Do I have to live and work in regional Australia on a subclass 494 visa?

The whole purpose of the subclass 494 visa is to direct skilled migrants to regional Australia, so a core condition is that you live, work and study only in a designated regional area. Major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are excluded.

Complying with the regional condition is also essential for your future subclass 191 permanent residence application, which requires a track record of regional residence. Breaching the condition can put both your current visa and your PR pathway at risk.