The 494 visa is valid for 5 years. After living and working in a regional area of Australia and meeting the residency requirements, one can apply for the 191 permanent residency visa.

494 visa application requirements:

1. Designated areas: Applicants must live, work or study in regional areas as defined by the Australian Department of Immigration;

2. Employer nomination: Nominations for 494 positions must be submitted by employers in remote designated areas;

3. Work experience: At least 3 years of relevant work experience in the past 5 years;

4. Skills assessment: Mandatory skills assessment by an Australian accredited body is required;

5. Language requirements: IELTS overall score of 6, with no individual section score below 6 (or other equivalent English proficiency score);

6. Age requirement: Applicants must be no older than 45 years old at the time of application.