For employers · Labour agreements · MARN 1576536
Labour agreement consultation for employers
When the standard 482 does not cover the role or the concession a business needs, a labour agreement may. There are three kinds, each with its own gateway. Keshab Chapagain, a registered migration agent since 2015 (MARN 1576536) with more than 10 years and hundreds of cases, who writes OMARA-approved CPD on employer sponsorship, works out which one fits your business and what the request will need.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed November 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Consultation
- A$330 · 30 min · or A$550 · 60 min
- Credited
- In full if you engage us
- Types
- Industry · DAMA · Company-specific
- Visas
- 482, 494 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 →Who this is for
- Employers in industries with a template: aged care, advertising, dairy, fishing, horticulture, meat, pork and restaurant premium dining.
- Regional employers whose occupation is on a DAMA list.
- Businesses with a role no list or template covers, considering a company-specific agreement.
- Labour hire businesses (see on-hire labour agreements).
What the consultation covers
- Do you need one? Whether the standard 482 or 494 already covers the role.
- Which type. Industry, DAMA or company-specific, and the endorsement or negotiation step for each.
- The evidence. Labour market testing, the shortage case and the business's capacity to sponsor.
- The terms. Salary, English, age and experience terms, and the 186 pathway under the agreement.
- Timing and cost. A realistic sequence and a written quote.
What to bring
- The roles you need to fill, with duties, location and the salary you can offer.
- Your recruitment efforts so far: ads, responses and outcomes.
- Basic business information: ABN, turnover, headcount, and any existing sponsorship approval.
Price and booking
A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes, or A$550 for 60 minutes for several roles or a company-specific case. The fee is credited in full toward your professional fee if you engage the practice. Book a labour agreement 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
When does a business need a labour agreement instead of the standard 482?
When the occupation is not available in the standard 482 stream, or when the business needs a concession the standard program does not give, such as on English, age or salary, and the concession is available under an industry template, a DAMA for the region, or a company-specific agreement. If the standard 482 works, it is usually simpler.
Which type of labour agreement fits us?
An industry agreement (fixed terms for advertising, aged care, dairy, fishing, horticulture, meat, pork and restaurant premium dining) if your industry has one; a DAMA if you are in a designated area and the occupation is on its list; otherwise a company-specific agreement, which needs the strongest evidence of a genuine gap. Choosing between them is the core of the consultation.
How long does a labour agreement take?
It depends on the type: industry templates and DAMAs involve an endorsement step first, and company-specific agreements involve negotiation with the Department. The consultation gives a realistic sequence for your case rather than a promised date.
Do labour agreements lead to permanent residence?
Many do, through the 186 Labour Agreement stream, on terms set in each agreement (often a set number of years with the sponsor). The guide for each agreement sets out its terms.
Can you guarantee the Department will approve the agreement?
No. Labour agreements are entered into by the Department at its discretion. We can tell you how well the evidence supports the request and what would strengthen it.
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