Employer Sponsored Visa for Australia
Get expert help with Australia's Employer Nomination Visas, Skilled Regional Visas, Temporary Work Visas and Skills in Demand Visas.
- Licensed advice
- Evidence and timing
- Next step
Employer-sponsored visas allow Australian employers to hire skilled overseas workers when suitably qualified Australians are not available. The Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482) is the primary temporary pathway, with streams based on salary and occupation list. The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) provides permanent residence for eligible workers, either via transition from a 482 or through direct entry.
Eligibility
- 01
Nominated occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List or above the TSMIT
For the Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482), the Core Skills Stream requires an occupation on the CSOL and a salary at or above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). The Specialist Skills Stream removes occupation-list restrictions for salaries above the Specialist threshold.
- 02
Employer holds Standard Business Sponsorship or Accreditation
The sponsoring employer must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs. Employers on the direct-entry 186 pathway must hold an approved nomination. Failure to hold current sponsorship approval invalidates the entire application chain.
- 03
Minimum relevant work experience
Skills in Demand requires at least one year of relevant full-time work experience in the past five years. The subclass 186 direct-entry stream requires at least three years of full-time relevant experience, unless an exemption applies.
- 04
English language requirement met at the required level
Vocational English is the minimum for most employer-sponsored streams. This equates to IELTS 5 in each band or an equivalent result. Certain occupations and nationalities are exempt; your agent will confirm whether an exemption applies.
- 05
Salary at or above TSMIT and market rate
The nominated salary must meet both the TSMIT floor and genuine market rate for the occupation and location. Paying below market rate, even above the TSMIT, is grounds for refusal on nomination assessment.
- 06
Health and character requirements at application lodgement
Standard panel physician medicals and police clearances from every country of residence of 12 months or more in the past ten years. Health waivers are available in limited circumstances.
Mistakes that cost a refusal
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Submitting a Standard Business Sponsorship application that lacks sufficient evidence of the employer's genuine need and financial viability, leading to refusal at the first stage.
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Occupation description in the nomination that does not match the actual duties performed; a mismatch between the ANZSCO definition and the real role is the most common reason nominations are refused.
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Nominating a salary that meets the TSMIT but is below the genuine market salary for the role, triggering a market-salary-rate compliance issue.
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Missing the labour market testing requirement or conducting it in a way that does not satisfy the Department's evidence standard.
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Allowing Standard Business Sponsorship to lapse before the nomination is decided, forcing a repeat application.
From first call to grant
01 · 1-2 wk
Strategy
Occupation list verification, TSMIT and salary benchmarking, sponsorship type selection, and pathway planning from temporary to permanent.
02 · 2-6 wk
Sponsorship or accreditation
Department of Home Affairs application to approve the employer as a Standard Business Sponsor or accredited sponsor.
03 · 4-12 wk
Nomination lodgement
Nomination of the specific role and applicant, with occupation evidence, salary documentation, and labour market testing records where required.
04 · 2-4 wk
Visa application
Applicant lodges the 482 or 186 visa application with health, character, English, and skills evidence attached.
05 · 4-12 mo
Decision and grant
Department assessment of nomination and visa concurrently or sequentially, response to requests for further information, and visa grant.
What that buys you
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Sponsors carry ongoing legal obligations under the sponsorship undertaking; MARA-registered agents advise on those obligations before the sponsor commits, preventing inadvertent breaches.
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Occupation-list changes happen without notice; agents monitor updates to the CSOL, MLTSSL, and regional lists and restructure nomination strategies when lists shift.
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Labour market testing requirements are granular and case-specific; agents ensure the testing is conducted correctly so it is not rejected as insufficient at the nomination stage.
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For the 186 permanent pathway, timing of transition from 482 to permanent requires careful management of the two-year qualifying period and employment continuity obligations.
We work on a transparent flat fee, quoted at the consultation. We do not publish prices because the right number is the case-specific one.
Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)
Introduced on 7 December 2024, the Skills in Demand Visa replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa. It allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia for up to four years, with a clear pathway to permanent residence. Three streams apply: the Specialist Skills Stream (no occupation-list restriction, high salary threshold), the Core Skills Stream (occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, lower salary threshold), and the Labour Agreement Stream (bespoke arrangements outside the standard lists).
Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)
The subclass 186 is the permanent residence counterpart to the 482. The Temporary Residence Transition stream requires at least two years of full-time sponsored employment in the same occupation; the Direct Entry stream is available without prior 482 sponsorship but requires a positive skills assessment and at least three years of relevant experience. The Labour Agreement stream covers roles outside the standard occupation list under a negotiated arrangement.
Subclass 400: Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)
The Subclass 400 visa covers highly specialised, non-ongoing work, typically up to three months with possible extension to six months in exceptional cases. It is designed for professionals undertaking urgent projects, equipment installation, or technical training where a longer sponsored visa is not appropriate.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494)
A five-year provisional visa for skilled workers sponsored to work in designated regional areas. After three years meeting income and residence obligations, holders become eligible for permanent residence via the Subclass 191 visa.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can my family come with me on an employer-sponsored visa?
Yes. Eligible family members can be included as secondary applicants on both the 482 and 186 visas. Partners receive open work rights on the 482. Children can study in Australia.
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What happens if I change employers while on a 482 visa?
A subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa holder may change employers, but the new employer must have an approved nomination in place before the visa holder can start working for them. If employment with the current sponsor ends, the visa holder may stop working or work outside their usual sponsor-related work condition for up to 180 days in a single period, and up to 365 days in total across the visa grant period. These periods apply from 1 July 2024. Working for a new employer after the 180-day period, or before the new nomination is approved, may place the visa holder in breach of their visa conditions. We can manage the transfer process to help maintain continuity and reduce compliance risk.
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How do I move from a 482 to permanent residence?
The most common permanent residency pathway for a 482 Skills in Demand visa holder is the Temporary Residence Transition stream of the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa. This generally requires at least two years of full-time eligible sponsored employment while holding a subclass 482 visa, and the applicant must be nominated by their current employer. The Direct Entry stream may be available without first holding a 482 visa, but it usually requires a positive skills assessment, at least three years of relevant work experience, and an eligible employer nomination.
Next step
Speak with a licensed advisor about your visa options.
A focused consultation routed to the right licensed advisor. Continue independently after the call, or proceed with us and have the consultation fee deducted from the service fee.