Sponsor workers in Perth: what employers need to know

Regional status and the 494

Perth is a designated regional centre, so Perth employers can use the 494 (five years, permanent 191 after three) and nominate for the state-sponsored 491, in addition to the 482 and 186. Regional status is a genuine advantage: it widens the occupation list and brings the three-year permanent route.

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 Perth itself. Western Australia has 4 agreements (Pilbara DAMA (WA): The Pilbara — Karratha, Port Hedland and surrounds; Goldfields DAMA (WA): Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields; South West DAMA (WA): Bunbury, Busselton and WA's South West; East Kimberley DAMA (WA): Kununurra and the East Kimberley); 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 Perth

Mining and resources, construction and the trades, healthcare and aged care, hospitality and agriculture lead the approved-sponsor list; mining salaries clear every threshold and the four regional DAMAs cover the support occupations the national lists omit.

WA Health recruits internationally with sponsorship and incentives for regional and remote positions, and the Department of Education runs an international teacher pool with sponsorship of up to four years leading to permanent nomination.

See which businesses already hold sponsorship: companies that sponsor and the approved-sponsor directory.

Candidates in Perth now

Occupations with the deepest candidate pools in Perth right now, each linking to the employer search for that occupation in Perth:

• Chef: 7 candidates
• Truck Driver: 7 candidates
• Early Childhood Educator: 6 candidates
• Aged Care Worker: 5 candidates
• Registered Nurse: 4 candidates
• Accountant: 4 candidates
• Electrician: 3 candidates
• Motor Mechanic: 2 candidates
• Civil Engineer: 2 candidates
• Early Childhood Educator: 2 candidates

Candidates already in Perth 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 Perth.

Steps, cost and time

1. Confirm the occupation is listed and the role pays at least A$79,423 and the market rate. Occupation pages.
2. 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.
3. Search candidates free and unlock contacts at A$30, or post a featured listing (A$149 with five unlocks).
4. 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 Perth employer use the 494 regional visa? Perth is a designated regional centre, so Perth employers can use the 494 (five years, permanent 191 after three) and nominate for the state-sponsored 491, in addition to the 482 and 186. Regional status is a genuine advantage: it widens the occupation list and brings the three-year permanent route.

Is Perth covered by a DAMA? No. Western Australia has Pilbara DAMA (WA) and Goldfields DAMA (WA) and South West DAMA (WA) and East Kimberley DAMA (WA) 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 Perth? SponsorTalent currently lists 71 candidate profiles located in Perth and 4 employers in the Perth directory, with 1 live sponsored job ad. Counts refresh hourly; the Western Australia page shows the state-wide pool.

What does sponsorship cost a Perth 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 Perth? 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); 494 visas were taking a median of eight months.