Employer Sponsored Visa
(Subclass 482, Subclass 494, Subclass 186)
Australia’s employer sponsored visa programs allow Australian businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers to fill positions that cannot be filled by the local labour market.
These visa programs are designed to support Australian employers facing skill shortages while providing overseas professionals with opportunities to work and potentially settle in Australia.
General Employer Sponsored Migration Process
Employer sponsored migration generally involves three key stages (except the Subclass 186 visa, which has only nomination and visa application stages):
1. Sponsorship – the employer must first be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (or have an approved labour agreement).
2. Nomination – the employer nominates a specific position to be filled by an overseas worker.
3. Visa Application – the nominated worker applies for the relevant visa.
1. Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)
The Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers to work in Australia temporarily when they are unable to find a suitably qualified Australian worker.
This visa enables Australian businesses to address labour shortages while allowing skilled professionals to gain work experience in Australia. This is a temporary work visa, but it has a pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
Streams of the Subclass 482 Visa
• Core Skills Stream: This stream is designed for occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Applicants may stay in Australia for up to four years, depending on the occupation and employment contract.
• Specialist Skills Stream: This stream is intended for highly skilled professionals with advanced expertise and higher salary levels. It allows Australian businesses to recruit highly specialised professionals from overseas.
• Labour Agreement Stream: This stream applies when an employer has a labour agreement with the Australian Government, allowing them to sponsor overseas workers for occupations that may not appear on standard occupation lists.
The 3 Stages for Subclass 482
a) Sponsorship Requirements
Before sponsoring overseas workers, an employer must become an approved Standard Business Sponsor. To qualify as a sponsor, the business must generally:
• Be lawfully operating in Australia
• Demonstrate a genuine need for skilled overseas workers
• Meet training and employment obligations
• Comply with Australian workplace and immigration laws
Once approved, the employer can sponsor overseas workers for nominated positions.
b) Nomination Requirements
• The employer must nominate a genuine position within the business.
• The nomination must demonstrate that the position is genuine and full-time, the occupation is on the relevant Skilled Occupation List, and the salary meets the market salary rate and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT = AUD 76,515 as at 1 July 2025).
• Labour Market Testing (LMT) has been conducted where required, which may be exempted in certain situations.
c) Visa Applicant Requirements
To apply for the Subclass 482 visa, applicants generally must:
• Be nominated by an approved Australian employer
• Have the skills and qualifications required for the nominated occupation
• Have at least one year of relevant work experience
• Meet the English language requirement
• Meet Australia’s health and character requirements