Navigating Australia’s complex and dynamic visa system can be a frustrating and often costly challenge for employers looking to bring talent to their organization from abroad.
Our licensed and registered migration agents have a comprehensive understanding of Australia’s work visa landscape, as well as a wealth of experience in securing visas for migrants coming to supplement the Australian labour market.
By working with our business clients to understand their overseas recruitment strategies and medium- to long-term staffing plans, we are able to quickly identify the immigration pathways which offer the greatest chance of success in the shortest amount of time.
The following are some of the most popular visas for individuals who require employer sponsorship in order to migrate to and work in Australia.
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visas
Subclass 186
The Employer Nomination Scheme Visa allows skilled workers who have been nominated by their employer to gain permanent residence in Australia.
This visa may be suitable for existing employees via the Labour Agreement and Temporary Residence Transition streams, or for new employees with sufficient skills and experience via the Direct Entry stream.
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa
Subclass 400
A Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa is ideal if you are planning a short-term hire of a specialist with skills, knowledge or experience not widely available in the Australian labour market.
This is a short-term visa typically not issued for longer than three months, though it is possible for it to be granted for up to six months if there is a strong business case for doing so.
Training Visa
Subclass 407
Employers or prospective employers can utilise Australia’s Training Visa to assist an individual in travelling to Australia in order to undertake work-based training or a training program required for their personal development.
This visa can be issued for up to two years and may be a stepping stone towards applying for a visa which permits a longer period of residence.
Temporary Activity Visa
Subclass 408
A Temporary Activity Visa is ideal for employers who wish to sponsor someone to participate in a temporary activity which will last no longer than four years.
This visa includes streams aimed at individuals who will undertake research, compete in government-endorsed sporting events, work on a film or television production, and work as crew on a superyacht.
Skills in Demand (SID) Visas
Subclass 482
A Skills in Demand (SID) visa, which replaced the TSS visa on 7 December 2024, helps employers in Australia to recruit from overseas when they are not able to employ an Australian resident with the experience or specific skills they require.
Employers must apply for and be granted registered sponsor status in order to act as sponsors for this visa.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visas
Subclass 494
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa gives employers in less populous regions of Australia the ability to sponsor skilled workers where there is a particular shortage in the Australian labour market.
This visa generally requires applicants to work for a minimum of three years in a designated ‘regional’ area i.e. outside of Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane.
Employer sponsorship in 2026: what has changed
Information current as at October 2026. Rules, fees and lists change often, so check your circumstances with us before you act.
Australia’s employer sponsored program has changed more in the last two years than in the decade before. If you last sponsored a worker under the old Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, these are the changes that matter most:
- The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) replaced the TSS visa on 7 December 2024, with Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement streams. See the 482 guide for employers.
- From 1 July 2026 the Core Skills Income Threshold is $79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is $146,576.
- Workers on a 482 can move to permanent residence through the 186 after two years, down from three. See the 186 guide.
- Labour market testing needs two advertisements within the four months before nomination, and Workforce Australia advertising has been optional since 11 December 2023. See labour market testing and the SAF levy.
- A 482 worker whose job ends can stay up to 180 days at a time (365 days in total) to find a new sponsor, and can work for other employers in that time.
- Since 1 July 2024, stronger penalties apply to employers who exploit or coerce migrant workers. See sponsor obligations and compliance.
- Ministerial Directions 121 and 122 set new processing priorities from 19 September 2026, based on the nominated occupation.
- The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) replaced the Global Talent visa in December 2024 for exceptional individuals who do not need a sponsor.
How employer sponsorship works
Most sponsorships follow the same steps, whichever visa you use.
Which visa fits the role?
Use the Skills in Demand (482) visa for up to four years, with a pathway to the 186 after two years. Choose Core Skills for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List, or Specialist Skills where the salary is at least $146,576.
Employer guides
Our detailed guides for Australian employers, updated for 2026:
Frequently asked questions
Can a small business sponsor an overseas worker?
Yes. There is no minimum turnover or number of employees. The business must be lawfully operating, have a genuine need for the role and be able to pay the market salary. See Standard Business Sponsorship.
How much does it cost an employer to sponsor a worker?
