How to Secure an Employer Sponsored Visa in Australia

Australia is one of the most popular destinations for skilled professionals seeking new opportunities abroad. With its strong economy, high standard of living, and diverse work culture, it’s no surprise that thousands of people every year aim to move to Australia on an employer-sponsored visa.

If you’re one of them, you’ve likely heard about visas like the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (subclass 482) or the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). These visas allow Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers from overseas when they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker.

But, how exactly can you secure such a visa? What steps do you need to follow, and what pitfalls should you avoid?

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through 10 key points that can help you successfully secure an employer-sponsored visa in Australia.

Understand the Types of Employer-Sponsored Visas

Before anything else, you must know which visa suits your career path. Australia offers a few main types of employer-sponsored visas:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa – Subclass 482: Allows employers to sponsor foreign workers for up to 4 years. Often considered the gateway to permanent residency if you continue working in your nominated occupation.
• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) – Subclass 186: A permanent residence visa for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer. This visa has both “Direct Entry” and “Temporary Residence Transition” streams.
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) – Subclass 494: Targets regional Australia, allowing workers to live and work in designated regional areas for up to 5 years, with potential pathways to permanent residency.

👉 Pro Tip: Study the Department of Home Affairs website to confirm eligibility, occupation lists, and any updates, they change frequently.

Ensure Your Occupation Is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL)

Not every profession qualifies for sponsorship. Australia maintains several occupation lists (the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List, Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, and Regional Occupation List) that specify which roles are eligible.

If your job title appears on one of these lists, you’re in luck but ensure your skills, qualifications, and experience match the official ANZSCO code (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations).

👉 Example: If you’re a “Software Engineer,” you’ll find it listed under ANZSCO code 261313, which is on the Medium and Long-Term List, meaning it can lead to permanent residency.

Get Your Skills Assessed by the Relevant Authority

Australia requires skills assessments to verify that your qualifications and work experience match local standards.
Each occupation has a designated assessing body for instance:

• IT Professionals: Australian Computer Society (ACS)
• Engineers: Engineers Australia
• Nurses: Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
• Tradespeople: TRA (Trades Recognition Australia)

Your skills assessment is a mandatory step for most visa applications. It can take several weeks to months, so start early!

👉 Tip: Submit certified copies of your degrees, transcripts, reference letters, and detailed CV to speed up the process.

Find an Australian Employer Willing to Sponsor You

This is often the hardest part but also the most crucial.

Many employers in Australia face skill shortages and are open to hiring overseas talent. You can find sponsorship opportunities through:

• Job portals like Seek, Indeed Australia, JobActive, and LinkedIn.
• Recruitment agencies specializing in international placements.
• Regional employer directories (especially for subclass 494).

When applying, highlight your willingness to relocate and include keywords like “visa sponsorship” in your searches.

👉 Pro Tip: Tailor your résumé to Australian standards, concise, results-oriented, and without excessive personal details like photos or marital status.

Make Sure the Employer Is an Approved Sponsor

Even if an employer is willing to hire you, they must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS).
This means they’ve been authorized by the Australian Government to nominate overseas workers.

If they’re not approved yet, they can apply for sponsorship but the process involves proving:

• Their business is legitimate and operating in Australia.
• They have a genuine need for the nominated position.
• They will pay you the market salary rate.

👉 Employers who’ve previously sponsored employees usually move faster since they know the system.

Demonstrate Genuine Skills and English Proficiency

Australia places strong emphasis on English proficiency and job-specific skills. Depending on your occupation and visa type, you may need to provide results from:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
• PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English)
• TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

Most require at least competent English (IELTS 6.0 overall), but certain roles demand higher scores.

👉 Pro Tip: Even if your employer is eager to sponsor you, immigration officers assess your language, education, and experience before granting the visa so prepare well.

Meet Health and Character Requirements

Australia is strict about its health and character checks.
You’ll need to:

• Undergo a medical examination by an approved panel physician.
• Obtain a police clearance certificate from every country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years.

Failing these checks can delay or deny your visa, so prepare your documentation early.

👉 Tip: Make sure your family members included in the application also meet these requirements.

Lodge the Nomination and Visa Applications

Once your employer nominates you, the process involves two key steps:

1. Employer Nomination: The employer submits a nomination to the Department of Home Affairs, specifying the occupation, salary, and employment conditions.
2. Visa Application: You then lodge your visa application online through ImmiAccount, attaching all required documents.

Both applications can sometimes be lodged simultaneously, saving time. The Department then assesses your eligibility, your employer’s legitimacy, and whether the nomination aligns with the labor market.

👉 Processing times can range from 2 to 10 months, depending on the visa type and individual circumstances.

Understand Your Rights and Conditions

After receiving your employer-sponsored visa, familiarize yourself with its conditions:

• You must work for the sponsoring employer (and in the nominated position).
• You must maintain valid health insurance.
• You cannot start a new job without approval or a new nomination.

Breaking these conditions could lead to visa cancellation, so always stay compliant.

👉 Tip: For subclass 482 visa holders, working for your sponsor for at least three years may make you eligible to apply for permanent residency (subclass 186).

Plan Your Pathway to Permanent Residency (PR)

Many temporary visa holders aim to transition to permanent residency and an employer-sponsored visa can be your stepping stone.

Here’s how:

• After working with your sponsor for 3 years on a TSS visa, you may apply for the ENS subclass 186 (Temporary Residence Transition Stream).
• Alternatively, if you work in a regional area, you can apply for permanent residency through subclass 191 after 3 years.

👉 Pro Tip: Keep your employment records, tax returns, and payslips safely, they’ll support your PR application later.

Final Thoughts

Securing an employer-sponsored visa in Australia isn’t easy, it’s a step-by-step process that requires planning, patience, and persistence. But once you’re there, you’ll enjoy access to world-class career opportunities, healthcare, education, and a lifestyle that’s hard to match anywhere else in the world.

By following these 10 key points from understanding visa options to planning for permanent residency, you’ll position yourself for success and make your Australian dream a reality. 

Bonus Tip:

Applying for an Australian employer-sponsored visa can be complex. For an easier process, contact a registered migration agent in Australia. They can guide you through eligibility, paperwork, and submission to avoid mistakes or delays.