Employer Sponsored Visa Options

Employer Sponsorship Visas

As Employer Sponsored Visa Specialists we process numerous employer sponsored visas on a daily basis.

Employers will need to be assessed to ensure the company meets all requirements for sponsorship. If you are an employer, please contact our office to confirm eligibility for sponsorship.

There are multiple visa options for employer sponsorship, please refer to the list below.
*Apart from the visa options below the applicant may qualify for a number of other visas which include work rights. To ensure you obtain precise info for your specific situation it is best that you arrange a migration assessment with one of our Registered Immigration Specialists to confirm the best visa option for your situation.

Temporary Work Short Stay Specialist visa (subclass 400) visa – Temporary Residency

  • The applicant must be supported by an organisation to be engaged in short-term, highly specialized, non-ongoing work, usually related to specific projects.
  • The applicant must have specialist skills or experience to undertake the work
  • This visa may be used to participate in an activity or work relating to Australia’s interests.
  • Visa duration usually 3 to 6 months and can be renewed in some cases
  • the option to apply for another visa subclass before this visa expires is available

Temporary Activities visa (subclass 408) visa – Temporary Residency

  • Various streams available for offshore and onshore applicants
  • COVID stream currently the most popular stream
    • Visa duration usually up to 12 months and can be renewed in some cases
    • applicant must be in Australia
    • must be working or have an offer of employment
    • must hold a temporary visa with work rights that will expire within 90 days or held a temporary visa with work rights which expired within the last 28 days
    • It is possible to then apply for a 482 visa afterwards if applicant meets all requirements

Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa  – Temporary Residency

  • More than 500 occupations to choose from
  • Occupation must be listed on relevant skilled occupation list for this subclass
  • Visa duration 2-4 years initially depending on occupation and contract
  • Business sponsorship approval valid for 5 years
  • No age limit for worker
  • Registered and lawfully operating business either established or start-up
  • Sufficient funds required for business expenses and employee salaries including foreign worker/s
  • Applicant must have appropriate skills and/or qualifications related to skilled occupation – at least 2 years of work experience from Australia or outside Australia, exemptions apply in some cases
  • Applicant must have an equivalent English IELTS score of 5 average with a minimum score of 4.5 in each component -or- equivalent English IELTS score of 5 in each component depending on your occupation *exemptions apply in some cases
  • A skills assessment is required for some occupations
  • Employer must pay market salary rate for full time employment, 38 hours per week *part-time hours may be acceptable in some cases
  • Salary must not be less than $70,000 + superannuation, overtime additional
  • Employer contributions are required for the government Skilled Australians Fund – SAF fees depend on various factors including nominated occupation and duration of the visa
  • Employer must provide evidence of genuine need in most cases – our office will provide assistance including detailed guidelines and confirm whether this is required in your case
  • A business plan or organizational chart may be required in some cases
  • Advertising of the position is required in some cases
  • Additional information may be required depending on each particular case

Process

Stage 1 Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) application
Approval required for employer to sponsor foreign workers. This is like a ‘license’ to sponsor foreign workers and will be valid for a 5 year period.

Stage 2 Nomination application
Employer nomination required for the proposed worker (including family) and skilled occupation.

Stage 3 Visa application
Personal details of proposed employee required including medical and character information. The employee requires appropriate qualifications and/or skills for nominated skilled occupation as well as relevant English score.

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa – Temporary Residence Transition stream – Permanent Residency

  • Occupation must be listed on relevant skilled occupation list for this subclass – as per latest regulations, all occupations listed on the MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL lists are eligible to apply for the ENS186TRT
  • Applicant must have held a 482 visa or associated bridging visa for at least 2 years in the last 3 years in the nominated occupation
  • Employer must have complied with 482 sponsorship obligations
  • Age under 45 *exemptions apply in some cases
  • Sufficient funds required for business expenses and employee salaries including foreign worker/s
  • Applicant must have appropriate skills and/or qualifications related to skilled occupation
  • Applicant must have an English IELTS score of at least 6 in each band, read more about english exam options
  • Employer must pay market salary rate for full time employment, 38 hours per week
  • Employer contributions are required for the government Skilled Australians Fund – SAF fees depend on various factors including nominated occupation and duration of the visa
  • Additional information may be required depending on each particular case


Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa – 
Direct Entry stream – Permanent Residency

  • Occupation must be listed on relevant skilled occupation list for this subclass – currently all occupations listed on the MLTSSL and ROL lists
  • A 482 is not required for this option
  • Applicant must have appropriate skills and/or qualifications related to skilled occupation
  • Applicant must prove 3 years of work experience from Australia or outside Australia
  • Applicant must obtain positive skills assessment for skilled occupation
  • English IELTS score of 6 is required in each band, read more about english exam options
  • Age under 45 *exemptions apply in some cases
  • Applicant and employer must declare that employment will last for at least 2 years
  • Employer must pay market salary rate for full time employment, 38 hours per week
  • Employer contributions are required for the government Skilled Australians Fund – SAF fees depend on various factors including nominated occupation and duration of the visa
  • Additional information may be required depending on each particular case

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494) – Temporary Residency

  • Specifically for regional areas – the place of work must be located in a regional area, the sponsoring employer can be located in a regional area or metropolitan area
  • Occupation must be listed on relevant skilled occupation list
  • Age under 45 unless exempt
  • process consists of SBS, Nomination and visa stages similar to the 482 visa
  • nomination approval from region required
  • 5 year duration – position must be likely to exist for 5 years
  • Salary must not be less than $70,000 + superannuation, overtime additional
  • applicant requires competent English, exemptions may apply in some cases
  • positive skills assessment required
  • at least 3 years skilled work experience, exemptions apply in some cases

 

Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (Subclass 191) – Permanent Residency – available from Nov 2022

  • applicants must have held a subclass 491 or 494 visa for at least 3 years and must have complied with visa conditions including living, working or studying
    in a regional area and met minimum taxable income requirements
  • applicants must have earned the TSMIT level income of $70,000 for three financial years whilst holding the Subclass 491 visa in order to apply for the Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Subclass 191 visa
  • no maximum age limit

 

Training visa (subclass 407) – Temporary Residency

  • available for full-time work and and on the job training
  • applicant requires recent skills or work experience – 1 year of full time work experience related to the nominated occupation -or- evidence of recent graduation from course related to nominated occupation
  • English score of equivalent IELTS 4.5 average is required
  • employer must provide a training plan
  • visa duration is normally for 12 months with a possibility to renew or apply for another visa
  • read more about the Training 407 visa

Australian Job Search

If you are a prospective visa applicant and seeking an employer to sponsor you, read more about how to find a job the Australian way!

Self Sponsorship for visa applicants

*Please note, it is not possible to sponsor yourself unless you have an actively trading business and can show strong financials and the ability to employ at least 3-5 full-time australian citizen employees.

What’s Next?
To ensure you obtain precise information for your specific situation please arrange an appointment with one of our Registered Migration Specialists. Our Migration Specialist will conduct a full migration assessment and advise which visa option or pathway is best for you. Please call our office on 02 8964 5880 for full info. Find out more about what a migration assessment involves.