Subclass 494 vs. 482 Visa: What’s the Difference?
Subclass 494 vs. 482 Visa:
What’s the Difference?
Australia
offers multiple skilled visa options for foreign professionals, but Subclass 494 and Subclass 482 are two of the
most commonly discussed. While both allow skilled workers to be sponsored by
employers, their scope, eligibility, and pathways to permanent residency differ
greatly.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you understand which
visa might suit your goals better:
|
Factors |
Subclass 494 Visa |
Subclass 482 Visa |
|
What is it? |
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa |
Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) – Skills in Demand Visa |
|
Work Location |
Only in designated regional areas
of Australia |
Anywhere in Australia |
|
Age Limit |
Must be under 45 years |
No age limit |
|
English Language Requirement |
Yes – Minimum IELTS 6 in
all four bands |
Yes – Varies based on stream |
|
Work Experience Required |
3 years (in the nominated
occupation) |
1 year (in the nominated
occupation) |
|
Number of Occupations |
Over 650
eligible occupations |
Around 456
eligible occupations |
|
Visa Validity |
5 years |
2–4 years, depending on the
stream |
|
Application Fee |
AUD 4,770 |
AUD 3,115 |
|
Processing Time |
7–8 months, depending on the
stream |
4–5 months, depending on the
stream |
|
PR Pathway |
Eligible for Subclass 191
after 3 years in a regional area |
Eligible for Subclass 186 or 187
after 2 years of employment |
|
Extension Option |
❌ Cannot be extended |
✅ Can be extended |
Choosing Between 494 and 482
- Choose Subclass 494 if you’re
open to settling in a regional
area and want a strong
PR pathway through Subclass 191.
- Choose Subclass 482 if you want flexibility to work in
metro cities like Sydney,
Melbourne, or Brisbane and plan to transition to PR
through Subclass 186/187.
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