For employers · Labour agreements
The Advertising Industry Labour Agreement: five creative roles, the A$85,000 floor and the path to the 186
Advertising, media and creative agencies can sponsor overseas Advertising Specialists, Graphic Designers, Copywriters, Multimedia Designers and Web Developers under a fixed-term industry agreement. Endorsement by the industry bodies comes first, and the terms are set by the Department. This page sets out those terms as Home Affairs publishes them, checked 10 November 2026.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed on 9 November 2026 · Check the OMARA register
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Occupations
- 5 creative and digital roles
- Endorsement
- MFA and ACA
- Minimum earnings
- A$85,000 + market rate
- Visas
- 482 and 186
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →The five occupations
| Occupation | ANZSCO |
|---|---|
| Advertising Specialist | 225111 |
| Graphic Designer | 232411 |
| Copywriter | 212411 |
| Multimedia Designer | 232413 |
| Web Developer | 261212 |
Nominations under the agreement are limited to these five roles. A creative role outside this list goes through the standard 482 if the occupation qualifies there, or a company-specific agreement where there is a genuine gap.
Endorsement comes first
Home Affairs states that before requesting this agreement an employer must be endorsed by the Media Federation of Australia (MFA) and Advertising Council Australia (ACA). The agreement itself follows the Department's template: the business does not negotiate the terms, and the agreement runs for five years from the date it is signed, with the number of nominations (the ceiling) set in the agreement. Signing the agreement makes the business an approved sponsor for it; no separate Standard Business Sponsorship is needed for nominations under it.
Salary, experience, English and age
- Salary: full-time employment with guaranteed annual earnings of at least A$85,000, and the market salary rate for the position. No salary concession.
- Experience: for the 482, at least three years of work experience directly relevant to the nominated position, and the ANZSCO skills for the occupation.
- English: the 482 Core Skills stream requirement. No concession.
- Age: no age limit on the 482; Home Affairs states the 186 applicant must be no more than 45 at application. No concession.
Labour market testing
The business must show labour market testing when it requests the agreement, and each nomination must come with evidence equivalent to the standard temporary skilled visa requirements. Our labour market testing guide covers what the advertising has to look like.
Permanent residence through the 186
The agreement allows nominations for the 186. Home Affairs' summary states six years of work experience for the 186; the template requires the worker to have worked in the nominated occupation as the primary holder of a 457 or 482 for at least three years before the 186 nomination is lodged. All the normal 186 criteria, including health and character, still apply. See the 186 guide.
Sources, checked 10 November 2026: Home Affairs, industry labour agreements; Labour Agreement template, Advertising Industry (PDF).
Consultation for agencies
A 30-minute consultation with Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536, registered since 2015, more than 10 years and hundreds of cases), goes through whether the roles you want to fill fit the five occupations, what the agreement request and each nomination need, the realistic timing, and a written quote. A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes or A$550 for 60, credited in full if you engage the practice. No outcome is promised. Book a consultation →
In other currencies: A$330 is about US$225, €205 or £170; A$550 is about US$380, €340 or £285 (approximate, November 2026).
Not sure which visa fits you?
Answer three questions. An automated guide points you to the route that usually applies. General information only.
Book 30 minutes with Keshab.
Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536), reads your situation with you and tells you which route fits, what it costs and what happens next.
Video consultation. A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes, credited in full if you go ahead. Advice on your own case is given in the consultation, and you leave it with a clear plan in writing.
What you get
- 30 minutes (A$330) or 60 minutes (A$550) by video with a registered migration agent, Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
- A written summary of your options and next steps after the session.
- What to bring: ABN, what the business does, the role and salary, the candidate’s CV and current visa.
- Prefer no call? The sponsorship readiness check is done in writing, A$550.
Book an employer sponsorship consultation — A$330 inc. GST, credited In writing, no call — A$550
Need 60 minutes, or bringing a partner, employer or documents to go through? Extended consultation, A$550 inc. GST.
MARN 1576536 · practising since 2015 · contact details
Questions we get asked first
Which occupations does the Advertising Industry Labour Agreement cover?
Five: Advertising Specialist (ANZSCO 225111), Graphic Designer (232411), Copywriter (212411), Multimedia Designer (232413) and Web Developer (261212). Nominations under the agreement are limited to these occupations.
Who has to endorse the agreement?
Home Affairs states that an employer must be endorsed by the Media Federation of Australia (MFA) and Advertising Council Australia (ACA) before requesting the agreement. The terms are set and not negotiable.
What is the minimum salary?
Home Affairs states guaranteed annual earnings of at least A$85,000, full-time, and the market salary rate for the position. That is above the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 for nominations from 1 July 2026). The template lists no salary concession.
How much experience does the worker need?
For the 482 under the agreement, at least three years of work experience directly relevant to the nominated position. For the 186, Home Affairs' summary states six years of work experience, and the template requires at least three years in the nominated occupation as the primary holder of a 457 or 482 before the 186 nomination.
Are there English or age concessions?
No. English must meet the 482 Core Skills stream requirement, and the template lists no English or age concession. There is no age limit on the 482; for the 186 Home Affairs states the applicant must be no more than 45 at the time of application.
Does WIDEN arrange the MFA and ACA endorsement?
The endorsement is decided by the industry bodies, not by us. In the consultation we go through what the labour agreement request and nominations will need alongside it, and what we would prepare.
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