How Employer Sponsorship Works in Australia

Employer sponsorship is one of the fastest pathways to working in Australia. Here is how it works from both sides.

The two main employer-sponsored visas

Subclass 482 - Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS)

The 482 visa allows Australian employers to sponsor overseas workers for positions they cannot fill locally. It is a temporary visa with a pathway to permanent residency.

Subclass 186 - Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

The 186 visa is the permanent residency endpoint for employer-sponsored workers. You can apply through the Temporary Residence Transition stream (after holding a 482) or the Direct Entry stream.

How sponsorship works

The process has three stages:

1. Employer applies for sponsorship approval

Your employer must be approved as a standard business sponsor. They must demonstrate they are a lawfully operating Australian business with no adverse history.

2. Employer nominates you for a position

The employer nominates a specific position and demonstrates they could not fill it with an Australian worker (labour market testing).

3. You apply for the visa

You apply separately, providing your qualifications, skills assessment (if required), English test, and health/character checks.

Key requirements

• The occupation must be on the relevant occupation list
• You must have relevant qualifications and at least 2 years of work experience
• Your employer must pay you at or above the market salary rate
• English language requirements apply

Your rights as a sponsored worker

• Your employer cannot charge you for the sponsorship costs
• You can change employers (you will need a new sponsorship)
• Your employer must provide the same working conditions as Australian employees
• You can bring your family on dependent visas

Finding a sponsor

Many employers sponsor skilled workers. Check job listings on Seek that mention “visa sponsorship available”. Industries like healthcare, IT, engineering, and hospitality frequently sponsor.

Use the occupation checker to verify your occupation is eligible for employer sponsorship.