Can I sponsor an IT support or help desk technician in Australia? Yes, under the right code

Which code, and which list

Verify by code on the Department’s current Core Skills list. Nominate the code that matches the duties: a level-three engineer nominated as a Customer Support Officer at the floor invites a market-rate question, and a help desk analyst nominated as a Systems Administrator invites a genuineness one. WIDEN’s sector guide covers the whole IT program: sponsoring IT workers.

What the nomination needs

• Salary of at least A$79,423 or the market rate, whichever is higher, as full-time annual earnings; the Department compares with market data for the occupation and city, so a Sydney level-two role at the floor is plausible and a level-one role is not. Roles at A$146,576 or more use the Specialist Skills stream with 37-day median processing.
• Qualification and assessment: TRA assesses the support codes on a Diploma of Information Technology or equivalent experience; ACS assesses the administrator and engineer codes on a degree or experience. Required for the 186 Direct Entry; optional for the 482 unless requested.
• Labour market testing: two advertisements of at least 28 days on platforms with national reach within four months of nominating, unless the worker is a UK citizen or another exemption applies.
• Government charges: sponsorship A$420, nomination A$330 plus the Skilling Australians Fund levy of A$1,200 a year under A$10 million turnover, visa A$4,015 for a 482. Timeline; costs and the decision.

Technicians already here

The role does not have to wait for a visa. Three groups can work for you today without sponsorship, and IT support already runs on them:

• Working holiday makers (417 and 462): any role, six months per employer; register with the ATO for the 15 per cent rate and pay super. Employing working holiday makers.
• International students: 48 hours a fortnight in term, unlimited in breaks. Employing international students.
• Partner, graduate (485) and bridging visa holders: full work rights, a VEVO check and nothing else. Who can work for you now.

SponsorTalent lists candidates by occupation, visa and city, so you can see who can start on Monday before you make contact; search is free and a contact unlocks for A$30.

IT is the largest international student field in Australia, and a 485 graduate with an Australian degree, a year on a service desk and full work rights is the standard sponsored support hire: no relocation, Australian references, and a 482 at the two-year mark when the 485 runs out. Sponsoring an existing employee; candidate side: IT jobs with sponsorship.

The mistake to avoid

Do not nominate the role under an occupation it is not. A help desk analyst nominated as a Systems Administrator, or a senior engineer nominated at the floor as a Customer Support Officer is tested against the duties, the qualification, the award classification and the pay, and a mismatch is refused, can bar the business from sponsoring for years, and exposes the worker to cancellation. If the person genuinely does the listed job and holds its qualification, nominate that job at its rate; if not, use the routes above.

Frequently asked questions

Is IT support on the skilled occupation list? Yes. ICT Customer Support Officer (313112) and ICT Support Technicians nec (313199) are on the Core Skills list for the 482 and 186, alongside network and systems administrators and engineers. ICT Support Engineer and ICT Trainer are on the Short-term list only.

Can I sponsor a level-one help desk analyst? Only if the salary meets A$79,423 or the market rate, which level-one roles rarely do. Sponsorship in practice covers level-two and level-three technicians and administrators.

What assessment does a sponsored IT support technician need? TRA for the support codes (313112, 313199) and ACS for administrator and engineer codes, required for the 186 Direct Entry and optional for the 482 unless the Department requests it.

Where do IT support candidates come from? Mostly 485 graduates of Australian IT degrees already working on service desks, plus overseas candidates; SponsorTalent lists both by occupation, city and visa, with contact unlocks at A$30.