So, you’ve decided that you’d like to work in Australia, perhaps for just a few years, or possibly with a view to settling there permanently. Unfortunately, unless you already have Australian citizenship or a permanent residency visa, you can’t just decide to go there and look for a job. You need a visa type that will allow you to work, and the most common type is an Employer Sponsored Visa. You can find out everything you need to know about Visa Sponsorship Australia solutions right here.
Visa Sponsorship Australia: An Introductory Guide For Prospective Employees
What Is An Employer Sponsored Visa In Australia?
Employer Sponsored Visas allow Australian employers to sponsor highly-skilled, non-Australian workers to come to Australia to fill genuine vacancies within their business. Four Corners has helped thousands of clients with visa sponsorship. We apply our extensive experience to your unique circumstances and provide tailored advice for both the visa applicant and the business they’d like to work for.
Both prospective overseas employees responding to an employer who has shown an interest in sponsoring them, and Australian employers looking for an overseas employee, will still need to meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for an Employer Sponsored Visa in Australia. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with requirements and restrictions regarding eligible occupations, documentation and your age and current location. You can save time and money on visa sponsorship Australia with the right advice.
4 Tips To Help Secure Sponsorship From An Australian Employer
Is A Visa Sponsored By Employer Right For You?
While you may feel that you’ve ticked every box and are ready to proceed with sponsorship for employment, it’s vital to weigh up your situation and choices. Every potential overseas employee and every business is different – a Work Sponsorship Visa Australia isn’t one-size-fits-all. With a range of visa types to consider, it’s important that you find the right one to suit both yourself and your prospective employer.
Working within the complex and constantly changing legislative environment requires specific expertise, and it’s essential to identify the possible risks and understand their implications. There are both temporary and permanent visa options within the Visa Sponsorship Australia category, so you’ll need to understand the difference, and which kind best fits your needs.
Are You Looking For A Temporary Visa Or Permanent Residence?
You can be sponsored by an employer to work in Australia on a temporary basis under the following visa types:
- Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) (TSS)
- Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400)
- Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
- Training visa (subclass 407)
But if you wish to work in Australia with the intention of seeking permanent residency, you’ll be better served by one of the following:
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
We can advise you on the visa type best suited to the needs of both you and your intended employer, and the different types of sponsoring visa are discussed in more detail below.
Get The Expert Visa Advice So We Can Help You Achieve Employer Sponsorship
Eligibility Requirements For Visa Sponsorship Australia
Not everyone will qualify for visa sponsorship jobs in Australia. The main requirements are:
- You must be aged under 45 at the time of your application for permanent residency visas (i.e. Employer Nomination Scheme visa subclass 186 and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Provisional visa subclass 494) unless age exemptions apply.
- For some visa types you will need to provide a skills assessment from the appropriate Australian assessing authority for your occupation, and have at least three years of full-time post-qualification work experience. This could be experience gained in Australia or anywhere else in the world. See each visa type’s details below to find out which ones this requirement applies to.
- You must have the required level of English language proficiency. In practice, this means one of two things. Firstly, you will automatically qualify by holding a passport from a naturally English-speaking country, such as the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, USA, or Canada. Alternatively, you can undertake and pass an English language test such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET). We can help you find other approved tests and also language proficiency test exemptions which may apply to your situation.
- You need to pass health and character tests, and we can provide advice on these areas.
You can start your application from your current location outside Australia, or when you are already in Australia on another visa such as a student, visitor or bridging visa.
If you’re ready to begin the process, we will need to assess your eligibility and that of the business. We ask that you complete our online visa eligibility assessment form.
Occupations Qualifying For Employer Sponsorship
The Department of Home Affairs publishes a Skilled Occupation List detailing the job types eligible for sponsorship. There are almost 700 roles currently on the list, so it’s not possible to include them all here, but typical jobs are in the following fields:
| Accounting | Automotive trades | Food and hospitality | Mining |
| Advertising, PR and marketing | Building, industrial and technical trades | Health care | Real estate |
| Agriculture | Childcare | Horticulture | Retail |
| Air conditioning | Education | Human resources and recruitment | Science |
| Air transport | Emergency services | Insurance | Shipping |
| Animal and veterinary services | Engineering | IT and telecommunications | Social services |
| Architecture and design | Environment | Law | Sport |
| Arts, entertainment and publishing | Fashion and beauty | Management | Travel |
Don’t be too concerned if your skill or expertise is not on the Skilled Occupations list. We can assist you and your proposed employer in negotiating a special labour agreement. If you are an exceptional specialist, we can guide you through the intricacies of the Global Talent Scheme.
Get The Expert Visa Advice So We Can Help You Achieve Employer Sponsorship
Different Types Of Employer Sponsored Visas
There are several different types of visa sponsorship in Australia. Click on ‘Learn more here’ below each visa type for more details.
Employer Sponsored Visa – Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
This is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers. It allows sponsorship for employment in Australia under one of three streams:
- Temporary Residence Transition stream – for employees already holding a temporary work visa
- Direct Entry stream – for migrants seeking permanent residency from the outset, without first being a temporary resident, or who don’t qualify for the transition stream
- Agreement stream – applies to employees covered by a negotiated formal labour agreement
Temporary Residence Transition Stream
This stream may be available if your employer wishes to sponsor you for permanent residence.
