Australia's employer-sponsored visas let businesses sponsor skilled overseas workers when they can't find a suitable local. The main three are the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand — temporary, and the usual starting point), the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme — permanent), and the Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional — for regional employers). There are two audiences for these visas — workers wanting sponsorship and employers wanting to sponsor — so this guide answers both.
For workers: how do I find an employer to sponsor me?
There's no shortcut around the core requirement: you need a genuine Australian employer who is willing and approved to sponsor you for a role they can't readily fill locally. In practice that means targeting employers in industries with genuine skill shortages, demonstrating skills and experience that are hard to find locally, and being on the relevant occupation list. The role must be genuine and the employer must meet sponsorship obligations — sponsorship isn't something that can be bought, and arrangements that involve paying for a sponsorship are unlawful and risky. Focus on making yourself genuinely employable for shortage roles, and make sure your occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
What is the difference between the 482, 186, and 494?
The Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) is a temporary visa, valid up to four years, and is the most common entry point — an approved employer sponsors you for a role on the relevant occupation list. The Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) is permanent — it's the destination many 482 holders work toward. The Subclass 494 is for employers in designated regional areas and is provisional, with its own pathway to permanent residence. The 482 operates across different streams (Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Essential Skills), which determine salary thresholds and requirements.
Can the 482 visa lead to permanent residence?
Yes — this is one of the most common PR pathways in Australia. After working for your sponsoring employer on a 482 visa, you may become eligible for permanent residence through the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme), provided you and your employer meet the requirements. Planning this pathway from the outset — rather than treating the 482 as a dead end — is exactly the kind of strategy worth getting right early.
How long can I stay on a 482, and what if I lose my job?
The 482 can be granted for up to four years depending on the stream. If your employment ends, there's a limited window (generally up to 180 days at a time, with an overall cap) during which you can find a new approved sponsor, lodge a new nomination, or arrange to depart. It's a real but time-limited safety net, so act quickly if your circumstances change.
For employers: how do I become an approved sponsor?
To sponsor a worker, your business generally needs to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor, nominate a genuine position that meets the requirements (including the relevant occupation list and salary thresholds), and then the worker applies for their visa. You'll need to meet sponsorship obligations and, in most cases, contribute to the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. It's a three-part process — sponsorship, nomination, visa — and getting the structure right protects both you and the worker.
How much does it cost to sponsor an employee?
Employer costs include the sponsorship and nomination application charges, the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy (which scales with business size and the length of the visa), and the visa application charge itself. As a guide, sponsoring a worker is a multi-thousand-dollar commitment once all charges are added. Importantly, certain costs — such as the SAF levy and the sponsorship-related costs — must legally be paid by the employer and cannot be passed on to the worker.
What is the minimum salary to sponsor a worker?
Sponsored workers must be paid at least the relevant income threshold and at least the Australian Market Salary Rate (what an Australian would earn in the same role and location). The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which underpins the Core Skills stream of the 482 and the 186, rises to AUD 79,499 on 1 July 2026 (up from AUD 76,515). Employers with borderline salaries should plan around that change. (Figures current as of mid-2026; confirm the latest at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.)
What are an employer's obligations when sponsoring?
Sponsoring carries ongoing obligations: paying at least the market salary rate, keeping records, cooperating with monitoring, ensuring the worker only works in the nominated role, and notifying the Department of certain changes. These obligations are taken seriously, and non-compliance can affect your ability to sponsor in future — so it's worth setting up correctly from the start.
This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Sponsorship requirements and thresholds change regularly — book a consultation with Sirat, whether you're a worker seeking sponsorship or an employer planning to sponsor.