Employer Sponsored Stream
Current Home Affairs data shows 50% of recently decided applications were finalised within 8 Months, while 90% were finalised within 12 Months.
Clear data for a calmer wait
Subclass 494 processing time, without the guesswork.
Use the stream and lodgement date shown in your application to compare your wait with current Home Affairs checkpoints.
Official benchmarksHome Affairs source
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Current figuresLatest published data
Choose your visa subclass
Your selected visa
Subclass 494
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
For skilled workers sponsored by an employer in designated regional Australia.
Eligibility, costs and application stepsChoose your pathway
Enter your lodgement date
See today's timeline
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Two details are enough to compare your wait with current Home Affairs benchmarks.
Published benchmarks
Current Processing Times
Compare how long 50% and 90% of recently decided applications took in each pathway.
What do 50% and 90% processed mean?Published benchmark
Employer Sponsored Stream
For skilled workers nominated by an approved regional employer for an eligible occupation.
8Months
50% processed
12Months
90% processed
Last updated: 5 Oct 2026
Published benchmark
Labour Agreement Stream
For workers nominated by an employer operating under a regional labour agreement.
4Months
50% processed
12Months
90% processed
Last updated: 5 Oct 2026
Stream-specific guide
Subclass 494 processing time by employer stream
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional applications are reported separately for the Employer Sponsored and Labour Agreement streams. Choose the stream attached to the lodged visa application.
Labour Agreement Stream
Current Home Affairs data shows 50% of recently decided applications were finalised within 4 Months, while 90% were finalised within 12 Months.
Employer nomination and visa processing are different clocks
A Subclass 494 pathway includes employer nomination and a visa application. The figures here describe the visa-processing stage and do not combine every employer or nomination step.
Which date should I enter?
Use the date the Subclass 494 visa application was lodged, not the employer nomination or sponsorship date.
50% processed does not mean your application is half complete
These percentages describe recently decided applications, not progress inside one individual case.