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Australia's largest independent migration law firm. Get a FREE Consultation T&C's apply
Need help? We are available 7 days a week.

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Apply for an Employer-Sponsored Visa in Hobart with Experienced Migration Lawyers
Employer-sponsored visas let Australian businesses hire skilled overseas workers where suitable local talent isn't available. Our Hobart employer-sponsored visa lawyers provide strategic advice to both employers and applicants seeking work visa sponsorship in Hobart, helping make sure sponsorship, nomination, and visa applications meet strict Department of Home Affairs requirements. We assist with preparing compliant applications, addressing eligibility issues, and reducing the risk of refusal or delay.

Ranked Best Lawyers
2026 & 2027
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Winner of the
Australian Law Awards
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Ranked Best Law
Firms Australia 2027

Ranked in Doyle’s
Guide Leading Immigration
Lawyers 2023-26
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Industries in Hobart hiring overseas skilled workers
Employer sponsorship requirements for Australian businesses
Pathways from temporary sponsored visas to permanent residency
Skilled professionals working and living in Hobart
Employers need to show their business is legally operating, financially viable, and has a genuine need for overseas workers in nominated roles.
Before sponsoring workers, most businesses need to apply to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor with the Department of Home Affairs.
Sponsors need to comply with ongoing obligations, including proper employment conditions, record keeping, and ensuring visa holders are only employed in approved roles.
Tasmanian employers can access global talent where local recruitment hasn't met workforce demands, subject to sponsorship approval.
There are no hidden costs for our services. Our fees are clearly set out in a fee agreement.
From the first same-day response to the granting of your Australian visa, you'll have direct access to a lawyer.
Our experienced lawyers will give you regular updates and clear explanations of visa pathways.
We offer a client satisfaction guarantee in relation to our visa application services.
3 - 6 months installment options available on some visa types.
At your first meeting, you'll speak directly with a migration lawyer, who will explain our services, discuss your visa options, and guide you through the entire process. You'll also receive a fixed, upfront fee for ongoing services.
We offer a range of flexible payment options. In addition to our friendly, compassionate in-person support, we also provide online appointments for your convenience.
Call us on
1300 150 745
Monday – Friday: 9am – 6pm
Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 1pm
Bank transfer, credit card (VISA, Mastercard, or AMEX), 3-6 monthly instalments available in some cases
PO Box 13118
Law Courts 8010
We assist with partner visa applications, ensuring relationship evidence and eligibility requirements are properly addressed.
Partner Visas
We provide sensitive and professional legal support for protection visa applicants.
Protection Visas
We advise on skilled migration pathways, including state-nominated and points-tested visas.
Skilled Migration Visas
Our lawyers represent clients in Administrative Review Tribunal proceedings.
ART Appeal
We provide representation and advice for visa refusal matters and review options.
Visa Refusal Appeal
We assist eligible applicants with citizenship applications and requirements.
Australian Citizenship
Our team provides guidance on family migration options to support family reunification.
Family VisasWe assist with parent visa applications, including contributory and non-contributory pathways.
Parent Visas
We assist with judicial review applications in the Federal Circuit and Family Court on migration matters.
Migration Court Review
We assist with judicial review applications in migration matters.
Visa Cancellation
We assist with visitor visa applications, including complex and refusal matters.
Visitor Visas
years of combined experience
for Partner visas for genuine and continuing spousal relationships
migration lawyers and migration agents representing clients at tribunal and court level
law firm, recognised as leading migration lawyers and migration agents
Find your destination:

Our legal expertise in migration law extends far beyond assisting clients in Australia's capital cities. We provide comprehensive support to individuals, families, and businesses in many locations across the country.
Nomination by an approved Australian employer
Occupation listed on the relevant skilled occupation list
Skills, qualifications, and work experience requirements
English language requirements
Health and character requirements
Passport and identification documents
Valid identity documents are needed to confirm nationality and personal details.
Employer nomination documentation
This includes sponsorship approval, nomination forms, and supporting evidence from the employer, including labour market testing evidence where the occupation requires it.
Employment contracts and job offer letters
A formal contract or offer setting out salary, role, and conditions of employment is required, reflecting at least the market salary rate for the position.
Skills assessment and qualification documents
Applicants need to provide evidence of qualifications, licences, and skills assessments where applicable.
English language test results
Approved English test results need to be provided to demonstrate required language proficiency.
We assess both employer and applicant eligibility to determine the correct visa pathway and requirements.
The employer applies for sponsorship approval and nominates the position in line with Department requirements.
Once sponsorship and nomination are approved, the visa application is lodged with supporting documents.
We assist throughout the assessment process, including responding to requests for further information and helping maintain compliance until a decision is made.
Using a lawyer helps make sure both employer and employee meet strict sponsorship and visa requirements. We assist in preparing accurate applications, reducing compliance risks, and addressing complex eligibility issues.
Legal support also improves the quality of submissions, helps avoid common refusal reasons, and ensures proper navigation of sponsorship, nomination, and visa stages, including Fair Work Act compliance for the underlying employment arrangement.
Government visa application fees
The Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa carries a base application charge of $4,015 for the primary applicant, effective from 1 July 2026. The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494) visas are each $6,140 for the primary applicant. These charges are set by the Department of Home Affairs and are reviewed annually.
Employer sponsorship and nomination costs
The employer pays a nomination fee of approximately $330 for the Subclass 482 visa and $540 for the Subclass 186 visa; there's no nomination fee for the Subclass 494 visa. Employers also pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, which for the 482 and 494 visas runs to roughly $1,200 to $1,800 per year of the nomination, depending on business size (for the 186 visa, the SAF levy is a one-off amount rather than a per-year charge). Salaries must also meet the relevant income threshold: currently $79,423 for the Core Skills stream of the 482 and for the 494 visa, and $146,576 for the Specialist Skills stream of the 482.
Skills assessment and testing fees
Applicants may need to pay for skills assessments, licensing checks, or qualification verification.
Legal and professional service fees
Legal fees depend on the complexity of the matter, including employer sponsorship setup and visa application support.
Factors affecting employer visa processing times
Processing times depend on sponsorship status, occupation type, completeness of documentation, and Departmental workload.
Typical timelines for Subclass 482, 186, and 494 visas
Processing can range from several weeks to several months depending on the visa subclass and case complexity.
Employer not meeting sponsorship requirements
An application can be refused if the employer doesn't meet legal sponsorship obligations or fails compliance checks.
Incorrect or incomplete documentation
Missing or inconsistent documentation can delay or result in refusal of the application.
Failure to meet occupation or skill requirements
Applicants need to clearly meet the skills and experience required for the nominated occupation.
English language or qualification issues
Not meeting minimum English standards or provide valid qualifications can result in refusal.
Hobart offers strong job opportunities across healthcare, education, hospitality, and the trades, alongside a growing tech and professional services base. Its relatively affordable cost of living, close-knit community, and demand for skilled workers across regional Tasmania make it an increasingly attractive destination for employer-sponsored migration, particularly given the wider access to the Subclass 494 regional pathway that Melbourne itself doesn't have.
We provide practical, end-to-end support for both employers and visa applicants. Our approach focuses on ensuring compliance with sponsorship obligations, preparing strong visa applications, and reducing refusal risk. We assist with complex cases, including sponsorship setup, occupation issues, and compliance concerns, while providing clear and strategic legal guidance throughout the process.







