How to Sponsor an Employee for an Australian Visa (Employer Guide 2026)
Published 2026-02-14
Overview of Employer Sponsorship
Australian employers can sponsor overseas skilled workers through the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) for temporary employment, or the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) for permanent residency. There is also the subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) for employers in regional areas. The process involves three stages: the employer becomes an approved sponsor, nominates a position, and the worker applies for the visa. For more detail on specific visa subclasses, see our /visa/employer-sponsored-visa/ page.
Step 1: Become a Standard Business Sponsor
Before nominating a worker, your business must be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). Requirements include: being a lawfully operating business in Australia, having no adverse information (such as a history of compliance breaches), demonstrating a genuine need for overseas workers, and committing to sponsorship obligations including paying market salary rates. The SBS application fee is $420, and approval is valid for 5 years. Processing takes approximately 1 to 3 months.
Step 2: Nominate the Position
Once approved as a sponsor, you nominate the specific position to be filled. The nomination must demonstrate: the position is genuine and matches an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list, the salary meets the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) of $73,150 per year (2025-26) and the annual market salary rate, labour market testing has been conducted (advertising the position to Australians first), and the terms and conditions of employment are no less favourable than those provided to Australian workers. The nomination fee is $330 for subclass 482.
Step 3: The Worker Applies for the Visa
After the nomination is approved, the overseas worker lodges their visa application. They must meet skills, qualifications, English language, health, and character requirements. For the subclass 482, the worker must have at least 2 years of relevant work experience. The visa application fee is $1,455 for the short-term stream or $3,035 for the medium-term stream. Processing times are currently 1 to 5 months for most 482 applications.
What Are the Employer's Obligations?
Approved sponsors have ongoing obligations including: paying the sponsored worker at least the guaranteed annual earnings specified in the nomination, ensuring terms and conditions are equivalent to Australian workers, not recovering sponsorship costs from the worker (this is prohibited by law), keeping records of the sponsored worker's employment, notifying the Department of certain events (such as the worker ceasing employment), and cooperating with Department monitoring. Breaching obligations can result in sanctions, civil penalties of up to $99,000 per contravention for companies, and being barred from future sponsorship.
How Much Does It Cost the Employer?
Total employer costs for sponsoring a 482 visa worker include: SBS application ($420, one-off for 5 years), Nomination fee ($330 per worker), Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy ($1,200/year for small business or $1,800/year for turnover above $10 million), and potentially migration agent fees ($2,500-$6,000) if using professional assistance. Employers cannot pass these costs on to the sponsored worker. For a subclass 186 permanent visa, the nomination fee is $540 and the SAF levy is a one-off payment of $3,000 (small business) or $5,000 (larger business).
Do You Need a Migration Agent?
While not mandatory, most employers engage a migration agent to manage the sponsorship process. An experienced agent ensures compliance with all obligations, handles the paperwork for SBS approval, nomination, and visa application, and can advise on the most appropriate visa pathway for your business needs. This is especially valuable for businesses sponsoring for the first time. Search our directory for agents who specialise in employer-sponsored visas.
Need Professional Help?
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