482 Visa Sponsorship for Employers

The Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) is a temporary skilled work visa.

The TSS visa is for employers who need to source skilled workers from overseas because they cannot find qualified Australians to fill a full time position.

The 482 visa has three streams:

    • a short term stream that is valid for 2 years
    • a medium term stream that is valid for 4 years
    • labour agreement stream that is valid for 4 years.
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Occupations that can be sponsored on the short term stream and the medium term stream are different.

Labour agreements are tailor-made agreements between a business and the government for occupations that don’t appear the skills occupation lists.

The 482 visa offers a pathway to permanent residency for the employee. Employers can extend their sponsored employee’s tenure when they nominate them for a skilled permanent residency visa through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) or the Regional Skilled Migration Scheme (RSMS).

482 visa stream

482 visa application process

  • An approved business sponsor can nominate a job position from the skilled occupation list for the 482 visa.
  • The nominated position must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs so the candidate can start preparing to apply for the 482 visa.
  • After passing the required skills assessment, language tests, and character check, the candidate can apply for the 482 visa.
  • Once the 482 visa is granted, the candidate can start working for the sponsoring employer.

How the 482 visa works

482 visa sponsorship for employers

There are 4 mains steps for employers to carry out when they sponsor a candidate for a 482 visa.

Step 1:  Employer is a standard business sponsor and confirms they can sponsor the employee for a 482 visa

Any employer looking to nominate positions for 482 visas must be, or have applied to become, an approved standard business sponsor or an accredited sponsor.

Learn more:  How to become a standard business sponsor

Check the Occupation List: Make sure the job is listed on either the short-term or medium to long-term skilled occupation list.

Ensure Eligibility: Confirm that the worker meets the eligibility requirements for the 482 visa. This includes:

Skills Assessment: The worker must pass a mandatory skills assessment unless their occupation is exempt. These assessments are valid for 3 years and are conducted by authorities approved by the Department of Home Affairs.

Health Checks: The worker must pass health checks.

Character Checks: The worker must pass character checks.

English Language Standards: The worker must meet the required English language standards unless they are from exempt countries like the USA, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the UK. You can find more details about English language exemptions on our page about English Language requirements.

The overseas worker can only apply for the 482 visa after you have successfully nominated them.

 

Step 2:  Employer prepares documents for the 482 nomination

What Employers Need to Provide for a 482 Visa Sponsorship

    1. Employee Identification: Confirm the employee’s identity.
    2. Family Members: List any family members who will accompany the employee.
    3. Job Location: Provide the exact location where the employee will work (not just the head office).
    4. Employment Contract:
      • A signed contract between the employer and the employee is needed.
      • Some occupations may not require a signed contract.
    5. Salary Requirements:
      • The salary must be at least the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the position.
      • It should also be no less than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), which is set at $70,000.
      • Learn more about Labour Market Testing

      Proving the Salary:

      • FairWork award rate for the position (if applicable).
      • Evidence of pay parity with an existing employee in a similar role (such as a contract with an Australian citizen).
      • Other job advertisements for the same role.
      • Salary information from websites.
    6. Labour Market Testing:
      • Show you tried to hire an Australian citizen for at least 28 days in the 4 months before the nomination.
      • Post job ads on the Workforce Australia job board and two other national platforms (e.g., Seek, Indeed, Professional LinkedIn, or a recruitment company).

      Proving Labour Market Testing:

      • Invoices for advertisements.
      • Copies of the ad text (screenshots, Word documents, or PDFs).
      • Reports on applicants, interviews, and assessments of their suitability or unsuitability.

      Exceptions:

      • If certain international trade obligations are in place, provide proof of the trade agreement.
    7. Proving the Job is Genuine:
      • A detailed job description outlining roles and responsibilities.
      • An organizational chart showing where this position fits.
      • Proof that the position existed before your nomination. If it’s a new role, explain the business reason for creating it.

Step 3:  Employer nominates employee for 482 visa

The sponsoring employer can now lodge the nomination. This is when you’ll be asked to pay the nomination fee. 

How the Australian Business Migration Group help you and your nominated worker:

    • Checking Information: The Australian Business Migration Group will make sure all the information and documents are correct and complete before submission. This helps ensure they will pass the Department’s checks.
    • Lodging Documents: They take care of submitting all the documents online for you.
    • Ensuring Accuracy: They won’t submit the nomination until they are sure that everything is right. This helps avoid any delays or rejections.

Step 4:  Nomination approved – 482 visa can now be lodged

Your nomination is approved. Your nominated employee can now lodge their 482 visa application.

Sponsoring 482 visas: employers’ responsibilities

As well as meeting your standard business sponsor obligations, your business has responsibilities surrounding their 482 visa holders.

You will need to inform the Department of Home Affairs if circumstances change, for example the 482 visa holder no longer works for you, if their visa is expiring or if the visa holder’s hours, duties or pay change.

Your sponsorship lasts as long as your sponsored employee holds a valid 482 visa and continues to work for you.

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