Employer Sponsored Visas

Sponsor Talent.
Build Your Team.
Stay Permanently.

Australia's 482 TSS and 186 ENS visas give businesses the global talent they need and skilled workers a clear path to permanent residency. Our MARA-registered agents manage every step — for employers and applicants alike.

4.9★
Google Rating
2,000+
Visas Granted
15+
Years Experience
MARN
1069570
I'm an Employer
I'm a Worker
Employer Pathway
🏢
Step 1: Standard Business Sponsor Approval
2–6 wks
📋
Step 2: Occupation Nomination + LMT
1–4 wks
Step 3: Worker Visa Lodgement & Grant
1–6 mo
Start Sponsor Approval →
Worker Pathway
🎯
482 TSS — Work up to 5 years + PR pathway
Temporary
🌏
186 ENS — Permanent residency from grant
Permanent
📈
482 → 186 TRT after 3 years on medium-term
PR Path
Check My Eligibility →
New: Software Engineer sponsored — Sydney NSW Granted: 186 ENS visa — Melbourne VIC, 4 weeks processing Approved: Standard Business Sponsor — Brisbane QLD Lodged: Civil Engineer 482 TSS — Perth WA Granted: Registered Nurse 186 — Adelaide SA, permanent residency New: Tech company onboarded — 12 sponsored workers this year Approved: Accountant 482 nomination — Gold Coast QLD Granted: Chef 186 ENS Direct Entry — Darwin NT Transitioned: 482 Medium-term → 186 PR — Canberra ACT Approved: IT Manager sponsorship — Brisbane QLD, 3 weeks New: Software Engineer sponsored — Sydney NSW Granted: 186 ENS visa — Melbourne VIC, 4 weeks processing Approved: Standard Business Sponsor — Brisbane QLD Lodged: Civil Engineer 482 TSS — Perth WA Granted: Registered Nurse 186 — Adelaide SA, permanent residency New: Tech company onboarded — 12 sponsored workers this year Approved: Accountant 482 nomination — Gold Coast QLD Granted: Chef 186 ENS Direct Entry — Darwin NT Transitioned: 482 Medium-term → 186 PR — Canberra ACT Approved: IT Manager sponsorship — Brisbane QLD, 3 weeks

482 vs 186 — Choose Your Pathway

Two powerful employer-sponsored visa streams. Understanding the difference determines your strategy — and your timeline to permanent residency.

482

Temporary Skill Shortage

Australia's primary temporary work visa. Employers can sponsor skilled overseas workers for roles they can't fill locally — up to 4 years (Short-term) or 5 years (Medium-term) with a clear PR pathway.

  • Short-term stream: up to 2–4 years (limited PR options)
  • Medium-term stream: up to 5 years + 186 PR pathway
  • Labour Market Testing required (most cases)
  • Employer must hold Standard Business Sponsor status
  • Minimum salary: TSMIT ($73,150 p.a.) or market rate
  • Family members included — full work & study rights
Temporary Visa
186

Employer Nomination Scheme

Australia's permanent employer-sponsored visa. Two pathways: Temporary Residence Transition (from 482) or Direct Entry for highly skilled workers who haven't held a 482.

  • Permanent residency from the date of grant
  • TRT stream: 3 years on 482 Medium-term required
  • Direct Entry: skills assessment + 3 years relevant experience
  • Age limit: generally under 45 at time of nomination
  • Occupation must be on relevant skilled occupation list
  • Work anywhere in Australia — no regional restrictions
Permanent Residency

What You Need to Qualify

Select your role to see the specific requirements that apply to you.

Employer Requirements
Worker Requirements
🏢

Lawfully Operating Business

Your business must be legally operating in Australia and able to demonstrate a genuine need for the sponsored position.

Standard Business Sponsor

You must be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor before nominating any workers. We manage this application for you.

📋

Labour Market Testing

Most nominations require evidence that you genuinely tried to recruit an Australian worker. We guide you through compliant LMT advertising.

💰

Salary Requirements

You must pay the worker at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) or the market salary rate, whichever is higher.

📊

Training Obligations

Sponsors must invest in training Australian workers. We advise on meeting this requirement and maintaining ongoing compliance.

🔒

Sponsorship Obligations

Ongoing obligations include record-keeping, cooperating with inspections, and ensuring the worker's role matches the nominated occupation.

🎓

Qualifications & Experience

You need relevant qualifications and/or at least 2 years of recent work experience in the nominated occupation.

📝

Skilled Occupation List

Your occupation must appear on the relevant Short-term or Medium-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL/MTSOL) or the DAMA list.

🌏

English Proficiency

Most workers need to meet an English language requirement. Exemptions apply if you hold certain passports or have studied in English.

❤️

Health & Character

You must undergo a medical examination and provide police clearance certificates. We advise on timing and the right health examiner.

🏆

Skills Assessment

Some occupations require a formal skills assessment from the relevant assessing body before the visa can be lodged or granted.

📅

Age Requirements

For the 186 ENS visa, you must generally be under 45 at the time of nomination. Some exemptions apply for certain occupations.

Find Your Sponsorship Path

Answer 4 quick questions and we'll match you with the right visa strategy and connect you with our team.

