Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS)

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Before your business can sponsor a skilled worker on a subclass 482 or subclass 494 employment visa in Australia, you must become an approved Standard Business Sponsor.

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Key Criteria:

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• Be a lawfully operating business in Australia

• Have a genuine need for a skilled position not able to be filled locally

• Demonstrate a strong record of, or commitment to employing local labour

• Agree to comply with sponsorship obligations, including salary requirements and reporting changes

 

Once approved, SBS status remains valid for 5 years, allowing you to nominate multiple skilled workers as needed.

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Employer Nomination – Subclass 482, 494 & 186

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Once SBS approval is in place, the next step in arranging an employer sponsored visa in Australia is nominating a position within your business that meets the criteria for temporary or permanent employer sponsorship.

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Subclass 482 - Skills in Demand

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• For temporary roles up to 4 years

• Requires nomination of an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list

• Labour Market Testing (LMT) is required in most cases

• Must meet salary requirements and training benchmarks

• Has a pathway to permanent residency

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Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)

 

The subclass 494 visa is designed to address skill shortages in regional Australia by allowing employers in designated regional areas to sponsor skilled overseas workers for up to 5 years. This temporary work visa also offers a direct pathway to Australian permanent residency through the subclass 191 visa, which does not require employer sponsorship.

 

As the employer, you would need to be an approved Standard Business Sponsor and have an approved nomination before the visa application can be finalised.

 

Key Features of the Subclass 494 Visa:

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• Valid for 5 years

• Allows full work rights with your sponsoring employer

• Must live and work in a designated regional area of Australia

• Generally requires a skills assessment as well as Regional Certifying Body advice

• Pathway to permanent residency via subclass 191

 

This is a great option for employers in regional Australia who are looking to hire overseas workers to fill labour shortages.

 

As we are based in regional Victoria, we have a genuine understanding of and interest in regional migration, and can guide you through the entire process including SBS, LMT, RCB advice, nomination and visa application. Book a consultation or get in touch to get started.

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Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

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• For permanent residency

• Three streams available:

  • Direct Entry Stream – for new or recently employed overseas workers (generally requires a skills assessment)

  • Temporary Residence Transition Stream – for subclass 482 visa holders (skills assessment not required)

  • Labour Agreement Stream – for businesses with a formal labour agreement in place

• Requires evidence of a genuine need for the nominated position and business viability

• Must offer the market salary rate and a full-time position

 

Following the SBS and nomination is the visa application. This is where the person you are sponsoring needs to evidence that they meet the various visa requirements such as English, skills, qualifications, health and character.

 

We have extensive experience guiding both employers and employees through every step of the SBS, nomination and visa process, ensuring full compliance and a strong application to support your recruitment strategy.

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Subclass 400 - Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist)

 

The subclass 400 visa is a short-term employment visa in Australia for highly skilled individuals undertaking non-ongoing work or specialised activities. This visa is ideal for businesses requiring urgent, short-term assistance for projects, installations, training or troubleshooting where skills are not readily available in the local market. This is not the same as the employer sponsored visas for Australia outlined above as a nomination is not required.

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Key Features of the Subclass 400 Visa:

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• Stay period of up to 3 months (up to 6 months in limited cases)

• Single or multi-entry visa

• Designed for highly specialised work or short-term project work

• Available to individuals outside Australia at time of application

• Faster processing than most other work-related visas

 

In most cases, the Department expects the role to last no more than 3 months. Applications for up to 6 months may be considered in limited circumstances, particularly if a strong business case is made and the work is of national interest.

 

Who Should Consider the Subclass 400 Visa?

 

The subclass 400 employment visa is suitable for:

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• Professionals delivering highly specialised services on a short-term basis

• Overseas technicians installing or commissioning specialised machinery

• Specialists delivering consulting, training, or project-based services

• Employees seconded for a defined short-term period

• Workers filling urgent gaps where no Australian worker is available

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It is not intended for ongoing roles, labour hire, or work that can be fulfilled by the domestic workforce.

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Labour Agreements – Tailored Employer Sponsorship Solutions

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When standard employer sponsored visa programs such as the subclass 482, subclass 494 or subclass 186 are too restrictive for your hiring needs, a Labour Agreement may be the solution. Labour Agreements are negotiated arrangements between the Australian Government and employers (or industry bodies), allowing Australian businesses to sponsor overseas workers in occupations or under conditions not available through the standard skilled visa programs.

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As experienced Registered Migration Agents, we can assist you in preparing and negotiating Labour Agreements to help address skills shortages within your business. We can provide expert guidance on the process, compliance requirements and how to best align your workforce needs with available immigration pathways.

 

Types of Labour Agreements

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1. Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs)

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DAMAs are region-specific Labour Agreements that allow employers in certain designated regional areas to sponsor overseas workers for roles that reflect the unique labour needs of that area. DAMAs offer:

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• Access to a broader range of occupations, many not on the standard skilled occupation lists

• Concessions to criteria such as English language proficiency, age and salary

• Pathways to permanent residency for eligible workers

 

DAMAs currently operate in various regions across Australia, including Northern Territory, Far North Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and more.

 

If your business is located in a regional or remote area and you're struggling to find skilled Australian workers, the DAMA pathway may offer suitable flexibility and long-term solutions.

 

2. Industry Labour Agreements

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These are pre-approved, template Labour Agreements negotiated between the Australian Government and specific industry bodies. Employers operating in eligible industries can access the terms of the agreement without needing to negotiate their own.

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Examples of industries with active Labour Agreements include:

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• Advertising

• Aged care

• Dairy

• Fishing

• Horticulture

• Meat & pork industries

• Religious workers

• On-hire labour firms

• Restaurant (premium dining)

 

Industry Labour Agreements provide a structured and consistent framework for eligible employers in those sectors to sponsor overseas workers.

 

3. Company-Specific Labour Agreements

 

A Company-Specific Labour Agreement is negotiated directly between an individual employer and the Department of Home Affairs. It allows the business to sponsor overseas workers in roles that are:

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• Unique to the business or industry

• Not available on the standard occupation lists

• Required due to business expansion, unique equipment or niche projects

 

These agreements are custom-built through the support of a Registered Migration Agent to suit the employer’s workforce strategy. They are typically used where a strong business case can be made for the need.

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This is a general overview of eligibility criteria. Other eligibility criteria may apply depending on your individual circumstances. We recommend that you seek the advice and support of a Registered Migration Agent.​​​​​​