Australian businesses can sponsor skilled overseas workers for short-term or long-term roles under various employer-sponsored visa programs. These visas help fill critical skill gaps while ensuring compliance with Australian migration laws.
At Migration Affairs, we assist businesses of all sizes in navigating the complexities of employer-sponsored migration, ensuring smooth and compliant visa applications.
Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) Visa
The Skills in Demand (SID) visa, formerly known as the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, allows businesses to hire skilled overseas workers to address workforce shortages. This temporary visa offers businesses a streamlined pathway to access global talent while supporting Australia’s workforce needs. It is designed for workers with a job offer from an Australian business.
This visa may be granted up to 4 years, with Hong Kong visa holders staying up to 5 years. After two years of full-time employment on the 482 visa, visa holders may be eligible to apply for permanent residency under the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186).
SID Visa Streams
- Core Skills Stream
- Designed for temporary skilled workers in occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
- Requires a minimum salary that meets CSIT or the annual market salary rate for the occupation (whichever is higher).
- Specialist Skills Stream
- For highly skilled workers, with no occupation list restrictions.
- Requires a minimum salary that meets SSIT or the annual market salary rate for the occupation (whichever is higher).
- Offers expedited processing.
- Labour Agreement Stream (to soon be replaced by the Essential Skills Stream)
- For workers nominated under a Labour Agreement between the employer and the Australian Government.
The SID visa process comprises three stages: sponsorship, nomination, and visa. Click to read more.
SID Visa Process
- Businesses must obtain a Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval, valid for up to 5 years.
- Businesses must demonstrate that they are:
- actively and lawfully operating in Australia with a strong record of or a commitment to employing local labour, OR
- actively and lawfully operating overseas (not in Australia) and bringing the visa applicant to Australia to establish a business operation in Australia or fulfil a contractual obligation.
- Businesses must not have any “adverse information” affecting their suitability as an approved sponsor.
- Certain businesses may be able to apply for accredited status, enabling priority processing for certain nomination and visa applications.
Core Skills and Specialist Skills Stream
- Core Skills Stream:
- nominated for a full-time role in an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
- salary must meet the CSIT or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.
- Specialist Skills Stream:
- nominated for a full-time role in an occupation specified in Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6 in ANZSCO.
- salary must meet the SSIT (currently $135,000) or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.
- Labour Market Testing (LMT) is required unless exempt under International Trade Obligations (ITO).
- A genuine business need for the position must be demonstrated.
- The position must offer equivalent terms and conditions as Australian workers in the same role and location.
- Demonstrated financial capacity to employ the worker for at least the period of the nomination.
- A written contract of employment unless exempt.
Labour Agreement Stream
- Nomination work in a specified occupation under the terms of a Labour Agreement.
- Satisfy the nomination terms outlined in the Labour Agreement.
Core Skills and Specialist Skills Stream
- Meet the skills, qualifications, and employment background that match those necessary to perform the nominated occupation.
- Have at least one year of full-time, or equivalent, work experience in the nominated occupation or performing tasks at the same skill level in a related field.
- Meet any licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements mandatory to perform the occupation.
- Meet the health, character, and English requirements.
- Hold adequate arrangements for health insurance.
- Have substantially complied with the visa conditions that apply.
- Obtain a relevant skills assessment if required for the nominated occupation.
Labour Agreement Stream
- At least one year of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in the nominated occupation unless otherwise specified in the Labour Agreement.
- Meet the health and character requirements.
- Maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance.
- Have substantially complied with the visa conditions that apply.
- Satisfy English requirements unless labour agreement provides an English language concession.
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) Visa
The ENS visa offers a permanent residency pathway for skilled workers sponsored by an established Australian business. It is well suited for established businesses in Australia and employees with job offers from an Australian company.
ENS Visa Streams
- Temporary Residence Transition stream
- For 457/482 visa holders who have worked in the position for their sponsoring employer for the required period. It is available for 482 visa holders in all occupations.
- Direct Entry stream
- For applicants with at least three years of relevant work experience and a positive skills assessment in an eligible occupation.
- Labour Agreement stream
- For workers sponsored under an approved Labour Agreement, which includes access to a permanent visa pathway.
The ENS program comprises of two stages, nomination and visa.
Click to read more.
- Businesses must lodge a nomination specifying the nominated position and identifying the nominee. The position must be an occupation listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) (unless transitional provisions apply).
- The business must:
- be actively and lawfully operating in Australia
- offer a full-time and ongoing position for at least 2 years,
- have the financial capacity to employ the nominee for at least 2 years
- demonstrate a genuine need for the visa applicant to fill the skilled position within the business
- pay the nominee at least the CSIT and the annual market salary rate for the occupation, provided the salary is below $250,000 per year
- Under the Temporary Residence Transition stream, visa applicants must:
- have held a 457 or 482 visa and been employed in eligible sponsored employment for a total of 2 years in the last 3 years.
