lot less overwhelming than we expected. Everything was handled smoothly and without delays.”
★★★★★ 4.9 from 58 Google reviews
Zest for Business
Sponsoring several workers? Add ongoing support.
A monthly retainer for businesses with sponsored staff or a steady hiring pipeline. It covers the work that keeps you compliant and hiring.
- Sponsor compliance monitoring, with reminders before deadlines
- Notifying Home Affairs of changes within the required timeframes
- Advice calls on sponsorship and workforce questions whenever you need them
- Priority preparation of new nominations and visas
- An annual sponsorship health check
Monthly retainer
Tailored to your workforce
Pricing depends on how many sponsored workers you have and how often you hire. Tell us about your business and we'll send you a proposal.
Talk to us about Zest for BusinessHiring from overseas?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call to check basic eligibility and whether we're the right fit. It isn't legal advice, and depending on your circumstances you may still need a consultation. For legal advice now, book a 30-minute consultation ($330). Or call 1300 079 743.