Employer Sponsored Migration
Employer-sponsored migration visas are designed to allow Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers from overseas to fill positions they cannot find suitable candidates for within the Australian labor market. These visas are a popular pathway for foreign workers looking to live and work in Australia, particularly in occupations that are in demand.
For skilled workers nominated by an employer to live and work permanently in Australia.
Eligibility : Skills assessment; employer nomination; English proficiency; age under 45 (unless exempt).
Duration: Permanent visa.
Permissions: Live and work permanently in Australia; travel; apply for citizenship
Special Conditions: Must work for nominating employer for a set time.
For skilled workers nominated by an employer to live and work in designated regional areas.
Eligibility : Employer sponsorship; occupation on regional list; age under 45; English and skills requirements.
Duration: Up to 5 years.
Permissions: Live, work and study in regional Australia; pathway to permanent residency.
Special Conditions: Must work in regional area; transition to Subclass 191 available.
For skilled workers nominated by an employer to fill job shortages temporarily.
Eligibility : Skills and English requirements; occupation on list; employer sponsorship.
Duration: 2 to 4 years depending on stream.
Permissions: Work for sponsor; travel; bring family members.
Special Conditions: Can lead to permanent residency depending on stream and occupation.
Subclass 186 - Employer Nomination Scheme
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
- Direct Entry (DE) stream
- Labour Agreement (LA) stream
Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) 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:
and have worked for your employer full-time in Australia on your TSS for at least:
Direct Entry (DE) stream
If you do not meet the requirements under the TRT stream (for example, because you have never, or only briefly worked in Australia), this stream may then be available if your employer still wishes to sponsor you for permanent residence.
Labour Agreement (LA) stream
This stream may be available if your employer wishes to sponsor you for permanent residence and has entered into a labour agreement with the Department that provides for a permanent residence pathway
Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
The visa is a permanent resident visa. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C.
The visa has two streams:
- Employer Sponsored stream
- You can live, work and study only in designated regional areas of Australia
- You can apply for permanent residence after 3 years from the time your visa is granted
- Labour Agreement stream
- Your employer has to have a labour agreement with the Australian government in effect
- This is for members of the family unit of SESR visa holders
This visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker
This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a labour agreement. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.
Subsequent entrant
This visa is for members of the family unit of a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) holder who are applying separately for their SESR visa and wish to join the primary SESR visa holder in Australia.
Subclass 482 - Temporary Skill Shortage Visa
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:
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.
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.