For employers · Becoming a sponsor · Timeline
Standard business sponsorship processing time
Becoming an approved sponsor is the first decision in a 482 or 494 case. Here is how long Home Affairs is currently taking (figures updated 2 November 2026), why some applications take much longer, and what to do while you wait.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed on 11 November 2026 · Check the OMARA register
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - 50% decided within
- 15 days
- 90% decided within
- 4 months
- Fee
- A$420
- Approval lasts
- 5 years
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 →Current processing time
| Application | 50% within | 90% within |
|---|---|---|
| Standard business sponsorship | 15 days | 4 months |
| 482 nomination (next stage) | 36 days | 9 months |
Source: Home Affairs global visa processing times, updated 2 November 2026. The figures describe applications already finalised.
What slows approval
- Thin evidence of operation. Most common for new businesses: a plan without contracts or bank statements that show real trading.
- Entity mismatch. The applicant's name differs from the ABN, the ASIC extract or, for a trust, the trustee on the deed.
- Adverse information. A past breach, prosecution or insolvency involving the business or an associate must be assessed; disclosing and explaining it up front is faster than having it found.
- Requests for more information. Each one pauses the application until you answer.
Everything Home Affairs asks for, by business type: sponsorship document checklist.
Using the wait
- Run the job ads. Where labour market testing applies, two ads of at least 4 weeks each must fall within the 4 months before the nomination is lodged. Check your ads.
- Prepare the nomination. Position description, market salary evidence and the case that the role is genuine. Nomination checklist.
- Get the worker ready. Skills assessment, English test and police certificates take weeks.
Renewals
Approval lasts five years. A nomination cannot be approved for a sponsor whose approval has expired, so lodge the renewal well before the expiry date. See renewing sponsorship.
Lodge it complete the first time
In a sponsor consultation Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536, registered since 2015) checks your sponsorship evidence before lodgement and plans the nomination and visa alongside it, so the case keeps moving while the sponsorship is processed. A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes or A$550 for 60 minutes, credited in full if you engage the practice. No processing time or outcome can be promised.
In other currencies: A$330 is about US$225, €205 or £170; A$550 is about US$380, €340 or £285 (approximate, November 2026).
General information, not migration advice. Processing times from the Home Affairs global visa processing times page, updated 2 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
How long does standard business sponsorship take?
Home Affairs reports 50% of sponsorship applications decided within 15 days and 90% within 4 months (figures updated 2 November 2026). Complete applications are processed faster; incomplete ones can be delayed or refused.
Why do some sponsorship applications take months?
Usually because the evidence of lawful operation is thin (common for new businesses), the applicant entity does not match the documents, or there is adverse information to assess. Each request for more information stops the clock until you reply.
Can I advertise the role while the sponsorship is being processed?
Yes. Advertising for labour market testing does not depend on the sponsorship decision, and ads must fall within the 4 months before the nomination is lodged, so running them during processing often saves time.
How long does sponsorship approval last?
Five years from approval. The fee is A$420. Lodge the renewal before expiry, because a nomination cannot be approved for an expired sponsor.
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