1
2
3
4
5
Step 1 of 5

Are you an employer or a worker?

🏢
I'm an Employer
I want to sponsor an overseas worker for a position in my business
👤
I'm a Worker
I have a job offer or want to find an employer to sponsor me
Step 2 of 5

Which visa are you interested in?

⏱️
482 TSS
Temporary sponsorship, up to 5 years
🌏
186 ENS
Permanent residency via employer nomination
🤔
Not Sure
I'd like guidance on the best option
Step 3 of 5

How many employees does your business have?

🏠
1–10 employees
Small business or startup
🏬
11–50 employees
Growing business
🏢
51–200 employees
Mid-sized company
🏙️
200+ employees
Large enterprise
Step 4 of 5

What is your timeline?

🔥
Urgent
Within 3 months — I need to act now
📅
Soon
3–6 months — planning ahead
🔭
Future
6+ months — exploring my options
Step 5 of 5

Where should we send your personalised advice?

Your information is handled in strict confidence under our Privacy Policy. No spam, ever.

We're on it!

Thank you — a member of our team will contact you within 1 business day with personalised advice for your employer-sponsored visa pathway.

From Application to Grant

We manage the full three-part sponsorship process — sponsor approval, nomination, and the visa itself — so nothing falls through the cracks.

1

Strategy & Assessment

We review your situation — employer obligations or worker eligibility — and map the optimal visa strategy before lodging a single document.

2

Sponsor Approval

We prepare and lodge the Standard Business Sponsor application, ensuring all business documents and evidence are complete and compliant.

3

Nomination & LMT

We structure the occupation nomination and Labour Market Testing evidence to minimise the risk of requests for further information.

4

Visa Application

We compile the full visa application — identity, qualifications, English proficiency, health and character — and lodge with confidence.

5

Grant & Compliance

Once granted, we brief both employer and worker on their obligations, visa conditions, and the pathway forward to permanent residency.

6

PR Transition

For Medium-term 482 holders, we track your 3-year milestone and prepare the 186 ENS permanent residency application at the right time.

Employers & Workers We've Helped

★★★★★

"We needed to sponsor three IT specialists and had no idea where to start with the sponsorship process. Global Migrations made it straightforward — from our SBS approval through to all three visas being granted."

TL
Thomas L.
CEO, Tech company — 482 TSS × 3 visas
★★★★★

"I was on a 482 Medium-term and wanted to understand my PR options. The team tracked my 3-year milestone, prepared my 186 application at exactly the right time, and I now have permanent residency."

AP
Aisha P.
Registered Nurse — 482 → 186 ENS PR
★★★★★

"I found my employer but neither of us knew how the nomination process worked. Global Migrations handled everything — LMT, nomination, visa — and we were granted within 10 weeks of lodgement."

MK
Marco K.
Civil Engineer — 482 TSS Medium-term

Not ready for the full form?

Leave your details and we'll get back to you with a free employer-sponsored visa overview tailored to your situation.

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Common Questions Answered

The full process has three stages. Standard Business Sponsor approval typically takes 2–6 weeks. Nomination is usually 1–4 weeks. The visa application itself varies: 1–3 months for straightforward applications, up to 6 months for complex cases or peak periods. We prepare complete, high-quality applications to minimise delays and avoid requests for additional information.
Yes — the Medium-term stream of the 482 (occupations on the MTSOL) provides a direct pathway to permanent residency through the 186 ENS Temporary Residence Transition stream after 3 years in the role. The Short-term stream has more limited PR options. We help you choose the right stream from the outset to protect your long-term options.
Labour Market Testing (LMT) requires employers to show they made genuine attempts to fill the position with an Australian worker before sponsoring overseas. This typically involves advertising for 4 weeks on relevant job boards and documenting the recruitment process. Some exemptions apply for international trade obligations. We guide employers through compliant LMT advertising that meets the Department's requirements.
Yes. Partners and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants on the 482 visa. They receive the same work and study rights as the primary holder — no restrictions. For the 186 ENS, family members receive full permanent residency as well. Including family members adds to the application fee but not to processing time in most cases.
It depends on the occupation. Some occupations require a formal skills assessment from a designated assessing authority (e.g. Engineers Australia, ACS, VETASSESS) before the visa is lodged. Others do not. For the 186 Direct Entry stream, skills assessments are always required. We advise on whether an assessment is needed and which assessing body applies to your specific occupation, saving you time and avoidable costs.
If the employment ends, the 482 visa holder generally has 60 days to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa, or depart Australia. The employer must notify the Department. We advise both parties on their obligations in this scenario and can help the worker identify new sponsorship options or alternative visa pathways to keep them in Australia.

Ready to Build Your Team
or Secure Your Future in Australia?

Whether you're an employer filling a critical role or a skilled worker seeking your path to permanent residency — our MARA-registered agents have the expertise to make it happen.

✓ MARA Registered — MARN 1069570 ✓ Employer & Worker Specialists ✓ 2,000+ Visas Granted ★ 4.9 Google Rating ✓ 98% First-Time Success ✓ 15+ Years Experience
Employer Sponsored Visa — Get your personalised pathway from our MARA-registered agents
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