Australia’s employer-sponsored migration program operates under the Migration Act 1958
and Migration Regulations 1994 and is assessed strictly against legislative criteria in force at
the relevant assessment stage. Both the employer and the visa applicant must independently
meet prescribed requirements, and failure by either party results in refusal.
Employer-sponsored migration is delivered through several key visas: Subclass 482
(Temporary Skill Shortage), a temporary visa allowing an approved business to sponsor a
skilled worker where there is a genuine skills need; Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination
Scheme), a permanent residence visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian
employer; and Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional), a provisional regional
visa requiring employment in a designated regional area.
The process involves three technical components: standard business sponsorship, nomination,
and visa application. The employer must be lawfully operating, demonstrate a genuine
position aligned with an ANZSCO occupation, meet labour market testing requirements
where applicable, and offer market-salary-rate employment. The nominated position must be
full-time, ongoing, and necessary to the business.
The visa applicant must meet skills, qualifications, work experience, English language,
licensing (if required), health, and character criteria. Skills and employment must closely
match the nominated ANZSCO occupation. Compliance history, salary alignment, and
document consistency is closely scrutinised.