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Australian employers can sponsor skilled overseas workers for roles they cannot fill locally. If you have a job offer from an Australian business, or you are an employer facing a genuine skills gap, the employer sponsored visa program offers a structured pathway. Australian Migration Lawyers advises both employers and sponsored workers from initial sponsorship through to permanent residency.
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An employer sponsored visa is granted when an approved Australian employer nominates a skilled overseas worker for a specific, genuine role. The employer initiates the process. The worker must satisfy personal eligibility requirements. Both parties carry obligations for the life of the visa.
This differs from points-tested skilled visas, where the worker applies independently. For workers with a confirmed job offer who may not qualify through the general skilled migration program, employer sponsorship is often the most direct route to living and working in Australia.
There are three main employer sponsored visa subclasses, each suited to different circumstances.
Australia’s primary temporary employer sponsored visa. It allows an approved employer to sponsor a skilled worker for up to four years across three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement. For most holders, it is the starting point toward permanent residency through Subclass 186.
Australia’s primary permanent employer sponsored visa. It grants permanent residency on the day it is granted, with no provisional period. It is available through the Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry, and Labour Agreement streams.
A provisional visa for skilled workers sponsored by employers in designated regional areas of Australia. Granted for up to five years, it provides a pathway to permanent residency through Subclass 191 after three years of compliant regional employment.
For full eligibility, costs and application steps, visit the dedicated page for each subclass.
All three subclasses share a common set of requirements across both the employer and the worker.
The employer must hold Standard Business Sponsorship approval from the Department of Home Affairs before nominating any worker. As of 1 July 2026, the application charge is $420. Approval is valid for five years.
The employer must nominate a genuine position consistent with their usual business activities. The occupation must appear on the relevant skilled occupation list maintained by the Department of Home Affairs, and the proposed salary must meet the applicable income threshold. For Subclass 482, labour market testing must also be completed before the overseas worker is engaged.
The worker must hold the qualifications, skills and work experience required for the nominated occupation, satisfy English language requirements through an approved test such as IELTS or PTE, and meet health and character requirements. A formal skills assessment may also be required depending on the occupation.
As of 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold is $79,423 per year and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is $146,576 per year. Workers must also be paid at least the Annual Market Salary Rate for their role. Both thresholds are indexed annually on 1 July.
The employer obtains Standard Business Sponsorship from the Department of Home Affairs. This must be in place before any nomination is lodged.
The employer nominates the specific role, confirming occupation eligibility, salary compliance, and, where required, completed labour market testing.
The worker lodges their application once the nomination is approved, or in some cases concurrently. The worker must demonstrate that all personal eligibility requirements are met at this stage.
The Department of Home Affairs assesses both the nomination and the visa application. Applications that are complete and decision-ready at lodgement consistently produce better outcomes. If either stage is refused, review options may be available. Contact our lawyers promptly to receive any adverse decisions
Subclass 482 holders can transition to permanent residency through the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream after at least two years of employment with their sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation. Workers who have not previously held a Subclass 482 or 457 visa may qualify for the Subclass 186 Direct Entry stream, which typically requires a skills assessment.
Subclass 494 holders can apply for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa after three years of compliant employment and residence in regional Australia.
Planning the permanent residency pathway from the outset, including understanding how a change of employer affects eligibility, is essential. Contact our lawyers to understand how these rules apply to your circumstances.
Costs are shared between the employer and the worker. Employer-side charges cannot be passed to the sponsored worker under any circumstances.
As of 1 July 2026, the primary applicant visa application charge is:
Additional charges apply to secondary applicants. For a full cost estimate based on your circumstances, contact our lawyers.
The Department of Home Affairs publishes indicative processing times for all visa subclasses on its website, updated regularly. These figures are indicative only and do not guarantee when any individual application will be finalised.
Processing priorities are set by Ministerial Direction. As of 19 September 2026, Ministerial Direction 121 governs processing priorities for temporary skilled visas including the Subclass 482, and Ministerial Direction 122 governs priorities for the Subclass 186 and Subclass 494. Under both Directions, applications in construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources receive the highest processing priority.
For current processing times, you can verify directly with the Department of Home Affairs or contact our migration lawyers for guidance on what a realistic timeline looks like for your specific circumstances.
A refusal at the nomination or visa stage does not automatically close the pathway. In most cases, both nomination and visa refusals carry a right to seek merits of review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). Time limits are strict and cannot be extended. Missing a deadline forfeits the right to review entirely.
Contact our lawyers as soon as possible after receiving a refusal. Delays in seeking advice to reduce your available options significantly.
Employer sponsored visas are tied to the sponsoring employer, but a change of employer does not automatically cancel your visa.
As of 1 July 2024, Subclass 482 and Subclass 494 holders who cease work with their sponsoring employer have up to 180 consecutive days to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa or arrange to depart Australia, with a total cap of 365 days across the visa period. Full work rights are retained during this period.
A new nomination from the incoming employer is required to continue on the sponsored pathway. For workers building toward permanent residency, time in the cessation period does not count toward the qualifying period for the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream. Contact our lawyers before making any employer change.
Most refusals are preventable. The most frequent errors are:
Legal advice before lodgement eliminates most of these risks.
For workers, we assess your eligibility, identify the correct stream, prepare your application, and advise on refusal options.
For employers, we manage sponsorship and nomination, advise on SAF levy obligations and labour market testing, and help you maintain compliance throughout the sponsorship period.
We advise clients in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and regional areas across Australia, as well as clients based overseas seeking to work in Australia through employer sponsorship.
Quick, free tools to help you understand your options before you speak with a migration lawyer — estimate your visa costs or check your PR points.
Estimate Department of Home Affairs charges for employer-sponsored visas — Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) nomination and visa, or Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) — including the nomination fee, SAF levy and dependants.
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Estimate the Home Affairs visa application charge for Subclass 189, 190 or 491 — including any partner or children applying with you.
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See where your score sits against the 65-point minimum for the Subclass 189, 190 and 491 visas, based on age, English ability, work experience and more.
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Subclass 482 is temporary, for sponsored workers in most industries and locations. Subclass 186 grants permanent residency directly. The Subclass 494 is a provisional regional visa with a pathway to permanent residency after three years of compliant regional employment.
No. All employer sponsored visas require an approved Australian employer to nominate you for a genuine role. Without a willing sponsor, this pathway is not available.
It depends on your occupation and the applicable stream. Some occupations require a formal skills assessment before the visa application can proceed. Our lawyers can confirm whether one is required for your nominated occupation.
As of 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold is $79,423 per year and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is $146,576 per year. Your employer must also pay at least the Annual Market Salary Rate for your role. Both figures are indexed annually on 1 July.
Yes. Most employer sponsored visas allow you to include your partner and dependent children as secondary applicants. Additional visa application charges apply for each secondary applicant.
Your visa remains valid. As of 1 July 2024, you have up to 180 consecutive days, capped at 365 days total across your visa period, to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or arrange to depart Australia. Contact our lawyers promptly if your employment ends unexpectedly.
Finding a sponsor is the applicant’s responsibility. Once you have identified a willing employer, our lawyers can advise on the sponsorship and nomination process.
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