Workers · Employer sponsorship · 482 · 186 · 494
My employer wants to sponsor me: what happens next
Short answer: three applications, in order. The employer becomes an approved sponsor (if it isn't one already), the employer nominates your role, and you apply for the visa. The employer pays for the first two by law. Most delays come from a nomination that doesn't match the job, the salary or your experience, so it pays to check those before anything is lodged.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Salary floor (CSIT)
- A$79,423 a year
- Nomination charge
- A$330, paid by the employer
- Your visa charge
- A$4,015 main applicant
- 482 nomination
- 64 days to 9 months
- Path to PR
- 186 after two years with the sponsor
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 three steps
- Sponsorship (the employer). The business applies to become a Standard Business Sponsor (A$420, approved for five years). If it is already a sponsor, this step is skipped.
- Nomination (the employer). The employer nominates your role: the occupation, the duties, the salary and the location. The salary must be at least A$79,423 and the market rate. Most roles need labour market testing first.
- Visa (you). You apply for the 482 Skills in Demand visa. You need relevant work experience (at least one year in the last five), an English test result at the required level unless you are exempt, health and character checks, and a skills assessment where your occupation or passport needs one.
The nomination and visa can be lodged close together. For regional employers, the 494 is the regional alternative, and a DAMA can relax the salary, English or age rules in some regions.
Who pays what
- The employer pays: the sponsorship application (A$420), the nomination charge (A$330), the Skilling Australians Fund levy (A$1,200 a year of the visa for a business turning over under A$10 million, A$1,800 for larger ones) and its own agent's fees for that work. It cannot recover any of these from you.
- You pay: your visa application charge (A$4,015 for the main applicant), plus health checks, police certificates, an English test and any skills assessment. An employer may choose to pay these too.
If anyone asks you to pay for the sponsorship or the nomination, stop. It is unlawful for both of you.
What decides your case
- The occupation fits the job you actually do. The nominated occupation, your duties and your past experience have to tell the same story.
- The salary is right. At or above the threshold, and what Australians in the same job at that business are paid. Payslips for a comparable worker are the usual evidence.
- The position is genuine. The business needs the role, can afford it, and has the work.
- Your visa status allows it. A "no further stay" condition, an expiring visa or a past refusal changes the order of steps.
From 482 to permanent residence
After two years working for the same sponsor in the nominated occupation, the employer can usually nominate you for the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream. That is the most common way a sponsored worker becomes a permanent resident, so the 482 nomination should be written with the 186 in mind.
Employer ready to sponsor you? Get a fixed quote
Tell Keshab your occupation, the employer (type of business and where) and your current visa. He replies within one business day with what the employer needs, what you need, the fixed fee and the timing.
Ready now? Skip the form. Pick a time and talk to Keshab directly — your documents on the table, a straight answer, and a written summary afterwards. $330 inc. GST, credited toward your fee if you engage.
Pick a time — no enquiry needed →Not sure which visa fits you?
Answer three questions. An automated guide points you to the route that usually applies. General information only.
Questions we get asked first
Who pays for the sponsorship and nomination?
The employer. The sponsorship application (A$420), the nomination charge (A$330), the Skilling Australians Fund levy and the employer's own migration agent fees are the employer's costs, and the law stops an employer recovering them from you. You pay your own visa application charge, unless the employer chooses to.
Can my employer sponsor me while I am on a student, graduate or working holiday visa?
Often yes. Many sponsored workers apply from inside Australia, and a bridging visa usually keeps you lawful while the visa is decided. What matters is your occupation, your work experience and whether your current visa has a "no further stay" condition. Check that before anything is lodged.
Does the job have to be advertised?
Usually. Most 482 nominations need labour market testing: the employer advertises the role in Australia first. Some workers are exempt because of their citizenship under a free trade agreement. It is checked on each file.
How much must I be paid?
At least the Core Skills Income Threshold of A$79,423 a year (from 1 July 2026) and the market rate that an Australian doing the same job is paid. Guaranteed overtime can count only if the contract guarantees it.
How long does it take?
Home Affairs report 64 days to 9 months for the 482 nomination and 4 months to 9 months for the 482 Core Skills visa (as of 29 September 2026). A complete file at lodgement is what keeps you at the fast end.
Can this lead to permanent residence?
Often. After two years working for the same sponsor, a subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition nomination may be available. Plan for it from the start, because the 482 nomination shapes the later one.
Someone wants me to pay for the sponsorship. Is that normal?
No. Paying, or being asked to pay, anyone for a sponsorship or nomination is unlawful for both sides, and it can cost the employer its sponsorship and you your visa. Talk to a registered migration agent before paying anything.
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