- be under 45 years of age unless exempt
- meet the health, character, and English requirements
- meet any mandatory licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements
- Under the Direct Entry stream, visa applicants must:
- have their skills assessed as suitable for the occupation by the relevant skills assessing authority, unless exempt
- have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in their occupation
- be under 45 years of age unless exempt
- meet the health, character, and English requirements
- meet any mandatory licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) Visa
The 494 visa enables regional employers to address skill shortages by sponsoring skilled overseas workers for up to five years, with a pathway to permanent residency after three years.
The work must be in a designated regional area. Holders of this visa can live, work, and study only in a designated regional area.
This process is outlined above in the TSS program.
- Businesses must nominate a position within their company and nominate an eligible occupation on a specified list of occupations
- Position to be filled must:
- be a genuine, full-time position that is likely to exist for at least 5 years
- be subject to a written contract of employment unless exempt
- be subject to employment conditions that are equivalent to Australian workers performing equivalent work at the same location
- have been subject to Labour Market Testing (LMT) unless exempt
- have a salary of at least the CSIT and at least the annual market salary rate for the nominated occupation. A Regional Certifying Body must assess the annual market salary.
- The visa applicant must:
- be under 45 years of age unless exempt
- have the skills and qualifications needed to perform the nominated occupation
- have their skills assessed as suitable for the occupation by the relevant skills assessing authority unless exempt
- have at least 3 years of full-time relevant work experience in their occupation
- have adequate arrangements for health insurance
- meet any mandatory licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements
- meet the health, character, and English requirements
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) (subclass 400) Visa
The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) (subclass 400) visa is suitable for individuals (such as professionals, managers, technicians, and tradespeople) who intend to work temporarily in Australia on short-term, specialised assignments or projects. The visa caters to those who bring specific skills/knowledge or experience that can assist Australian businesses and can’t reasonably be found in the Australian labour market.
This is a short-term visa granted with a stay period of up to 3 months (or up to 6 months for a strong business case).
Applicants must:
- have highly specialised skills, knowledge, or experience
- have a letter of invitation, job offer, employment contract, or other documentation from an Australian organisation confirming they have employed you to work in Australia
- be able to financially support oneself and any dependents
- be a genuine visitor
- be outside of Australia when applying for the visa
- meet the health and character requirements
The person can only do the work or activities for which the visa was granted. There is no age limit on applications.
Training (subclass 407) Visa
This visa allows applicants to undergo workplace-based occupational training or professional development in Australia. The training program must be a minimum of 30 hours per week, with 70% of training workplace based.
The visa can be granted for up to 24 months.
There are three types of occupational training covered by this visa:
- training or practical experience in the workplace required for registration for employment in their occupation in Australia or in their home country
- structured workplace training program to improve skills in an eligible occupation
- structured workplace training to enhance a person’s skills and promote capacity building outside Australia.
- Businesses must be approved as a Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS). The sponsorship approval is valid for 5 years.
- Businesses seeking to become a TAS must be one of the following kinds of organisations:
- business lawfully operating in Australia or
- Australian Commonwealth, state, or territory government agency or
- foreign government agency lawfully operating in Australia or
- international organisation recognised in Australia and lawfully operating in Australia or
- organisation that operates a superyacht, or the owner or captain of a superyacht or
- sporting organisation lawfully operating in Australia or
- religious institution lawfully operating in Australia.
- Businesses must have a good business record and not have any adverse information that is relevant to the business’ suitability as an approved sponsor
- Businesses must nominate the employee to complete workplace-based or professional development training within their company.
- Businesses must provide details about the employer, the intended trainee, the proposed training program, the position, and how and where the training will be provided
- The visa applicant must:
- at least 18 years of age, unless exceptional circumstances exist
- have functional English
- be a genuine temporary entrant
- have adequate means to support themselves during the period of their intended stay in Australia
- have adequate arrangements for health insurance
- meet the health and character requirements.
We know how important it is for you to understand the details and requirements for these visas. Our knowledgeable and experienced team at Migration Affairs is here to help you.
FAQs
One of the primary requirements for a 494 visa is that your sponsoring employer has to be located in a ‘designated regional area.’
Most locations in Australia outside major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane) are classed as designated regional areas for migration purposes.
The Department of Home Affairs has a list of postcodes that are considered designated regional areas. You can find the list here.
Talk to us at Migration Affairs and find out how we can assist you.
If you’re considering hiring a foreign worker in Australia, verifying their work rights before offering them a job is essential. The employer must ensure their employees have the legal right to work in Australia.
As an employer or individual, you can check the work rights of a non-citizen in Australia by accessing the Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.
VEVO will tell you the visa holder’s visa start date and expiry date, as well as whether the person is NOT allowed to work or whether there are work restrictions on their visa.