For a four year 482 nomination, a small business pays $5,550 in government charges ($420 sponsorship, $330 nomination and $4,800 SAF levy). See sponsorship costs and timelines for more examples.
Can we pass the costs on to the worker?
No. Sponsorship, nomination and SAF costs must be paid by the employer. The visa charges themselves can be paid by the worker.
What is the minimum salary for a sponsored worker?
The higher of the market salary rate and the income threshold: $79,423 (CSIT) for Core Skills and the 186 and 494, or $146,576 (SSIT) for Specialist Skills, from 1 July 2026.
How long does it take to get a worker to Australia?
It depends on the occupation, the stream and the worker’s circumstances. Labour market testing alone takes at least four weeks. Priority sector occupations are processed first under Ministerial Directions 121 and 122.
Do you help with sponsorship compliance?
Yes. We help sponsors respond to monitoring, review pay and records, and set up a simple compliance routine. See sponsor obligations and compliance.
Ian Armani
Director & Registered Migration Agent No. 1574163
New Zealand Migration Adviser: 201501895
Ian is a highly passionate and dedicated immigration professional. Has been responsible for the development and implementation of programs to train, recruit and place staff for multi-site organisations and has traveled overseas on recruitment campaigns with clients to assess visa suitability of candidates from a number of countries. Ian’s expertise is providing immigration advice for individuals and companies. Ian is a Registered Migration Agent and has been a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA) since 2015. He deals with both Australian and New Zealand Immigration matters.
His specialties include but not limited to:
Voya Kablar
BPA (FH), GradCertMigLaw (VU), Masters of Applied Migration Law (VU)-current, Registered Migration Agent,
Voya is a Director and a Principal Registered Migration Agent with VisaEnvoy.
He has over 10 years of working experience in Department of Immigration and Border Protection funded migration settlement programs and Migration Agent industry.
Voya has extensive experience of representing numerous corporate and individual clients at the Migration Review Tribunal and Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia. He is considered an expert in fields of General Skilled Migration, Temporary Work (Long and Short Stay), Business visas, Partner, Parent and Child visa streams. Over the years Voya has assisted large corporations, Professional Tennis Players and Entertainers (singers and actors) to come to Australia.
Simon Long
GradCertMigLaw (VU), Master of Laws (Applied Migration Law) –VU)
Registered Migration Agent,
Simon is a Director and a Principal Registered Migration Agent with VisaEnvoy.
Simon supports with his team both small and large businesses, across a range of industries, managing the migration of their staff and employees. He acts for Business owners and investors who seek immigration benefits under various business migration schemes and provides immigration solutions for a variety of visa classes.
He has a strong understanding of the Migration Act and the Migration Regulations which allows him to effectively resolve complex migration matters including character cancellations, bogus documents, health waivers, onshore un-lawful criteria and visa refusals.
He handles Administrative Appeals Tribunal cases and is also responsible for representing our clients for Ministerial Intervention matters.
Victor Organero
Juris Doctor (Monash University), Graduate Certificte in Migration Law and Practice (VU), Bachelor of International Studies (VU)
Admitted before the Supreme Court of Victoria (2023)
Victor is a Registered Migration Agent with previous experience in an immigration law firm in Melbourne. Victor has extensive experience in Employer Sponsored visas (including 482, 186, 494). He has extensive knowledge of Immigration law and regulations, he advises businesses as well as individuals across a broad range of visa categories. He is professional, extremely organised, motivated, and dedicated to his clients’ needs.
Victor is also experienced with other visas including Skilled, Partner and Distinguished Talent /Global Talent visas. It’s the challenge – or the multifaceted approach required to navigate the Australian migration system that keeps him focused. Book a time with Victor here. Victor speaks Spanish as a second language – ¡hola!
Angela Parmeter
Graduate Certificate in Migration law & Practice (ANU)
Angela has a demonstrated history of working in the human resources industry, is Skilled in Immigration Law, Management, Software Documentation, Team Leadership, and Visas. Angela has assisted many global companies to manage all of their business/work visa and employee immigration needs. Angela can guide you through the entire process – supporting companies and individuals each step of the way. From short-term work authorization and temporary residency to long-term work authorization, permanent residency, and citizenship, including both company employees and accompanying family members. Angela will advise on immigration compliance strategies to ensure that your organization and employees remain compliant with all Australian immigration and visa requirements. Book a time with Angela here.
