Employer-sponsored migration often involves more than one application: the business, the nominated position and the visa applicant can each have separate legal requirements. Problems at the sponsorship or nomination stage can affect the visa even where the worker is otherwise highly qualified.
Key employer-sponsored pathways
Skills in Demand visa
A temporary employer-sponsored visa with Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams. The worker must be nominated for an eligible position and meet the skills, experience, English and other requirements that apply to the stream.
Employer Nomination Scheme visa
A permanent employer-sponsored visa with pathways including Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry and Labour Agreement. The applicable criteria depend on the stream and the worker’s history.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
A five-year provisional visa for eligible positions in designated regional Australia. Employer Sponsored and Labour Agreement streams operate under separate requirements and may provide a pathway to permanent residence.
Employer-side issues
- standard business sponsorship or labour agreement status
- genuine position and business need
- occupation classification
- annual market salary rate and income threshold requirements
- labour market testing where required
- Skilling Australians Fund levy
- regional certification or location issues for subclass 494
- sponsorship compliance obligations
Applicant-side issues
- relevant qualifications and employment experience
- mandatory skills assessment where required
- English language requirements
- licensing, registration or professional membership
- health and character criteria
- previous sponsored employment and visa compliance
- family member eligibility
Planning beyond the temporary visa
A subclass 482 visa may form part of a longer employer-sponsored strategy, including a possible subclass 186 pathway where the requirements in force at the relevant time are met. That possibility should be assessed rather than assumed, particularly if the worker may change employer, occupation or visa status.
Detailed visa guides
Explore the main visa subclasses and pathways in more detail. These guides explain the structure, common eligibility questions and issues that often require closer analysis.
Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)
A temporary employer-sponsored visa for skilled workers filling nominated roles in Australia.
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)
A permanent employer-sponsored visa with Temporary Residence Transition, Direct Entry and Labour Agreement pathways.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494)
A regional employer-sponsored provisional visa for skilled roles in designated regional Australia.