Employer Sponsored Visas
Are you an Australian business struggling to find the right local talent?
Employer-sponsored visas could be the solution you're looking for. These visas allow businesses like yours to hire skilled overseas workers to fill genuine workforce gaps.
Employer Sponsored Visas To Australia
Employer sponsored visas allow Australian businesses to address genuine workforce shortages by sponsoring skilled overseas workers.
The subclass 482 visa provides temporary skilled employment where an approved sponsor nominates an eligible role.
The subclass 186 visa offers a permanent pathway for skilled workers, usually through employer nomination.
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The subclass 494 is for businesses and employees specifically in designated regional areas.
Skills in Demand Visa subclass 482
Employer sponsored visas allow Australian businesses to address genuine workforce shortages by sponsoring skilled overseas workers. The subclass 482 visa provides temporary skilled employment where an approved sponsor nominates an eligible role. The subclass 186 visa offers a permanent pathway for skilled workers, usually through employer nomination. Both involve occupation, skills, salary, English and sponsorship requirements.​
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Skills in Demand Visa subclass 482
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The Skills in Demand visa subclass 482 allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker. This visa replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage branding, although many people still refer to it as a 482 employer-sponsored visa.
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The 482 process usually involves the employer and the visa applicant. The business may need to be an approved sponsor, nominate a genuine position and meet salary, occupation and Labour Market Testing requirements where applicable. The visa applicant must also satisfy the relevant skills, English, health and character requirements. Home Affairs describes the 482 Skills in Demand visa as enabling employers to address labour shortages by bringing in skilled workers where they cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
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For employers, the 482 process can be technical. Issues with LMT, salary evidence, occupation alignment, position descriptions or sponsor obligations can create delays or refusals. For workers, the visa can be a valuable pathway to live and work in Australia, with possible future permanent residence options depending on the circumstances.​
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GPS Migration Australia supports both employers and visa applicants through the sponsorship, nomination and visa stages.
Need to sponsor a worker or apply for a 482 visa?
Contact GPS Migration for clear employer-sponsored visa advice.
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa subclass 186
The Employer Nomination Scheme visa subclass 186 is a permanent employer-sponsored visa. It allows skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer to live and work in Australia permanently. For many sponsored workers, it is one of the most important pathways from temporary work sponsorship to permanent residence.
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The 186 visa can be available through different streams, including the Temporary Residence Transition stream, Direct Entry stream and Labour Agreement stream. The right pathway depends on the worker’s visa history, occupation, employment arrangement, skills, qualifications, English ability and the employer’s circumstances. Home Affairs describes the 186 visa as allowing skilled workers nominated by their employer to live and work in Australia permanently.
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For businesses, a 186 nomination requires careful preparation. The employer must show that the position is genuine and meets the relevant requirements. For applicants, the visa may require evidence of skills, work experience, English, health and character. It is important to plan early, particularly where the applicant is moving from a 482 visa to permanent residence.
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GPS Migration Australia can help employers and employees assess eligibility, prepare the nomination and manage the permanent visa application process.
Ready to move from temporary sponsorship to permanent residence?
Contact GPS Migration Australia to discuss the 186 visa pathway.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 494
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa subclass 494 allows employers in designated regional areas of Australia to sponsor skilled overseas workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker. It is a five-year provisional visa that allows visa holders and eligible family members to live, work and study in designated regional areas.
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The 494 process usually involves the employer and the visa applicant. Under the Employer Sponsored stream, the business must meet sponsorship requirements and nominate a genuine position in a designated regional area. The nomination involves occupation, salary and Labour Market Testing requirements, together with an assessment of the annual market salary rate by a Regional Certifying Body.
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The visa applicant must satisfy the relevant skills, work experience, English, health and character requirements. Under the Employer Sponsored stream, applicants generally need at least three years of relevant work experience, a suitable skills assessment and to be under 45 years of age, unless an exemption applies.
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For employers, the 494 process requires careful preparation. Issues with recruitment evidence, salary documentation, occupation alignment or regional certification can create delays or refusals. For workers, the visa offers an opportunity to build a career in regional Australia, with a possible pathway to permanent residence through the subclass 191 visa after holding an eligible visa for at least three years and meeting the relevant requirements. Permanent residence is not automatic.
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GPS Migration Australia supports both employers and visa applicants through the sponsorship, regional certification, nomination and visa stages.