Jamie Lim
Jamie is an Australian Regulated Migration Advisor (RMA 1799460). Jamie has extensive immigration services experience across multiple visa subclasses and specialises in employer sponsored visas. He has a wide range of experience in corporate migration, including employer-sponsored visas and immigration compliance, and has managed small to large multinational corporate clients. Jamie also has specific experience with medical professionals, skills assessments, state sponsorships as well as partner visas. Book a time with Jamie here.
Jamie holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Monash University. Jamie speaks Mandarin Chinese as a second language.
His specialities include but not limited to:
Stefano Cerqua
Master of Law- Federico II University of Naples, Italy – GC in Australian Migration Law and Practice
Stefano is a Registered Migration Agent fluent in both English and Italian. After completing a Master of Law in Italy, Stefano migrated to Australia in 2012 where he specialised in Migration Law. Through the years, Stefano has gained significant experience in the industry, assisting clients in lodging visa applications, as well as skills assessments for both trade and professional occupations and citizenship applications. Stefano is particularly focused in the areas of Employer Sponsored visas, Skilled visas, Family visas (Partner – Child – Parent) and Citizenship. Over the years Stefano has successfully guided clients from their first steps in Australia to gaining PR and Citizen status, offering a comprehensive overview of visa pathways available, according to the client’s individual needs. You can book a time with Stefano here.
Phu Vu Minh
Bachelor of Law – Migration agent registration number: 2217888
Master of Human Resources Management – Curtin University, Perth
Phu is a Registered Migration Agent and Education Consultant (QEAC: O761) at VisaEnvoy. She was practising as a lawyer in Vietnam prior to migrating to Australia. She is currently assisting potential overseas students to obtain educational placements. Phu deals with Universities, TAFE and vocational colleges, and English Language schools as well as a range of private schools for primary and secondary students.
With her knowledge in human resource management and experience working in multinational companies, Phu helps international students to develop study plans in Australia to acquire knowledge and skills that meet their needs and objectives. Phu is also fluent in Vietnamese.
To speak with Phu about your study options please book a time here.
Allan Miranda
Solicitor- admitted in the Supreme Court of Victoria (2009)
Allan Miranda is a Senior Migration Lawyer at VisaEnvoy. He was practising lawyer and Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines prior to his migration in Australia. Upon arrival here, he studied Bridging Program Law at the University of Melbourne.
He later took a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at Leo Cussen Institute and was admitted to the legal practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria in August 2009.
He has been involved in migration since 2008. He is specialised in Business visas, 188, 888 and 132 visas as well as all types of skilled, the Global Talent visa and employer sponsored visas. Book a time with Allan here.
Jenna Liu
Graduate Diploma in Migration Law – Victoria University – Current
Master of Professional Accounting – University of Tasmania
Jenna is a Qualified Education Agent Counsellor (QEAC No: V151) and has been working in the Australian migration and education consulting industry for three years. Jenna is helping our migration agents and lawyers with preparing visa applications, including student, skilled, employer sponsored, family and business visas.
She is particularly focused in the areas of student visa and Australian education enrolment for international students, which include Higher Education and VET/TAFE course.
Jenna speaks Mandarin Chinese as a second language. To speak with Jenna about your study options please book a time here.
Laura Zorzi
Graduate Certificate in Migration law & Practice
Laura is a highly talented migration agent fluent in Italian and English. Her past experience involved assisting with high volume and often time-critical migration matters for a well known migration firm, and in the training and educational sector, assisting in the organisation of internships for high school students funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research.
She has worked within the migration industry for over five years, with experience in industries such as hospitality and construction, in a wide range of visa subclasses. She has particular experience in handling family sponsorship and employer nominated visa applications. Laura assists clients to determine the most suitable visa pathway and works with them through to visa completion, ensuring the process is seamless, parties remain informed, and all risks and expectations are clearly communicated. You can book a time with Laura here.
Laura is currently based in Rome, Italy.