You may be eligible under this stream if you hold either of the following:
- Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) – in the medium-term stream unless transitional arrangements apply
- Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) – not granted under labour agreement arrangements or,
- Related associated Bridging visa and have worked for your employer full-time in Australia on your TSS and/or subclass 457 visa(s) for at least:
- Three out of the previous four years (before the nomination is made) in the same position that they have nominated you for or,
- Two out of the previous three years before the nomination is made, if transitional arrangements apply because you either held or were an applicant for, a subclass 457 visa (which was subsequently granted) on 18 April 2017.
Direct Entry Stream
The Direct Entry stream is for:
- people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream
- people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia, or
- temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream
Agreement Stream
The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a negotiated formal labour agreement.
Employer Sponsored Visa – Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa (subclass 187)
Allows skilled workers to live in Australia permanently by working in regional Australia.
Eligibility
You must:
- Be nominated by an approved Australian employer for a job in regional Australia
- Are under 45 years of age, if you are applying under the Temporary Residence stream, or you are under 45 years of age if you are applying under the Direct Entry stream
- Meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements of the position
- Meet the other requirements of one of the streams of this visa.
Length Of Stay
Permanently
What You Can Do
You can:
- Stay in Australia permanently
- Apply for Australian citizenship (if eligible).
You must work permanently in a regional area for two years.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 494)
A visa allowing skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia for five years. If eligible, visa holders can apply for permanent residence after three years. The initial visa can be Employer Sponsored to address an identified labour shortage, or negotiated via a labour agreement.
Employer Sponsored Visa – Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) (TSS)
This visa, referred to as the TSS visa, enables employers to address labour shortages by bringing in genuinely skilled workers where they cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian.
It facilitates the targeted use of overseas workers to address temporary skill shortages while ensuring that Australian workers get priority. TSS visa holders can work in Australia in their nominated occupation for their approved sponsor under one of three streams:
The Short-Term Stream
This stream is available if your employer wishes to sponsor you (as an overseas skilled worker) on a temporary basis only in occupations listed on the Short-term Skilled Occupation list (STSOL) for a TSS visa – see lists of eligible skilled occupations.
It can be used to fill positions for a maximum of:
two years or four years if an International Trade Obligation (ITO) applies.
The Medium-Term Stream
This stream is available if your employer wishes to sponsor you (as an overseas skilled worker) for periods of up to four years in occupations listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL) for a TSS visa.
The Labour Agreement Stream
This stream is available if your employer wishes to sponsor you (as an overseas worker) and has entered into a labour agreement with the Department.
Eligibility
You must have the skills to fill a position nominated by an approved business for an approved occupation.
Length Of Stay
One to four years – depending on your nominated occupation, the visa stream and your circumstances.
Employer Sponsored Visa – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (subclass 400)
This visa allows a person to do short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work. In limited circumstances, they may participate in an activity or work relating to Australia’s interests, such as assisting in a natural disaster. The maximum length of stay is normally three months, but may occasionally be extended to six months.
Eligibility
You must:
- Be invited, or supported, by the organisation you will be working for
- Have specialist skills, knowledge or experience that is needed but cannot be found in Australia
Length Of Stay
Up to 3 months (6 months in limited circumstances).
What You Can Do
You can work or participate in the activities for which you were granted the visa.
Employer Sponsored Visa – Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408)
A visa designed for entertainment industry workers, religious workers, super-yacht crew members, domestic workers in special circumstances, high-level sports competitors, research project team members, reciprocal staff exchanges and other specialised situations.
Employer Sponsored Visa – Training Visa (subclass 407)
This visa allows applicants to:
- Take part in workplace-based training to enhance skills in their current occupation, area of tertiary study or field of expertise, or
- Participate in a professional development training program in Australia
Trainees need to be aged at least 18 and can stay in Australia for up to two years.
How To Avoid Missing Out On Sponsorship Opportunities
Benefits Of Working With A Specialist Immigration Agent At Four Corners Emigration
Professional Migration Specialists
Four Corners Emigration is one of the world’s leading migration specialists, assisting over 61,000 individuals, small businesses and multinationals since 1996. We provide expert advice and visa services for temporary and permanent entry to Australia and work with organisations and individuals currently in Australia and around the world.
Our consultants, including founder Matthew Garvey, are registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Providing You With Support And Stability
We ensure our clients have access to accurate advice, strategies and support to enable them to access the skills they need via non-Australian employees. Through expert knowledge and exemplary customer service, we aspire to be the market leader and most trusted supplier of migration services in the world.
We have a highly successful track record across a wide range of industries and professional fields and are committed to delivering tailored, people-focused visa solutions giving you stability and the peace of mind you deserve.
We adhere to the OMARA Code of Conduct and are members of the Migration Institute of Australia. We currently have offices in Australia, South Africa and the UK.
Our Promise To You
Our promise is an expression of our values – quality, leadership, integrity and care.
We take responsibility for the QUALITY of our work; we provide LEADERSHIP not only as a company but as individuals; we act with INTEGRITY in all we do, and we CARE deeply about our clients.