Sponsor a Worker — Cost Calculator
Free indicative calculator for the total cost of sponsoring an overseas worker on a 482 or 186 visa in Australia. Government charges + indicative professional fees.
MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au
Indicative only. Government charges and SAF levy rates change — verify on the Department of Home Affairs website (homeaffairs.gov.au) before relying on the estimate. This page is general information only and does not constitute migration advice (s 23, Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022).
Indicative cost estimate
| Indicative total (excl. professional fees) | — |
| Plus indicative professional fees (WIDEN, end-to-end) | — |
| Indicative all-in | — |
Important. The SAF levy, SBS application fee, nomination application fee, and migration agent fees relating to sponsorship and nomination must be paid by the business and cannot be recovered from the worker (Migration Regulation 2.87). The visa application charge is paid by the worker.
Get a written fee quote for your matter
The calculator gives a ballpark. For a written quote tailored to your specific occupation, location, salary, and timeline, complete the short form below. Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) will respond personally within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sponsor a worker in Australia in 2026?
The total cost for sponsoring an overseas worker depends on the visa subclass, the business turnover, the length of the visa, and whether the employer engages a migration agent. Government charges alone — Standard Business Sponsorship application, nomination application, Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, and visa application charge — typically total AUD $4,000–$15,000 per worker depending on these variables. Professional fees for a registered migration agent are additional.
What is the SAF levy and how much is it?
The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is a one-off government charge payable when an employer lodges a nomination application for a 482, 186, or 494 visa. For 482 nominations, small businesses (annual turnover less than $10 million) pay AUD $1,200 per year of the proposed nomination period, and other businesses pay AUD $1,800 per year. For 186 nominations, small businesses pay a one-off AUD $3,000, and other businesses pay AUD $5,000. The SAF levy is paid by the sponsoring business and cannot be passed on to the worker — doing so is a breach of sponsorship obligations.
What's the difference between cost for a small business vs other business?
The Department defines a 'small business' for SAF levy purposes as a business with annual turnover of less than AUD $10 million. Small businesses pay a lower SAF levy rate. Other employer charges (SBS application fee, nomination application fee, visa application charge) are the same regardless of business size. Note: the Australian Taxation Office uses a different small business threshold for tax purposes; the SAF levy threshold is the relevant one here.
Can my business pass the sponsorship costs to the worker?
No. Migration Regulation 2.87 prohibits a sponsor from recovering certain sponsorship and nomination costs from the visa applicant — in particular the SAF levy, the SBS application fee, the nomination application fee, and migration agent fees relating to the sponsorship and nomination steps. Recovery is a breach of sponsorship obligations and can lead to fines, sponsorship cancellation, and bars on future sponsorship. The visa application charge (paid by the worker) and any costs relating to the visa application step (as distinct from sponsorship/nomination) are the worker's responsibility.
Are migration agent fees part of the calculated cost?
The calculator on this page shows indicative professional fee ranges. Actual fees depend on the complexity of the matter (e.g. whether the business is already an approved sponsor, whether the occupation requires a Labour Market Testing campaign, whether there's a refusal history). WIDEN provides a written fee quote after an initial paid consultation under section 43 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022 — fees are confirmed in a written service agreement before any work commences (section 42).
How long does sponsorship + nomination + visa application take?
Indicative current processing times (which change frequently — verify with the Department of Home Affairs before relying on these): Standard Business Sponsorship 1–4 months, 482 nomination 1–3 months, 482 visa application 2–6 months depending on stream. 186 nomination + visa application can take 6–18 months. State and federal occupation lists, salary benchmarks, and processing priorities affect timing.
What are the ongoing obligations after sponsorship is approved?
Approved sponsors must comply with the sponsorship obligations under the Migration Regulations and Migration Act for the duration of the sponsorship — typically 5 years (or longer for some 482 streams). Obligations include keeping records, paying the worker the agreed terms, not recovering prohibited costs, notifying the Department of changes, and cooperating with monitoring activities. Breaches can lead to sponsorship cancellation, monetary penalties, and bars on future sponsorship.
Is this calculator accurate?
The calculator uses indicative government charges as currently published by the Department of Home Affairs and the SAF levy rates set by the Migration Regulations. Professional fee ranges are typical of the Australian migration practice market and not specific to WIDEN. Government charges change — verify the current rates on the Department's website before relying on the estimate. The calculator does not constitute migration advice.
Related
- Sponsor a worker — full service (what's included, deliverables, fee framework)
- How to find the right worker to sponsor — sourcing channels and red flags
- How to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor
- 482 Skills in Demand visa — overview
- 186 Visa — permanent residency pathway
General information only. The figures shown by this calculator are indicative, based on government charges and SAF levy rates currently published by the Department of Home Affairs and the Migration Regulations. Government charges change — verify current rates at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before relying on the estimate. This page does not constitute migration advice.
Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid initial consultation under section 43 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022, with a written service agreement issued before further work commences (section 42). The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins. Outcomes are not guaranteed (section 15).
Cost recovery prohibition. Migration Regulation 2.87 prohibits a sponsor from recovering the SAF levy, the SBS application fee, the nomination application fee, and migration agent fees relating to sponsorship and nomination from the worker. This is a sponsorship obligation; breach can result in sponsorship cancellation, monetary penalties, and bars on future sponsorship.
Professional indemnity insurance held as required under the Migration Agents Regulations 1998. Complaints can be made via our Complaints Policy or directly to OMARA.