EMPLOYER SPONSORSHIP
Take the pressure off and fill essential roles with skilled employees.
Overcome Labour Shortages
Struggling to find skilled workers locally to fill essential roles?
Sponsoring skilled migrant workers might be the solution to take the pressure off and help your business succeed.
Migrant workers are highly skilled, educated individuals willing to work in all parts of Australia. To be eligible for a visa, they must evidence their qualifications and experience, have a certain level of English language skills, and meet character and health requirements.
Many Australian businesses benefit from the skills and knowledge transferred from migrant workers, their contribution to training apprentices and their commitment to long-term employment in Australia.
Simple 4-Step Process
Tailored Eligibility Assessment
Easy Evidence Collection
Quick Application Lodgement
Friendly Ongoing Support
Business Sponsorship
Employer sponsored visas allow Australian businesses to address labour shortages for essential positions where they are unable to source suitable local talent. The type of sponsorship depends on the needs of the business.
Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)
Features
- Valid for 5 years
- Sponsor 482 and 494 visas
- No limit on numbers you sponsor
- Suitable for sole traders also
Requirements
- Legally established & currently operating
- Financial stability
- No adverse information
Temporary Activities Sponsor
Features
- Valid for 5 years
- Sponsor 403, 407 and 408 visas
- No limit on numbers you sponsor
- Not suitable for sole traders
Requirements
- Legally established & currently operating
- Financial stability
- No adverse information
The Visas You Can Sponsor
Employers throughout Australia who struggle to find skilled individuals within the local Australian labour market are seeing results in filling skill gaps through employer sponsored visas.
There are several visas that allow you to sponsor overseas workers either temporary or permanently. The visas we work with include:
Skills in Demand (SID) Visa Subclass 482
Employer Nomination Regional Visa Subclass 494
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa Subclass 400
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa Subclass 186
Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)
Arguably the most common employment visa, the Subclass 482 is granted for up to 4 years.
The employer is required to be an approved standard business sponsor (SBS) and then lodge a nomination identifying the position and outlining salary, labour market testing and other requirements.
The standard SID visa process requires that the occupation be on the relevant skilled occupation list and salary be paid at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT).
This visa has a pathway to permanent residency after 2 years, which also requires employer nomination.
Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
Designed to address skill shortages in regional Australia, the Subclass 494 allows workers to remain for up to 5 years with full work rights as long as they remain living and working in regional Australia.
This pathway requires employer nomination and advice from the relevant Regional Certifying Body (RCB), and visa applicants generally require a skills assessment.
A benefit of the Subclass 494 visa is that it has a pathway to permanent residency which does not require employer nomination so there are no application costs or requirements for the business.
Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)
The Subclass 400 is a short-term visa for highly skilled individuals undertaking non-ongoing work or specialised activities. It is ideal for businesses requiring urgent, short-term assistance with a particular project, installation or troubleshooting where skills are not readily available in the local labour market.
This visa allows for stays of up to 3 months (6 months in limited circumstances) and must be applied for whilst the applicant is outside Australia.
The Subclass 400 visa is suitable for:
Professionals delivering highly specialised services on a short-term basis
Overseas technicians installing or commissioning specialised machinery
Specialists delivering consulting, training, or project-based services
Employees seconded for a defined short-term period
Workers filling urgent gaps where no Australian worker is available
Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
The Subclass 186 is a permanent residency visa allowing skilled workers to remain in Australia indefinitely.
There are three streams for the Subclass 186 visa:
Direct Entry Stream – for new or recently employed overseas workers (generally requires a skills assessment)
Temporary Residence Transition Stream – for subclass 482 visa holders (skills assessment generally not required)
Labour Agreement Stream – for businesses with a formal labour agreement in place
Labour Agreements
When standard employer sponsored visa programs such as the subclass 482, subclass 494 or subclass 186 are too restrictive for your hiring needs, a Labour Agreement may be the solution.
Labour Agreements are negotiated arrangements between the Australian Government and employers (or industry bodies), allowing Australian businesses to sponsor overseas workers in occupations or under conditions not available through the standard skilled visa programs.
As experienced Registered Migration Agents, we can assist you in preparing and negotiating a Labour Agreement to help address skills shortages within your business. We can provide expert guidance on the process, compliance requirements and how to best align your workforce needs with available immigration pathways.
Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)
Features
- Between Aus govt. and state/territory
- Designed to support regional businesses
- Sponsor subclasses 482, 494 and 186
- Various concessions available
Requirements
- Prioritise recruitment of Australians
- Operating in designated regional area
- Endorsement before labour agreement
Industry Labour Agreement
Features
- Industry-specific
- Not limited to regional businesses
- Concessions available
- Includes semi- and low-skilled workers
Requirements
- Prioritise recruitment of Australians
- Financial stability
- No adverse information
Company-Specific Labour Agreements
If a DAMA or industry labour agreement is not suitable for your business’ needs, you may consider a Company-Specific Labour Agreement (CSLA). This is negotiated directly between an individual employer and the Department of Home Affairs. It allows the business to sponsor overseas workers in roles that are:
Unique to the business or industry
Not available on the standard occupation lists
Not available under a DAMA or industry labour agreement
Required due to business expansion, unique equipment or niche projects
These agreements are custom-built through the support of a Registered Migration Agent to suit the employer’s workforce strategy. They are typically used where a strong business case can be made for the need.
Why work with us
With extensive experience in employer sponsored migration, we understand the challenges faced by both skilled workers and Australian businesses of all sizes.
From exemptions and labour market testing to sponsorship obligations and compliance, we understand why employment visas are confusing.
What you get
Eligibility assessment for business and employee
Assistance with sponsorship, nomination and visa applications, and everything in between
Strategic advice for transitioning from a temporary work visa to a permanent work visa
Support from start to finish
What clients say
Let's Get Started
If your business is ready to sponsor skilled overseas talent but you’re unsure where to start, we’re here to help.
Book a consultation with a Registered Migration Agent today to get expert advice on the process of sponsoring skilled workers and selecting the right Australian work visa for your business.
We offer fixed fees, responsive communication and some of the best customer service available in the industry, so get in touch today and let’s get started!