Regional status and the 494
Melbourne is not a regional area for migration purposes, so Melbourne employers sponsor on the 482 (up to four years, permanent 186 after two) and the 186 Direct Entry; the 494 and 491 are not available for positions located in Melbourne. A business with a site outside the metropolitan area can use the 494 for that site.
Under the 494 the worker lives and works in a regional area for the sponsor for five years, with the permanent 191 after three, and a Regional Certifying Body advises on each nomination. 482 versus 494 compared.
DAMA coverage
No DAMA covers Melbourne itself. Victoria has 2 agreements (Goulburn Valley DAMA (VIC): The Goulburn Valley around Shepparton; Great South Coast DAMA (VIC): Warrnambool and Victoria's Great South Coast); a business with a site inside one of those regions can use it for that site. For roles the national lists omit elsewhere, the industry labour agreements apply: PALM, labour agreement or DAMA.
Who sponsors around Melbourne
Healthcare and aged care, IT, construction, hospitality and manufacturing lead the approved-sponsor list, with dairy and horticulture employers in the regions using the industry labour agreements and the two Victorian DAMAs.
Victorian public health services sponsor nurses and doctors internationally; the Department of Education and the Catholic and independent systems sponsor teachers, with regional schools hardest to staff.
See which businesses already hold sponsorship: companies that sponsor and the approved-sponsor directory.
Candidates in Melbourne now
Occupations with the deepest candidate pools in Melbourne right now, each linking to the employer search for that occupation in Melbourne:
- Aged Care Worker: 12 candidates
- Early Childhood Educator: 9 candidates
- Chef: 8 candidates
- Software Developer: 4 candidates
- Accountant: 3 candidates
- Truck Driver: 3 candidates
- Dental Assistant: 3 candidates
- Registered Nurse: 2 candidates
- Motor Mechanic: 2 candidates
- Hospitality Manager: 2 candidates
Candidates already in Melbourne are the quickest hires. Who can work for you today; what to check when an employee asks for sponsorship. Candidate-side view: sponsored jobs in Melbourne.
Steps, cost and time
- Confirm the occupation is listed and the role pays at least A$79,423 and the market rate. Occupation pages.
- Standard Business Sponsorship (A$420; median 11 days) and labour market testing in parallel: two ads of 28 days or more within four months of lodging on platforms with national reach. LMT rules.
- Search candidates free and unlock contacts at A$30, or post a featured listing (A$149 with five unlocks).
- Lodge nomination (A$330 plus levy) and visa (A$4,015) together; Core Skills visas took a median of four months in September 2026. Timeline.
Is it worth it for your business? · Can you lodge it yourself?
Frequently asked questions
Can a Melbourne employer use the 494 regional visa? Melbourne is not a regional area for migration purposes, so Melbourne employers sponsor on the 482 (up to four years, permanent 186 after two) and the 186 Direct Entry; the 494 and 491 are not available for positions located in Melbourne. A business with a site outside the metropolitan area can use the 494 for that site.
Is Melbourne covered by a DAMA? No. Victoria has Goulburn Valley DAMA (VIC) and Great South Coast DAMA (VIC) for businesses inside those regions. Elsewhere, roles the national lists omit go through the industry labour agreements, PALM or a company agreement.
How many candidates and sponsoring employers are there in Melbourne? SponsorTalent currently lists 99 candidate profiles located in Melbourne and 10 employers in the Melbourne directory, with 1 live sponsored job ad. Counts refresh hourly; the Victoria page shows the state-wide pool.
What does sponsorship cost a Melbourne employer? Sponsorship approval A$420, nomination A$330 and the Skilling Australians Fund levy of A$1,200 per visa year (A$1,800 at A$10m turnover or more), none recoverable from the worker; the worker normally pays the A$4,015 visa charge. The figures are the same everywhere in Australia.
How long does it take in Melbourne? Three to five months for an onshore hire and six to eight for an offshore one at the Department’s September 2026 medians (sponsorship 11 days, nomination 64 days, 482 visa four months).
Search candidates in Melbourne
Free employer registration. See occupation, qualification, assessment status, English result and location before you unlock a contact.
Want the paperwork done? WIDEN (Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536) lodges sponsorship, nomination and visa applications on fixed fees; start with a 30-minute consultation, $330 inc. GST, credited if you engage.
Victoria: state page · Ballarat · Geelong
General information only, not migration advice. SponsorTalent is a marketplace; migration advice is provided by WIDEN (Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536) under a service agreement. Regional classifications, DAMA settings and visa charges change; the Department of Home Affairs and each regional representative are the authorities. No outcome can be guaranteed.