Employer Sponsored Migration
Australian employer sponsored visas allow businesses to fill skilled positions that cannot be filled from the local labour market. Both the employer and the worker carry obligations throughout the life of the sponsorship. The strategy behind each application determines the outcome.
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The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is the primary temporary employer sponsored visa. It replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024 and operates under three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement. Visa holders are granted a four-year stay with a pathway to permanent residence.
The Temporary Work visa (subclass 400) covers short-term, highly specialised work of a non-ongoing nature. The Training visa (subclass 407) supports workplace-based training arrangements. The Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) covers short-term activities including entertainment, sport, and religious work.
The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is the primary permanent employer sponsored visa. It is available through the Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, and Labour Agreement streams. The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) supports regional employers with a pathway to permanent residence after three years.
For an overview of an employer's obligations and the standard business sponsorship process, see our guide to employer sponsored visa sponsorship.
Australia's primary temporary employer sponsored visa. Three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement. Four-year stay with a permanent residence pathway.
Permanent residence through employer sponsorship. Available via Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition for existing 482 holders, and Labour Agreement streams.
Five-year provisional visa for regional employers. Pathway to permanent residence via subclass 191 after three years of compliant regional employment.
Short-term and activity-based employer sponsored visas covering specialist work, workplace training, entertainment, sport, religious work, and government endorsed events.
44,000
Employer sponsored places 2025-26
4 years
482 SID stay period
2 years
To 186 TRT pathway
$79,499
Core Skills threshold (as at 1 Jul 2026)
See current 186 and 494 processing times See the full sponsorship and visa charges
Before nominating a worker under the 482 or 186 visa, an employer must hold Standard Business Sponsorship approval. Businesses with high-volume or ongoing sponsorship needs may seek Accredited Sponsor status. Activity-based visas such as the 407 and 408 require a separate Temporary Activities Sponsorship.
Employer sponsored visa applications involve two linked stages: a nomination lodged by the employer and a visa application lodged by the worker. A refused nomination prevents the visa application from being decided. Errors at the nomination stage are difficult to remedy after lodgement.
Refused nominations and visa applications may be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. Time limits for lodging review applications are strict. Visa Plan Lawyers advises on review prospects and represents clients before the Tribunal where appropriate.
Where standard sponsorship pathways are insufficient, industry-wide labour agreements and Designated Area Migration Agreements provide alternative nomination pathways with modified criteria.
Approved sponsors carry ongoing compliance obligations. Breaches can result in formal warnings, civil penalties, and cancellation of sponsorship approval. Obligations apply for the life of each sponsorship.
Refused nominations and visa applications may be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. Time limits are strict and non-extendable. Early legal advice on review prospects is essential.
Regional employers have access to the 494 visa and Designated Area Migration Agreements, which provide concessions to standard visa criteria and address specific regional workforce shortages.
We do not submit applications. We build cases. Every nomination and visa application is prepared to withstand scrutiny at every stage, including review.
Sponsorship compliance is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time task. We advise employers on their obligations and respond to Department inquiries and audits throughout the sponsorship period.
From Standard Business Sponsorship through to permanent residence, we manage every stage of the employer sponsored visa process for employers and workers alike.
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"We are truly grateful to Visa Plan for their outstanding support with our employee's employer sponsorship application… They explained every step clearly, responded promptly, and made what is usually a complicated process feel smooth and stress-free."
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"I applied for my 482 visa with James… He was incredibly considerate throughout the entire process, ensuring I felt confident and at ease every step of the way. My company was also impressed with his professionalism."
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"They handled our case with the utmost professionalism and care… He handled all my documents and guided me all the way to my 186 visa processing. Finally I received my visa granted."
Employer sponsored visa information is sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and is current as at 8 September 2026. Program settings, occupation lists, and salary thresholds are subject to change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
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