Employers · IT and software
Sponsoring IT and Software Workers — Occupations, Assessment and Process
Software engineers, developers, analysts and cyber-security specialists are on the lists, and well-paid technology roles often clear the Specialist Skills threshold, which is the fastest 482 stream. The checks that matter are matching the job to the right ANZSCO code (job titles in technology rarely match the occupation names), the salary stream, and the Australian Computer Society assessment where it is needed.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Salary floor (Core Skills)
- A$79,423 + super
- Nomination charge
- A$330 + SAF levy
- Visa
- 482 Skills in Demand, then 186
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About the CPD →MARN 1576536
Employers: get the it and software nomination right the first time.
In the extended consultation I check the role against the occupation, the salary against the floor and market rate, and the candidate against the assessment and the visa, then give you a fixed quote in writing for the sponsorship, nomination and visa.
What it costs. $550 inc. GST for 60 minutes by video with Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536), credited in full against our professional fee if you engage WIDEN. Advice confirmed in writing after the call. There is no free consultation or free assessment.
Which occupations can be sponsored
| Occupation | List | Employer and skilled visas | Assessed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer 261313 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | ACS |
| Developer Programmer 261312 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | ACS |
| Analyst Programmer 261311 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | ACS |
| ICT Business Analyst 261111 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | ACS |
| Systems Administrator 262113 | Short-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 190, 491 | ACS |
| Cyber Security Engineer 261315 | Core Skills | 482, 186 | ACS |
| Cyber Security Analyst 262116 | Core Skills | 482, 186 | ACS |
| Telecommunications Network Engineer 263312 | Long-term, Core Skills | 482, 186, 494, 189, 190, 491 | Engineers Australia |
List status from the Department of Home Affairs occupation lists as recorded on this site; check the searchable Core Skills list for any occupation not shown.
What the IT-specific checks are
- The occupation code: "Full-stack engineer", "Data engineer" or "DevOps lead" are not occupation names. The nomination must pick the listed occupation whose duties the role actually performs, and the duties statement must match it.
- Specialist Skills stream: a role paying at least A$146,576 a year qualifies for the Specialist Skills stream, which has its own processing priority since 19 September 2026.
- Assessment: the Australian Computer Society assesses IT occupations; it is needed for the points-tested visas and for some 482 applicants, and it decides whether a non-IT degree counts.
The process for the employer
- Standard Business Sponsorship: approval of the business as a sponsor, valid five years. A business already approved skips this.
- Labour market testing: the role advertised in Australia for at least 28 days within the four months before the nomination, including on Workforce Australia, unless an exemption applies.
- Nomination: the position, its duties, the occupation code and the salary, which must be at least A$79,423 a year plus superannuation (the Core Skills Income Threshold) and the market rate for the role.
- The visa: the worker applies for the 482, with the skills assessment where the occupation or their nationality requires it, English, health and character.
- After two years in the role, the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream to permanent residence.
Cost and timing
Government charges to the employer: the sponsorship application A$420, the nomination A$330, and the Skilling Australians Fund levy of A$1,200 a year of nomination for a business with turnover under A$10m, A$1,800 a year above it. The visa application charge is A$4,015 for the main applicant. None of the employer charges may be passed on to the worker. Processing runs in months, not weeks; current processing times are tracked monthly, and since 19 September 2026 nominations in priority sectors are processed first.
General information only, current at October 2026; not advice on your own case. Outcomes depend on the Department’s assessment of each application; no registered migration agent can guarantee a result (Code of Conduct, Migration Agents Regulations). Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
Not sure which visa fits you?
Answer three questions. An automated guide points you to the route that usually applies. General information only.
Check your case
Tell Keshab your situation. He reads it personally and replies within a business day with which route fits you and whether a consultation is worth your money. Not an assessment of your file, no advice on it, no obligation.
How this works: Keshab reads every case check himself and replies personally, usually within a business day: which route fits, what it turns on, and whether a consultation is worth your money. If it is, he offers you a time; if it is not, he says so.
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 →Questions we get asked first
Can I sponsor a software developer from overseas?
Yes. Software Engineer, Developer Programmer and Analyst Programmer are on the lists, and a role paying A$146,576 or more can use the Specialist Skills stream.
Our job title is not on the list. Can we still sponsor?
Yes, if the duties match a listed occupation. The nomination uses the occupation code, not your title.
Are cyber-security roles listed?
Yes. Several cyber-security occupations are on the Core Skills list for the 482 and 186.
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