Employer sponsorship: 30 questions answered

Can my business sponsor an overseas worker?

Yes, if the business is lawfully operating, is approved as a standard business sponsor (or has applied) and nominates a genuine position in an eligible occupation at the right salary. Approval as a sponsor lasts five years. Becoming an approved sponsor → · Step by step → · Sponsorship documents →

What does it cost the employer?

For a 482: A$420 for sponsorship, A$330 for the nomination and the Skilling Australians Fund levy of A$1,200 or A$1,800 per year depending on turnover. For a 186 or 494 the levy is a one-off A$3,000 or A$5,000. These costs cannot be passed on to the worker. Cost to sponsor a worker, with a calculator → · 186 and 494 costs →

Which visa should we use: 482, 186 or 494?

The 482 is the temporary workhorse, up to four years. The 186 is permanent, directly or after two years on a 482. The 494 is a five-year regional visa with a path to permanent residence through the 191. Sponsor a worker: the options →

Is the occupation eligible?

The 482 Core Skills stream needs an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, sometimes with caveats. The Specialist Skills stream has no list but needs A$146,576 or more and excludes trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers. When the occupation is not on the list →

Can a small business sponsor?

Yes, businesses of any size can be sponsors. Some occupations carry caveats that exclude small businesses, for example accountants in businesses with turnover under A$1 million or fewer than 5 employees. An example: accounting firms → · Franchises →

Can we sponsor a relative or a friend?

It is possible, but related-party nominations get close scrutiny of whether the position is genuine and the salary is real. Sponsoring a relative →

What is the minimum salary?

For a 482 Core Skills or 186 nomination lodged from 1 July 2026, the higher of the annual market salary rate and A$79,423. The Specialist Skills stream needs A$146,576. The 494 uses the same A$79,423 floor (the TSMIT) and the market rate. Salary thresholds and the market rate →

Does superannuation count towards the salary?

No. The threshold and the nominated salary are tested on guaranteed annual earnings, which exclude super. A package that includes super can fall below the nominated figure when the super guarantee rises. What counts, and the super trap →

Must we raise pay when the threshold is indexed on 1 July?

The new threshold applies to nominations lodged from 1 July, not to existing ones. You must keep paying at least the nominated salary and terms equivalent to Australian workers, and a new nomination is tested at the new figure. CSIT indexation for employers →

Can we recover visa costs from the worker's pay?

Not the sponsorship, nomination or levy costs, and not agent fees for those steps. The worker's own visa charge can be paid by either side by agreement. What a sponsor cannot recover →

Do we need to advertise the job first?

For most 482 Core Skills and 494 nominations, yes: at least two advertisements, each running at least 4 weeks, within the 4 months before lodging, unless an exemption applies. Check your ads with the LMT checker →

Where must the ads appear?

A national recruitment or industry site, LinkedIn's recruitment platform, national print or radio, or your own site if you are an accredited sponsor. Social-media-only posts and classifieds do not count. Writing the LMT ad →

How long does sponsorship take?

Sponsorship, nomination and visa are separate decisions, and processing varies. Home Affairs publishes processing times for each visa, updated monthly. The full employer timeline → · Nomination processing times →

Can the worker start before the visa is granted?

Only if they already hold a visa that lets them do that work. Starting someone without the right work rights is an offence for the employer. Starting before the visa →

Can we sponsor someone already working for us on a student visa or 485?

Often yes, if the occupation, salary and experience fit. The timing matters, because their current visa conditions still apply until the 482 is granted. Sponsoring an existing employee →

Can the worker bring their family?

Yes. A partner and dependent children can be included or join later, and can live, work and study in Australia. A family member who joins later needs your written agreement to include them. Sponsoring a worker with family →

What are our obligations as a sponsor?

Pay at least the nominated salary on equivalent terms, notify Home Affairs of certain changes within 28 days, keep records, pay return travel when asked in writing, not recover sponsorship costs, and cooperate with monitoring. Sponsorship obligations and monitoring → · Obligations checklist →

What if the worker resigns or we end their employment?

Notify Home Affairs within 28 days, follow Fair Work rules for any dismissal or redundancy, and pay return travel if asked. A 482 holder generally has 180 days to find a new sponsor, change visa or leave. When a sponsored worker leaves →

Can we cut a sponsored worker's hours or pay in a downturn?

Paying less than the nominated salary is a breach from the first day, and cutting hours usually is too. Some options exist, such as agreed unpaid leave or a new nomination, and redundancy must be done properly. Downturns and sponsored workers →

What are the employer exploitation offences?

Coercing or pressuring a visa holder about work is a criminal offence, with penalties of up to 2 years' imprisonment and/or 360 penalty units. Serious offenders can be placed on the prohibited employer list. The employer exploitation laws →

Will Home Affairs check on us?

Yes, it can. The Department can call, request records or visit the workplace, and it may speak to the worker. Records should be ready on the day. Verification calls and site visits →

Our 482 nomination was refused. What now?

The sponsor can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal within 28 days (fee A$3,727), or lodge a fresh nomination that fixes the gap. The decision record shows which route is faster. 482 nomination refused →

Our 186 nomination was refused. What now?

The same two routes apply: ART review by the employer within 28 days, or a new nomination. The worker's 186 cannot be granted without an approved nomination. 186 nomination refused →

Our sponsorship application was refused. Can we reapply?

Yes. Read why it failed (operating status, adverse information, capacity or a bar), fix it, and decide between review and a new application. Sponsorship refused → · Which refusals the sponsor can appeal →

How do we sponsor our 482 worker for permanent residence?

Through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream once they have 2 years of eligible sponsored employment in the last 3. You pay the A$540 nomination charge (nil for a position in regional Australia) and the one-off levy. Nominating for the 186 → · What the 186 costs the employer →

We are a regional business. Is the 494 better?

It can be: five years, a path to the 191 after three, and access to the Regional Occupation List. It needs Regional Certifying Body advice and labour market testing. Sponsoring on the 494 →

What if the occupation is not on any list?

Check whether a regional DAMA or an industry labour agreement covers it, or whether the salary reaches the Specialist Skills threshold (not available for trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers). DAMA by region → · Labour agreement timeline →

We need an overseas specialist for a few weeks. Which visa?

Meetings and contract work only: a business visitor visa. Hands-on, highly specialised, non-ongoing work: the 400, up to 6 months. Longer or ongoing: the 482. Short-project specialists →

How do we cover seasonal peaks?

Working holiday makers (six months per employer unless exempt), students (48 hours a fortnight in term), PALM workers if approved, and a 482, DAMA or labour agreement for recurring skilled roles. Seasonal and peak staff →

Can we bring someone in for workplace training?

Through the 407 Training visa, after approval as a temporary activities sponsor and a nomination. From 12 November 2026 the trainee must apply from outside Australia. The 407 for sponsors →