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Employer-Sponsored Visas: Work and Live Permanently in Australia

For skilled international professionals and graduates already in the country, employer-sponsored visas offer a direct route to building a career and securing a life in Australia.

If an Australian business faces a local talent shortage, they can sponsor qualified overseas workers to fill the gap.This pathway bridges the gap between temporary work and a permanent future through two primary visa options:

Temporary Route

1. The Temporary Route: Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

The Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) Visa is a provisional visa that allows you to live and work full-time in Australia for an approved sponsoring employer. To sponsor you, the business must prove a genuine need for the role, clear Labour Market Testing (LMT) to show they couldn't find a local candidate, and offer a market-rate salary. This visa is split into distinct streams based on your occupation type (such as the Core Skills Stream or Specialist Skills Stream).

Subclass 482
Permanent Route

2. The Permanent Route: Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

If your goal is Australia permanent residency (PR), the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) Visa is the ultimate destination.

Subclass 186

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

The most common pathway. If you have worked full-time for your sponsoring employer for 2 years on your 482 visa, your employer can nominate you for immediate, unconditional permanent residency.

Direct Entry Stream

Allows highly qualified individuals to apply directly for permanent residency from overseas or onshore, bypassing the provisional visa stage entirely.

FAQs

1. Is there an age limit for sponsorship?
There is no age limit for the temporary Subclass 482 visa. However, you must be under 45 years old to apply for permanent residency via the Subclass 186 visa, unless you qualify for a rare exemption.
2. Do I need a formal Skills Assessment?
It is usually optional for the temporary Subclass 482 visa (unless you are in a specific trade or requested by immigration), but a positive skills assessment is 100% mandatory for the permanent Subclass 186 Direct Entry visa.
3. Can I get an employer-sponsored visa without a job offer?
No. Unlike points-tested independent visas, you cannot apply for an employer-sponsored visa on your own. You must first secure a formal job offer from a business that is a legally approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) and willing to nominate your specific role.
4. Does my dependent partner have full work rights?
Yes. If you include your spouse or de facto partner as a secondary applicant on your Subclass 482 visa, they are granted unrestricted work rights. They can work full-time or part-time for any employer, in any occupation, without the sponsorship constraints that apply to you.
5. What is Labour Market Testing (LMT), and is it mandatory?
Yes, for temporary sponsorship. Before an employer can nominate an international worker, they must prove they genuinely cannot find a suitable local candidate. This requires them to advertise the job on at least two national job platforms (like SEEK or LinkedIn) for a minimum of 28 consecutive days before nominating you.
6. Does every occupation qualify for employer sponsorship?
No. Your occupation must align with Australia’s official Skilled Occupation Lists (such as the Core Skills Occupation List). If a business wants to sponsor you but your job title is not on a relevant list, the visa application cannot proceed unless your role falls under a specific corporate Labour Agreement or meets high-income thresholds.
7. How long do I have to wait to transition from a temporary visa to PR?
Under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the Subclass 186 visa, you can be nominated for permanent residency after working full-time for your sponsoring employer for 2 years on your provisional Subclass 482 visa.

Employer Sponsored Visas

Employer-Sponsored visas enable Australian businesses to hire skilled workers from overseas or those already in Australia to fill labor shortages. The most common pathway involves the provisional Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482), which typically requires a sponsoring employer to prove a genuine need for the role and that the nominee possesses the required skills. For a permanent outcome, the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (Subclass 186) provides a direct PR pathway, often granted after working for the same employer on a 482 visa (Temporary Residence Transition stream).

Job Security
Visa eligibility is tied to a specific job and employer, providing both job security for the applicant and surety for the sponsoring business.
Market Salary Rate
Employers must pay the applicant at least the equivalent of the Australian Market Salary Rate (MSR) and meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).
PR Pathway via 186
Most applicants transition from the temporary Subclass 482 to the permanent Subclass 186 visa after fulfilling a minimum employment period with the same employer.
Expert Support Panel
Broad term that can refer to various aspects of interconnectedness and communication on a global scale.
What is Labour Market Testing (LMT)?
The employer must generally advertise the position domestically for a mandatory period and through specific channels to prove no suitable Australian worker could be found.
What happens if I lose my sponsored job?
If your employment ends, you have a period (typically 60 days) to find a new approved sponsor or apply for a different visa, or you must leave Australia.
How long is the Subclass 482 visa granted for?
It can be granted for 2 years (STSL stream) or 4 years (MLTSSL stream), with the 4-year stream offering a direct PR pathway via the Subclass 186.
Can my employer switch me from a 482 to a 186 visa?
Yes, provided the employer is willing to nominate you and you meet the criteria (usually 2-3 years of full-time work on the 482 visa with that same employer).

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