As is widely known now, Australia is facing an acute skilled labour shortage. To fulfil their skilled labour needs, Australian employers can hire overseas workers. Employer sponsorship visa in Australia allows business owners to sponsor suitable workers from other countries to take up positions in their organisations and fields when they are unable to source skilled labour locally. In this blog, we will address the various subclasses, requirements and conditions that will guide employers such as farmers, hospitality business owners and Human Resources professionals to sponsor visas for overseas workers.
Types of Employer Sponsored Visa
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)
Subclass 482 is a Employer that lets employers employ skilled workers when they cannot find a suitable skilled Australian to fill the position. Subclass 482 visa holders can only work in eligible skilled occupations. The 482 program enables visa holders to stay in Australia for the purposes of employment for a period of up to four years.
Subclass 482 (TSS) has 2 streams:
Short-term stream:
Criteria:
- Must be nominated by an approved sponsor.
- Must nominate the applicant for an occupation specified on the STSOL.
- Must demonstrate that he/she has relevant skills, qualification and employment background required to perform the job. Applicants may or may not require to undertake skill assessment based on nominated occupation (Some occupations have mandatory skill assessment requirements).
- Must have at least 2 years’ experience in nominated occupation within the last 5 years.
- Must demonstrate that applicant meets English requirements.
- Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.
Medium to Long-term stream:
Criteria:
- Must be nominated by an approved sponsor
- Must nominate the applicant for an occupation specified on the MLTSSL.
- Must demonstrate that he/she has relevant skills, qualification and employment background required to perform the job. Applicants may or may not require undertaking skill assessment based on nominated occupation (Some occupations have mandatory skill assessment requirements).
- Must have at least 2 years’ experience in nominated occupation within the last 5 years.
- Must demonstrate that the applicant meets English requirements.
- Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.
- Must demonstrate that applicant meets English requirements.
Labour agreement stream:
Criteria:
- The nominated occupation must be part of the relevant labour agreement.
- Must have 2 years’ experience in nominated occupation unless agreed otherwise under labour agreement.
- Must demonstrate that he/she meets English requirements.
- Must be nominated by the employer.
- Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
The Skilled Employer Regional sponsored visa allows applicants to live and work in a designated regional area for 5 years. This visa provides a permanent visa pathway to applicants once they meet eligibility criteria of Subclass 191 which is essentially living and working in a regional area for more than 3 years with a sponsoring employer along with meeting minimum income threshold. Applicants are not required to go through point test or EOI process again when applying for subclass 191.
Subclass 494 has two streams:
Employer Sponsored stream:
Criteria:
- Must be nominated by an approved work sponsor.
- Nominated occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list.
- Must have suitable skill assessment for the occupation by relevant assessing authority.
- Must be under 45 years of age.
- Must meet English requirements.
- Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.
Labour Agreement stream:
Criteria:
- Occupation must be part of the labour agreement between the commonwealth and nominator.
- Must fulfil skill assessment and experience requirements for the occupation as per Labour agreement.
- Must be under 45 years of age unless stated otherwise in labour agreement.
- Must meet English language requirements as per labour agreement.
- Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (subclass 186)
This visa The Subclass 186 (ENS) visa enables skilled workers, who are nominated by their employer to live and work in Australia permanently. Applicants can be from overseas, or they may be temporary already residing in Australia.
The Subclass 186 (ENS) visa has 3 streams:
Direct Entry Stream:
Criteria:
- Occupation should be on the list of eligible skilled occupations
- Must have at least 3 years relevant work experience, unless exempted.
- Must have a positive skills assessment unless you are exempt.
- Must have at least competent English (Scope of 6 in each module of IELTS or equivalent).
- Must be under 45 years of age unless exempted.
- Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.
Temporary Residence Transition stream:
Criteria:
- Must be sponsored by an employer to work full time on subclass 482 or 457 for required years as per legislation.
- Must be nominated by an employer who sponsored for subclass 482 or 457.
- Must have at least competent English (Scope of 6 in each module of IELTS or equivalent).
- Must be under 45 years of age unless exempted.
- Must have held subclass 457 (not granted under the labour agreement stream) or subclass 482 (MLTSSL stream).
- Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.
Labour Agreement Stream:
Criteria:
- Must work or will work for an employer under labour agreement.
- Must be licensed, registered or a member of a professional body as mandated by state or territory applicants planning to work in.
- Must be nominated by an Australian employer as per legislation.
- Must be under the age of 45 unless labour agreements state otherwise.
- Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation
How can Indeedvisa help you with your applications?
Indeedvisa is registered with MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) and have processed thousands of cases successfully, so we know exactly what it takes to get a visa from the Australian Immigration Department. With Indeedvisa, you will benefit from constant updates, guidance and access to an extensive knowledge base.
Need further assistance understanding these requirements? Call us at +61 430 575 574 | (08) 6102 100 to schedule a consultation with one of our Registered Migration Agents or e-mail us at info@indeedvisa.com.au; we will be glad to assist you.
