Living and working in Australia. Just a dream?

Imagine sitting at a beachside café, looking out over the ocean, sipping on your latte with your smashed avocado on toast. The hustle and bustle of the suburbs are around you, and the warmth of Spring makes you glow.  Tomorrow’s Monday – back to work at your dream job.

Life doesn’t get much better than this.

It took a lot of courage, but all your hard work made it even more worthwhile.

With Employer Sponsorship Visas, living and working in Australia doesn’t just have to be a dream, there’s a maze of options available to make it your reality. You just need to be eligible.  Your employer (or sponsor) must nominate you for a skilled position and meet other criteria.  You must also have the correct skills and meet the English language requirement.

Employer Sponsorship visa - 482 visa - 186 visa - 494 visa - employer nomination - standard business sponsorship

Employer Sponsorship Visas

TSS Visa (Temporary Skills Shortage Visa) – Subclass 482
  1. Short-term stream enables you to live and work in Australia for up to 2 years, dependent on your circumstances; and you must only work for the employer who has sponsored you. Generally speaking, this stream would not lead to Permanent Residency.  Your skill/qualification must be on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
  2. You can stay in Australia for up to 4 years on the medium-term stream. Your skillset must appear on either the Medium- & Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), or the Regional Occupation List (ROL). You’re also allowed to study and apply for Permanent Residency.

There are also provisions for employers who have a labour agreement as well as family members wanting to join you.

Employer Nomination Scheme – Subclass 186 (Permanent)

This subclass is a Permanent Residency visa. To be eligible for Subclass 186, you need to have a sponsor who is approved by the Department of Home Affairs as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). Additionally, You need to have a positive skill assessment from a relevant assessing authority.

  • You should be under 45 years of age. However, there are some exceptions to this requirement.
  • Your occupation must appear on the Medium- & Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
  • You need to have at least three years of post-qualification work experience in the nominated occupation. The work experience should be deemed to be at a skilled level by the assessment authority.
What this visa allows you to do?
  • Live, work and study in Australia permanently.
  • Have access to Medicare.
  • You would be able to sponsor relatives and family members if they were not included in your initial application.
  • Visa holders can travel overseas and return to Australia for five years.
  • You can apply for Australian Citizenship if you become eligible.

Streams of Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

Subclass 186 has three different streams. Depending on your circumstances and eligibility, you can choose one of these streams.

Temporary Residence Transition Stream

Applicants who are in Australia and hols subclasses 457 or 482 can apply under this stream. Those applicants should have worked for their nominating employers for at least two years in the same position and nominated occupation. You need to meet the age and English language requirements and have a positive skill assessment unless you meet one of the exception provisions.

Direct Entry Stream

Applicants who wish to apply from overseas or those applicants on subclasses 457 or 482 who are not eligible for the Temporary Residence Transition stream can apply under this stream. To qualify for this stream, you need to have positive skill assessment and meet the age and English language requirements.

Labour Agreement Stream

Labour Agreement Stream is for people who subclass 457 or 482 visas, and their sponsoring employer has an approved labour agreement. To be eligible, you need to have positive skill assessment and meet the age and English language requirements.

Employer Sponsorship visa - 482 visa - 186 visa - 494 visa - employer nomination - standard business sponsorship - finding skilled employee - skilled employee - skilled worker

Regional Sponsored Migration – Subclass 494 Regional Employer Sponsored (Provisional)

  • This is a Provisional (temporary) visa and has different criteria to be met by the sponsor and the nominee.
  • The Department of Home Affairs must approve your employer as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS).
  • Your skillset/occupation must be on either the Medium- & Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), or the Regional Occupation List (ROL), and the work in one of the specific postcodes set out by the visa.
  • You need to be under 45 years of age.
  • Having a positive skill assessment from a relevant assessing authority is required.
  • You need to meet the English Language requirements.
  • Your employer must prove to a Regional Certifying Body a genuine need for the position and that it cannot be filled locally.
  • You can apply for Permanent Residency under subclass 191 after living and working for at least three years for your nominating employer in regional areas.
Employer Sponsorship visa - 482 visa - 186 visa - 494 visa - employer nomination - standard business sponsorship - finding skilled employee - skilled employee - skilled worker

Other Temporary Work Visas

  • Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Subclass 400 – for those undertaking work for a short period of time in a highly specialised area.
  • Temporary Activity – Subclass 408 – for people who are coming into Australia for a very short time and for specific purposes such as an invited guest or to undertake research; for musicians and celebrities or religious workers.

You can also explore other types of Australian Visas.