How to Sponsor a Worker in Australia 2026 — Complete Guide

Why Employers Sponsor Overseas Workers

Australia faces persistent skill shortages across healthcare, construction, IT, hospitality, and trades. When employers cannot find suitable Australian workers, sponsoring an overseas worker is often the fastest and most reliable solution.

Employer sponsorship allows Australian businesses to nominate a skilled overseas worker for a visa to fill a genuine vacancy. The process involves three stages: becoming an approved sponsor, nominating the worker, and the worker lodging their visa application.

Step 1: Become an Approved Sponsor

Before you can sponsor anyone, your business must be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor by the Department of Home Affairs. Requirements include:

Lawfully operating business in Australia
No adverse information (e.g., previous compliance issues)
Demonstrated commitment to employing local workers first
Financially viable business

The sponsorship application costs $420 and is typically approved within 1-3 months. Once approved, your sponsorship lasts for 5 years.

Step 2: Nominate the Position

Once approved as a sponsor, you nominate the specific role. This involves:

Demonstrating the role is genuine and in your business
The occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list
Salary must meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — currently $73,150 per year
Evidence of Labour Market Testing (advertising the role to Australians first)

Nomination costs $330 for the 482 visa stream.

Step 3: Visa Application

The nominated worker then lodges their visa application. They must:

Have relevant skills and qualifications for the occupation
Meet English language requirements (usually IELTS 5.0 overall, 4.5 each band for 482)
Have a skills assessment (for some occupations)
Meet health and character requirements

Which Visa Should You Use?

Visa	Duration	PR Pathway	Best For
482 (TSS)	Up to 4 years	Yes, via 186 TRT	Most common — temporary then permanent
186 (ENS)	Permanent	Direct	Experienced workers or 482 holders after 2+ years
494 (Regional)	5 years	Yes, via 191	Regional employers
407 (Training)	Up to 2 years	No	Workplace-based training

Costs Summary

Sponsorship application: $420
Nomination: $330
482 visa application: $1,455 (main applicant)
186 visa application: $4,640 (main applicant)
Skills assessment: $500-3,000 depending on authority
Migration agent fees: $3,000-8,000 depending on complexity

How SponsorTalent Helps

SponsorTalent connects employers with pre-screened candidates who are ready to be sponsored. Our registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) handles the entire visa process — from sponsorship application through to visa grant. Book a free consultation to discuss your sponsorship needs.