
Employer Sponsored Visas
Australia offers a range of employer-sponsored visa options designed to address skills shortages and provide pathways for skilled overseas workers to secure employment. These visas provide businesses with the opportunity to sponsor qualified professionals when suitable Australian workers are unavailable. Below is an overview of key employer-sponsored visas and their requirements.
Subclass 407 - Training Visa
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The Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 407) is ideal for individuals looking to undertake workplace-based training in Australia to enhance their skills in a nominated position. This visa is temporary, allowing applicants to stay for up to two years.
Key Features:
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Provides structured training in a specific occupation, tertiary study area, or professional development program.
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Allows secondary applicants (family members) to be included in the visa application.
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Employers must provide a formal training plan and ensure that trainees gain relevant work experience.
Employer Sponsored Visa Australia Requirements:
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The business must be actively and lawfully operating in Australia.
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Employers must comply with business sponsorship obligations and provide proper training facilities
482 - Skills in Demand (SID) Visa
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The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) Visa enables employers to address skill shortages by sponsoring skilled overseas workers. This visa is suitable when employers cannot find a suitably skilled Australian worker for a nominated position.
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Employer Obligations:
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Must be approved as a standard business sponsor.
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Demonstrate genuine skill shortages and conduct labour market testing to confirm that no suitable Australian workers are available.
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Must be able to pay the CSIT/market salary rate.
Pathway to Permanent Residency:
Workers may transition to permanent employer-sponsored visas such as the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa after meeting residency and employment conditions.
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Subclass 494 - Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
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The Subclass 494 Employer-Sponsored Visa is designed for regional employers to fill demand visa positions in designated regional areas. It allows skilled workers to live and work in regional Australia for up to five years.
Key Features:
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Requires employers to operate in regional Australia and meet employer-sponsored visa requirements.
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Workers can apply for permanent residency after three years of employment in a regional area.
Pathway to Permanent Residency:
Eligible workers can transition to a permanent visa through the Subclass 191 Visa after three years.
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Subclass 186 - Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa
​The Subclass 186 Employer-Sponsored Visa grants permanent residence to sponsor skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer. This visa has two key streams:
Streams:
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Direct Entry Stream: For applicants who have a positive skills assessment and at least 3 years of work experience.
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Temporary Residence Transition Stream: Available to Subclass 482 visa holders who have worked with the same employer for at least two years.
Employer Obligations:
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Employers must demonstrate a genuine need for the nominated position.
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Meet salary and employment conditions comparable to those offered to Australian workers.