It is important to note that even if the visa holder has work rights in Australia, there may be restrictions on the amount and type of work they can undertake.
Your 482 visa has Condition 8607 attached to it which requires that you work for the employer which nominated you. You can change employers on a 482 visa but some specific procedures and conditions must be met.
If you stop working for your sponsor, you have up to 180 days from the date you finished working with the sponsor to:
- find another approved sponsor to nominate you,
- be granted a different visa, or
- depart Australia
If you have a new employer willing to sponsor you, they must lodge a new nomination application for you. During this 180 day period, you can also work for different employers and in different jobs than the ones you were sponsored for.
There is no age requirement for the Subclass 482 visa.
Yes. You must be under 45 years old unless exempt under specific circumstances.
After holding a 494 visa for at least 3 years, you may apply for permanent residency under the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191), subject to meeting the requirements.
LMT is proof that the employer has tried to recruit an Australian worker before sponsoring an overseas worker. It is required for most employer sponsored visas including 482 and 494 visas. Employers usually need to advertise the role for at least 4 weeks unless exempt under International Trade Obligations (ITOs).
Yes. Employer sponsored visas all have an English language proficiency requirement. English language requirements vary depending on the visa subclass. Applicants must provide a specified English test result achieving the minimum required scores for the visa. Some exemptions apply, such as for passport holders from English speaking countries or individuals who have completed certain levels of study in English.
No. A 400 visa is not on the pathway to permanent residency. It is specifically a temporary visa intended for short-term, specialised work or to attend a specific event or project in Australia.
Businesses can hire foreign workers in certain occupations on a temporary or permanent basis. Migration Affairs support enterprises of all sizes to advise and assist with business sponsorship and employee visa requirements. We can work with you as a trusted immigration partner to select the visa program best suited to your employment needs.
Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482) visa
The Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482) visa (TSS visa) is a temporary visa with a pathway to permanent residence. However, this depends on several factors including occupation, age, or salary. The temporary visa allows applicants to live and work in the nominated position in Australia while employed by their sponsoring employer.
The TSS program targets established businesses in Australia and employees with job offers from an Australian company.
There are three streams under the TSS program:
- Short-term stream
- This stream is for employers to source genuinely temporary overseas skilled workers to fill short-term positions listed on the short-term skilled occupation list, for up to 2 years (or up to 4 years if an international trade obligation applies)
- Medium-term stream
- This stream is for employers to source highly skilled overseas workers to fill medium-term positions listed on the medium and long term strategic skilled list, for up to 4 years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after 3 years
- Labour Agreement stream
- This stream is for employers who have an executed labour agreement with the Commonwealth to source skilled overseas workers where there is a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and the standard TSS visa program is not available
Sponsorship
- Before a business can sponsor employees under the TSS visa and SESR visa, they need to apply for approval as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)
- The business seeking to become an SBS must:
- Be a business actively and lawfully operating in Australia and has a strong record of, or a demonstrated commitment to, employing local labour, or
- Be a business actively and lawfully operating overseas (not in Australia), and be bringing the visa applicant to Australia either to establish a business operation in Australia or to fulfil contractual obligations
- The business must not have any adverse information that is relevant to the business’ suitability as an approved sponsor
- Certain businesses may be able to apply for accredited status, which enables them to receive priority processing for all TSS nomination and visa applications
Nomination
- This requires the business to nominate a position within their company and nominate an eligible occupation on a specified list of occupations
- The position to be filled must:
- Be a genuine, full time position
- Be subject to a written contract of employment unless exempt
- Be subject to employment conditions that are equivalent to Australian workers performing equivalent work at the same location
- Have been subject to Labour Market Testing (LMT), which requires advertising the position for 4 weeks in the last 4 months, unless exempt
- Have a salary of at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) (i.e., $53,900) and at least the annual market salary rate for the nominated occupation
Visa application
- The person nominated to work in the nominated occupation must apply for a TSS visa
- The visa applicant must:
- Have the skills and qualifications needed to perform the nominated occupation
- Have at least 2 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field
- Have adequate arrangements for health insurance
- Meet any mandatory licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements
- Meet the health, character, and English requirements
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) visa
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa (ENS visa) is a permanent visa for skilled workers to live and work in Australia indefinitely. The ENS program targets established businesses in Australia and employees with job offers from an Australian company.
