Work Sponsorship Visa Australia
Sponsored Work Visa Lawyers
Work sponsorship visas provide a pathway for overseas workers to obtain permanent residence in Australia. The first step is to find a job with an employer who has, or is prepared to get, approval from the Department of Home Affairs to sponsor the employee.
For employers, sponsoring an overseas worker is a welcomed solution to their skills shortages. In fact successful business owners know that recruiting from the global workforce gives them a competitive advantage.
The most common work sponsorship visa programs in Australia are the 482 temporary work visa, the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa 494.
More About Australia Sponsor Work Visa
Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa (482)
To be eligible for a 482 visa you must meet the following:
- Be nominated by an employer for a job on the The Skilled Occupation Lists
- Meet the skill requirements; and
- Have the appropriate English language skills.
You can be in or outside Australia when you lodge your application. You can include your family members in the application. 482 is a temporary residence visa. The application can be approved within 4 to 8 weeks. The visa is valid for up to 4 years. You can apply for the permanent residence 186 visa after 3 years. Please contact us for more information.
The 482 visa holder must comply with the following visa conditions:
- Maintain health insurance for the visa duration
- Work in the same nominated occupation for the same sponsor; and
- If employment ends you must find another employer within 60 days, which can be very challenging. This condition is why the 482 visa is used as a staff retention strategy by smart business owners.
186 ENS Visa
The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) 186 visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled and experienced employees who have a job offer from a nominating employer. Employers often provide the 186 visa nomination to reward loyalty for existing staff they sponsored on the 457 or 482 visa.
The visa application can be made under one of the three (3) streams:
- Temporary Residence Transition Stream: You must have worked in the nominated occupation under the 457/482 visa for at least three years with the same sponsor/ employer
- Direct Entry Stream: You must be highly skilled and have at least three (3) years full time work experience
- Agreement Stream: You can be sponsored by an Australian employer that has their own negotiated labour agreement (a direct contract between the employer and the Department of Home Affairs).
The eligibility criteria for the 186 visa includes:
- Max age requirement of 45 at time of application for Direct Entry Stream
- Max age requirement of 50 at time of application for the Temporary Residence Transition Stream
- Have the required skills and qualifications for the nominated position provided in the 186 Skilled Occupation Lists
- Have the appropriate English language skills (IELTS 6.0 in each band)
JADE VISA gets results for its clients. Contact us for a free visa assessment to guide you through your best work sponsorship visa options.
494 Regional Work Visa
Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored (Regional) visa is a great option for overseas workers who are prepared to live any part of Australia that is not Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. For example, Adelaide in South Australia, Geelong in Victoria, Newcastle in New South Wales and Gold Coast in Queensland. It is a 5-year visa.
Major benefits include
- A broader occupation list than is available for Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane under the 482 visa
- The ability to apply for the permanent residence 191 visa after only 3 years; and
- The employer pays lower sponsorship fees compared to the 482-186 permanent residence pathway.
The 494 visa is applied has two streams:
- Employer Sponsored Stream: You are sponsored by an employer located in a regional area
- Labour Agreement Stream: You are sponsored by an Australian employer who has a negotiated Labour Agreement (a direct contract between the employer and the Department of Home Affairs).
The eligibility criteria for the 186 visa includes:
- Aged under 45 years at the time of application (exemptions apply)
- Have an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list
- Have a positive skills assessment for the occupation
- Have at least 3 years relevant work experience in your nominated occupation
- Have competent English Language at the time of application
JADE VISA has relationships with many Australian employers who are suffering from the skills shortage and need workers right now. If you are a skilled worker please contact us for a free visa assessment. We can provide you with all the advice you need on work sponsorship visa programs in Australia and help you find a job.
