Regional Requirements and Eligibility

The Subclass 494 visa is a provisional visa designed specifically for skilled workers, including doctors, who are sponsored by an employer in regional Australia. It offers a five-year stay with a pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 191 visa after three years of living and working in a designated regional area.

To be eligible for the 494 visa as a doctor, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Employer in a regional area — Your sponsoring employer must be located in a designated regional area of Australia. This includes all of Australia except Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane (the definition of "regional" for visa purposes is broader than many people expect).
  • Skills assessment — A positive skills assessment from the relevant medical assessing authority, typically the Australian Medical Council (AMC). See our AMC guide.
  • English language proficiency — You must meet English language requirements, generally IELTS 6.0 in each band or equivalent for the visa, though higher scores may be needed for medical registration.
  • Work experience — At least three years of relevant post-qualification work experience in your nominated occupation.
  • Age — Under 45 years of age at the time of application (some exemptions may apply).
  • Nomination — Your employer must nominate you for a genuine, full-time position and meet all sponsorship obligations including salary thresholds.

Eligible Regional Areas

For the purposes of the 494 visa, "regional Australia" is defined broadly and includes most of the country. The following areas are classified as regional:

  • All of New South Wales except the Greater Sydney metropolitan area
  • All of Victoria except the Melbourne metropolitan area
  • All of Queensland except the Greater Brisbane metropolitan area
  • All of South Australia including Adelaide
  • All of Western Australia including Perth
  • All of Tasmania including Hobart
  • All of the Northern Territory including Darwin
  • All of the Australian Capital Territory including Canberra
  • The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in Queensland

This means that cities such as Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin, Canberra, and the Gold Coast all qualify as regional for the 494 visa, offering a wide range of lifestyle and career options. Learn more about comparing locations in our regional vs metro guide.

For a deeper understanding of what regional work entails for doctors specifically, including DWS and DPA classifications, visit our regional work page.

Benefits and Visa Conditions

The 494 visa offers several advantages for overseas doctors, particularly those open to working outside major capital cities:

  • Five-year duration — Longer than the standard 482 visa, providing more stability and time to establish yourself in Australia.
  • Pathway to PR — After living and working in a designated regional area for at least three years, you can apply for the Subclass 191 permanent residency visa.
  • Family inclusion — Your spouse/de facto partner and dependent children can be included on your visa application. Your partner will have full work rights. See bringing your family.
  • Regional demand — Regional areas often have the highest demand for doctors, meaning more job opportunities and potentially faster sponsorship processing.
  • Medicare access — Access to Medicare may be available depending on reciprocal healthcare agreements.

Key Visa Conditions

  • You must live and work in a designated regional area for the duration of the visa
  • You must work for your sponsoring employer (changing employers requires a new nomination but you can remain on the same visa subclass)
  • You must notify the Department of Home Affairs of any change in circumstances, including change of address or employer
  • You must maintain adequate health insurance for the duration of your visa if you are not covered by Medicare

494 Visa vs 482 Visa: Which Is Better for Doctors?

Both the 494 and the 482 visa are employer-sponsored options for overseas doctors, but they have important differences:

  • Location flexibility — The 482 visa allows you to work anywhere in Australia, while the 494 requires you to live and work in a regional area.
  • Duration — The 494 offers five years compared to four years for the 482 (Medium-term stream).
  • PR pathway — The 482 transitions to the 186 visa for PR, while the 494 transitions to the 191 visa. Both require three years of work before you can apply for PR.
  • Processing times — Regional visa applications may be processed faster due to government priority for regional migration.
  • Job availability — Regional areas often have more vacancies and less competition for medical positions.

For many overseas doctors, the 494 visa can be an excellent choice, particularly given that regional medical positions often come with competitive salary packages, additional incentives, and a broader scope of practice. Explore our regional vs metro comparison to understand the trade-offs.

Important Planning Note

This page is designed as practical guidance for overseas doctors and should be used alongside official requirements published by AHPRA, the AMC, relevant specialist colleges, and the Department of Home Affairs.

Rules, fees, and processing times can change. Before lodging any application, verify current criteria directly with official sources listed on our Resources page.