There are three streams under the ENS program:
- Temporary Residence Transition stream
- This stream is for those who have worked for 3 years full-time whilst holding a 457 or TSS visa in the same occupation with their nominating employer
- Direct Entry stream
- This stream is for those applicants who have obtained a positive skills assessment and have at least 3 years of work experience in the nominated occupation
- Labour Agreement stream
- This stream is for applicants with employers who have negotiated a labour agreement with the Commonwealth, which includes access to a permanent visa pathway
Nomination
- This requires the business to lodge a nomination that specifies the details of the position and identifies the nominee
- The nomination requirements include:
- The business must be actively and lawfully operating in Australia
- The nominated position must be full time and ongoing for at least 2 years and the business must have the capacity to employ the nominee for at least 2 years
- There must be a genuine need for the visa applicant to fill the skilled position within the business
- If the nominee will earn less than $250,000 per year, the business must pay them at least the annual market salary rate for the nominated position
- The position must be an occupation listed on the Medium to Long-term Strategic Skills List (unless transitional provisions apply)
Visa application
- The person nominated to work in the nominated occupation must apply for an ENS visa
- Under the Temporary Residence Transition stream, visa applicants must:
- Have held a 457 or TSS visa and worked on a full-time basis in the nominated position for the nominating employer in Australia for at least 3 years in the last 4 years
- Be under 45 years of age, unless exempt
- Meet the health, character, and English requirements
- Meet any mandatory licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements
- Under the Direct Entry stream, visa applicants must:
- Have their skills assessed as suitable for the occupation by the relevant skills assessing authority, unless exempt
- Have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in their occupation
- Be under 45 years of age, unless exempt
- Meet the health, character, and English requirements
- Meet any mandatory licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa (SESR visa) allows regional employers to address identified labour shortages by sponsoring skilled overseas workers to live and work in regional Australia. It is a provisional visa to fill skilled positions for 5 years, with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after 3 years.
Sponsorship
- This process is outlined above in the TSS program
Nomination
- This requires the business to nominate a position within their company and nominate an eligible occupation on a specified list of occupations
- The position to be filled must:
- Be a genuine, full-time position that is likely to exist for at least 5 years
- Be subject to a written contract of employment unless exempt
- Be subject to employment conditions that are equivalent to Australian workers performing equivalent work at the same location
- Have been subject to Labour Market Testing (LMT), which requires advertising the position for 4 weeks in the last 4 months, unless exempt
- Have a salary of at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) (i.e., $53,900) and at least the annual market salary rate for the nominated occupation. A Regional Certifying Body must assess the annual market salary
Visa
- The person nominated to work in the nominated occupation must apply for a SESR visa
- The visa applicant must:
- Be under 45 years of age, unless exempt
- Have the skills and qualifications needed to perform the nominated occupation
- Have their skills assessed as suitable for the occupation by the relevant skills assessing authority, unless exempt
- Have at least 3 years full-time relevant work experience in their occupation
- Have adequate arrangements for health insurance
- Meet any mandatory licensing, registration, or professional membership requirements
- Meet the health, character, and English requirements
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) (subclass 400) visa
The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) (subclass 400) visa is suitable for workers (such as professionals, managers, technicians, and tradespeople) with highly specialised skills, knowledge or experience that can assist Australian business and which cannot reasonably be found in the Australian labour market.
The highly specialised workstream permits workers to undertake short-term, non-ongoing, highly technical work in Australia. This is a short-term visa granted with a stay period of up to 3 months (or up to 6 months for a strong business case).
- Have highly specialisedspecialised skills, knowledge or experience
- Have a letter of invitation, job offer, employment contract or other document from an Australian organisation confirming they have employed you to work in Australia
- Be able to support yourself and any dependents
- Be a genuine visitor
- Be outside of Australia when applying for the visa
- Meet the health and character requirements
Training (subclass 407) visa
The Training (subclass 407) visa is a temporary visa that allows workers to undergo workplace-based occupational training or professional development in Australia.
There are three types of occupational training covered by this visa:
- Occupational training required for registration
- Occupational training required to improve skills in an eligible occupation
- Occupational training for capacity building overseas
Sponsorship
- Before a business can sponsor employees for the Training visa, they need to apply for approval as a Temporary Activities Sponsor (TAS)
- The business seeking to become a TAS must be this kind of organisation:
- a business lawfully operating in Australia or
- an Australian Commonwealth, state, or territory government agency or
- a foreign government agency lawfully operating in Australia or
- an international organisation recognised in Australia and lawfully operating in Australia or
- an organisation that operates a superyacht, or the owner or captain of a superyacht or
- a sporting organisation lawfully operating in Australia or
- a religious institution lawfully operating in Australia.
- The business must have a good business record and not have any adverse information that is relevant to the business’ suitability as an approved sponsor
Nomination
- This requires the business to nominate the employee to complete workplace-based or professional development training within their company.
- They must provide details about the employer, the intended trainee, the proposed training program, the position, and how and where the training will be provided
Visa application
- The person nominated to work in the nominated occupation must apply for a training visa
- The visa applicant must:
- At least 18 years of age, unless exceptional circumstances exist
- Have functional English
- Be a genuine temporary entrant
- Have adequate means to support themselves during the period of their intended stay in Australia
- Have adequate arrangements for health insurance
- Meet the health and character requirements