Our Hobart office brings nationally recognised immigration law expertise directly to Hobart and Tasmania clients. Every award listed below was earned through independent assessment, including peer review, client feedback, and workplace audits. When you work with our immigration lawyers in Hobart, you are working with a firm whose quality has been verified from the outside.
Perry Q. Wood is ranked as a Leading Immigration Lawyer in Victoria in Doyle's Guide 2026. Four consecutive years of inclusion in Doyle's Guide establishes a verified, long-term record of excellence and peer recognition in Australian immigration law.
Australian Migration Lawyers is ranked in the 2027 Best Law Firms - Australia edition by Best Lawyers. Firm rankings are determined through client feedback, peer nominations, and overall market reputation. Inclusion confirms the firm delivers top-tier legal services in immigration law at a national level.
Perry Q. Wood is recognised in the 2027 Best Lawyers in Australia™ edition for Immigration Law. This ranking is awarded exclusively through confidential peer review by senior lawyers in the same practice area. It is the leading global legal directory benchmark.

The government costs vary for each visa type, and you also need to factor in the cost of living while you await the outcome of your visa application. Consulting a reliable Hobart immigration lawyer can clarify details relating to specific visas and guide you on professional fees, Department of Home Affairs fees and other associated costs.
Hobart is Australia's second-oldest capital city, founded in 1804 as a British penal colony on the banks of the Derwent River. The Palawa people are the traditional custodians of the land, and their presence in Tasmania dates back at least 35,000 years. European settlement brought convicts primarily from England, Ireland, and Scotland, and the cessation of transportation in 1853 marked the beginning of Hobart's transition toward a free settler society. Read More
The post-World War II era brought migrants from Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Poland to Hobart, gradually diversifying a city that had remained predominantly Anglo-Celtic throughout its early history. In more recent decades, Hobart has welcomed humanitarian entrants and skilled migrants from China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and across Southeast Asia. Today, Hobart retains the highest proportion of Australian-born residents among Australia's capital cities, but its migrant community continues to grow steadily, enriching the city's cultural fabric and contributing to its ongoing economic recovery and growth. Read Less
Hobart is Australia's second-oldest capital city, founded in 1804 as a British penal colony on the banks of the Derwent River. The Palawa people are the traditional custodians of the land, and their presence in Tasmania dates back at least 35,000 years. European settlement brought convicts primarily from England, Ireland, and Scotland, and the cessation of transportation in 1853 marked the beginning of Hobart's transition toward a free settler society.
The post-World War II era brought migrants from Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Poland to Hobart, gradually diversifying a city that had remained predominantly Anglo-Celtic throughout its early history. In more recent decades, Hobart has welcomed humanitarian entrants and skilled migrants from China, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and across Southeast Asia. Today, Hobart retains the highest proportion of Australian-born residents among Australia's capital cities, but its migrant community continues to grow steadily, enriching the city's cultural fabric and contributing to its ongoing economic recovery and growth.


It's a visa that lets Australian employers sponsor skilled overseas workers to fill genuine job vacancies.
Processing times vary but typically range from several weeks to several months depending on the visa subclass and case complexity.
Yes, certain employer-sponsored visas provide pathways to permanent residency, including the Subclass 186 visa and, for Subclass 494 holders, a further transition to the Subclass 191 visa after meeting residency requirements.
Yes, eligible Hobart businesses can sponsor overseas workers if they meet Department requirements, and may also have access to the Subclass 494 regional pathway given Hobart's status as a designated regional area.
You may have options to seek review, reapply, or explore alternative visa pathways depending on the refusal reasons.
Perry Q Wood is Immediate Past President of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law and one of Australia's leading administrative, immigration and human rights lawyers.
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Australian Migration Lawyers © 2026 - Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Legal Practitioner Number 5513032.
Important Information Regarding the Use of the Term 'Partner'
We are an incorporated legal practice which is a corporation for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001. The use of the title ‘Partner’ by a lawyer in this practice is used to denote seniority and does not and is not intended to signify that the practice is contracting otherwise than as a corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, any such title does not and is not intended to signify that a partnership within the definition of the Partnership Act exists at law.
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