Employer Sponsored Visas

Employer-sponsored visas in Australia allow Australian employers to sponsor foreign workers to fill skilled positions in their businesses. These visas are designed to address labour shortages and enable employers to recruit qualified workers from overseas.

Please find the main types of employer-sponsored visas available:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482)

This visa allows employers to sponsor skilled workers to fill positions that cannot be filled by Australian citizens or permanent residents.

It has following streams:

• • Short-Term Stream is for occupations on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL). It is valid for up to 2 years (or up to 4 years if an International Trade Obligation applies).
  • Medium-Term Stream: is for occupations on the Medium-Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). It is valid for up to 4 years with a pathway to permanent residency.
  • Labour Agreement Stream is for employers with a labour agreement with the Australian government.

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186)

This permanent visa allows employers to nominate skilled workers for permanent residency.

It has following streams:

• • Temporary Residence Transition Stream is for TSS visa holders who have worked for their employer for at least two – three years.
  • Direct Entry Stream is for skilled workers who are nominated by an employer but are not currently in Australia or do not hold a TSS visa.
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)

This temporary visa allows employers in regional areas to sponsor skilled workers for up to 5 years with a pathway to permanent residency. Applicants must be nominated by an approved regional employer, have relevant skills, and meet English language requirements. This visa is aimed at addressing skill shortages in designated regional areas.

Sponsorship

The employer must be an approved sponsor or have a valid labour agreement with the Australian government. Employers must demonstrate a genuine need for a skilled worker and have made efforts to hire locally.

You can find Cost of Sponsoring for overseas worker.

You need to select Skilled Occupation List to sponsor overseas worker.

Skills and Qualifications

Applicants must have the necessary skills, qualifications, and work experience for the nominated occupation. Skill assessment may be required depending on the occupation and visa subclass.

Most employer-sponsored visas require applicants to demonstrate at least competent English, often through standardized tests like IELTS or equivalent.

Health and Character

Applicants must meet health and character requirements, which may involve medical examinations and police clearance checks.

Family Members

Eligible family members can typically accompany the visa holder to Australia.