494 Regional Employer Sponsored Visa
494 Regional Employer Sponsored — LA Stream
The Labour Agreement stream of the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) is for workers nominated by regional employers who hold a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government, including Designated Area Migration Agreements.
Labour agreements and DAMAs in regional areas
A Designated Area Migration Agreement is a formal arrangement between the Australian Government and a regional authority or state and territory government. It allows employers in the designated area to nominate workers in occupations not listed on standard skilled occupation lists and may provide concessions to salary, English, age, and skills assessment requirements.
To nominate under the Labour Agreement stream, the employer must be a party to a current labour agreement that includes provision for subclass 494 nominations. The terms of the agreement govern the eligible occupations and applicable criteria for each nomination.
Successful 494 Labour Agreement stream holders are subject to the same visa conditions as Employer Sponsored stream holders, including the requirement to live and work in regional Australia and the three-year pathway to the subclass 191 permanent residence visa.
DAMA coverage
DAMAs cover specific regional areas designated by state, territory, or local government authorities. Each DAMA specifies the eligible occupations, concessions, and employer access requirements.
Non-standard occupations available
The Labour Agreement stream allows nomination in occupations not available under the standard Employer Sponsored stream, subject to the specific terms of the applicable agreement.
Concessions available
Depending on the agreement, concessions may apply to age, English language, salary, and skills assessment requirements. The applicable concessions must be specified in the agreement.
Same visa conditions and 191 pathway
Labour Agreement stream holders are subject to the same regional living and working conditions and the same three-year pathway to subclass 191 permanent residence as Employer Sponsored stream holders.
DAMA
Key agreement type
5 years
Provisional visa period
Agreement
Governs all criteria
191 PR
Pathway after 3 years
Why instruct Visa Plan for your 494 LA application?
DAMA and agreement access
We advise on which DAMAs and labour agreements may be available to your employer and confirm eligibility before any nomination is lodged.
Agreement interpretation
The criteria for each nomination are governed by the specific agreement. We interpret the agreement's terms and prepare nominations that satisfy both the agreement and standard migration requirements.
End-to-end management
We manage the nomination and visa application stages concurrently where appropriate, and advise on the 191 pathway from day one to ensure the transition to permanent residence is smooth.
494 LA stream information is sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and is current as at April 2026. DAMA coverage and agreement terms are subject to change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.