Islamabad, July 8, 2025: Many people in Pakistan dream of going to Australia for work and a better life. Australia has opened the Subclass 494 Visa for skilled workers who want to live in smaller cities and towns instead of big cities like Sydney or Melbourne.
This visa lets you live and work in a regional area for up to 5 years. After 3 years, you can apply for a permanent visa and later for citizenship through the Subclass 191 Visa.
The main purpose of this visa is to fill job shortages in less crowded parts of Australia. Places like Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Gold Coast, Darwin, and Canberra are included in the regional areas list.
Who Can Apply and How It Works
To be eligible for this visa, you must:
- Be under 45 years old
- Have a valid job offer from an approved employer in a regional area
- Your job must be on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List
- Get a skills assessment that matches your job
- Have at least 3 years of relevant work experience
- Prove your English skills with IELTS 6 bands in each section (or an equivalent test)
- Pass medical checks and provide police clearance certificates
Family members like your spouse and children can be added to your visa application. They will have the right to live, work, and study in Australia.
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The employer must first become an approved sponsor and then nominate you for the position. You must then gather all required documents: passport, job offer, skills test result, English test result, work experience proof, and police and health reports.
After applying online and paying the visa fee, you might be asked for biometrics and medical checks. Once approved, you must start your job within 90 days and stay in the regional area.
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One major benefit of the Subclass 494 Visa is that it leads to a clear path to permanent residency if you meet all the conditions and salary limits for three years.
Before applying, check all related costs like skills assessment fees, medical exams, translation, and visa application charges.
