Temporary Work Visas
Australia offers several temporary visa options for businesses to address labour shortages by sponsoring skilled workers where employers are unable to source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
Features of Employer-Sponsored visa
Unrestricted Work Rights
Study Rights
Pathway to Permanent Residency
Allows for travel in and out of Australia
Include members of your family unit in your application
Work in Australia for up to 4 years with your sponsor
Do you qualify?
Please answer the below section to check your eligibility for a temporary Employer-Sponsored Visa:
Types of Temporary Work Visas
Temporary Employer Sponsored visa subclasses include:
Subclass 407
Training Visa
The Subclass 407 visa enables applicants to stay temporarily in Australia and undergo occupational training or professional development in Australia.
Subclass 407 applicants can be nominated for:
- Occupational training required for registration.
- Occupational training to improve skills in an eligible occupation.
- Occupational training for capacity building overseas, including overseas qualification, government support, or professional.
Subclass 482
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa
Subclass 482 visa is a temporary work visa for overseas workers who are being sponsored by an Australian employer to undertake a job in Australia which cannot be filled by an appropriately skilled person within Australia.
Subclass 482 applicants can be nominated through the:
- Short-Term Stream
- Medium-Term Stream
- Labour Agreement Stream
Subclass 494
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa
The Subclass 494 (Provisional) visa enables holders that have been sponsored by an eligible employer who cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker, to live and work in a designated regional area of Australia listed on the sc494 skilled occupation list for five years.
Subclass 494 applicants can be nominated through the:
- Employer Sponsored Stream
- Labour Agreement Stream
Visa Eligibility
Learn more about temporary work visa sponsorship, nomination and visa application criteria below:
SubclASS 407
To be a temporary activities sponsor, the potential employer must:
- Be either an organisation operating lawfully in Australia, a government agency, or a foreign government agency;
- Provide direct occupational training;
- Comply with all sponsorship obligations.
For a Subclass 407 nomination to be approved:
- The sponsoring employer must hold or have applied for a temporary activities sponsorship;
- The visa applicant must nominate a training program with the temporary activities sponsor;
- The visa applicant must provide location and contact details of each employer and where the program will be carried out;
- No adverse information is known to the Department of Home Affairs about the sponsor, or it is reasonable to disregard the information.
- The nomination does not cause any adverse consequences for employment or training opportunities for Australian citizens or permanent residents.
A Subclass 407 visa applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Have 12 months of full-time work or study experience in the nominated occupation in the last 24 months;
- Be nominated by an approved sponsor
- Have functional English
- Have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have adequate health insurance
SubclASS 482
To be an approved standard business sponsor, the sponsoring employer must:
- Have a legally established and currently operating business;
- Not have adverse information found against it;
- Have a strong record of, or a demonstrated commitment to, employing local labour;
- Declare that they will not engage in discriminatory recruitment practices.
For a Subclass 482 nomination to be approved:
- The applicant’s nominated occupation must either be on the STSOL or MLTSSL.
- The duties of the applicant’s proposed role must correspond to a nominated occupation.
- The sponsoring employer must fulfill the Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirements;
- The employer must pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.
- There must be an offer of employment that binds the sponsor and the visa applicant to the employment arrangements.
- Visa applicant must be paid at least the minimum salary of $53,900 per annum AND at least what an Australian employee would be paid in the same role.
- There must be a genuine need for the role in the organisation.
A Subclass 482 visa applicant must:
- Have two years of full-time work experience in the nominated or closely related occupation;
- Be nominated by an approved sponsor in their nominated occupation.
- Hold a positive skills assessment for certain occupations;
- Have Functional English
- Have relevant skills, qualifications, and employment background to undertake their nominated occupation;
- Have a genuine intention to stay in Australia temporarily;
- Meet health and character requirements;
- Have adequate health insurance;
- Have substantially complied with any conditions placed on their substantive or bridging visa held.
SubclASS 494
To be an approved standard business sponsor, the sponsoring employer must:
- Have a legally established and currently operating business.
- Not have adverse information found against it;
- Have a strong record of, or a demonstrated commitment to, employing local labour;
- Declare that they will not engage in discriminatory recruitment practices
For a Subclass 494 nomination to be approved:
- The applicant’s nominated occupation must either be on the STSOL or MLTSSL.
- The nominated position must be in a designated regional area;
- The applicant must have received an assessment from a relevant Regional Certifying Body (RCB).
- The role must be full-time, genuine, and available for five years
- The sponsoring employer must pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.
- The duties of the applicant’s proposed role must correspond to the nominated occupation.
- The sponsoring employer must fulfill the Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirements.
- The sponsoring employer must provide an offer of employment that binds the sponsor and the visa applicant to the employment arrangements.
- The visa applicant must be paid at least the minimum salary of $53,900 per annum AND at least what an Australian employee would be paid in the same role.
A Subclass 494 visa applicant must:
- Be under 45 years of age.
- Be nominated by an approved sponsor.
- Have a positive skills assessment. for the nominated occupation
- Have relevant skills, qualifications and employment background to undertake their nominated occupation
- Have at least three years of full-time work experience in a nominated or closely related occupation
- Must have competent English
- Meet health and character requirements
- Have adequate health insurance.
Employer Sponsored Visa Timeline
Whether you are an employer or a skilled worker eligible for an employer sponsored temporary work visa, Augustine & Co. can assist with the whole process - from providing specialist legal advice, applying for the sponsorship, nomination, and visa applications, to addressing any specific requests by a case officer, until a decision is made on the visa application.
Step 1: Sponsorship
If a business is not yet an eligible sponsor, we can assist in applying for a sponsorship application. Sponsorship types differ, based on the type of visa being applied for, e.g.:
- Subclass 407 – Temporary Activities Sponsorship (TAS)
- Subclass 482/494 – Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)
Both TAS and SBS Sponsorship allows sponsoring an applicant for up to five years.
Step 2: Nomination
The sponsoring business is then required to make a nomination application to nominate the visa applicant for the temporary work visa application.
Step 3: Regional Certification (Subclass 494 only)
Once a nomination is applied for, employers are required to apply to their respective Regional Certifying Bodies to receive advice on whether to approve or refuse the employer nomination.
Step 4: Visa Application
The applicant is then required to apply for his/her visa application to be granted a temporary employer sponsored visa.
Pathways to Permanent Residency
Subclasses 407 & 482
You may be eligible for permanent residency if:
- You have three years of full-time work experience in the nominated occupation, you may be eligible for a Subclass 186 – Direct Entry Stream with the same or different employer.
- If you have held a Subclass 482 visa with the same employer for at least three years, you may be eligible for a Subclass 186 – Temporary Residence Transition Stream (TRT).
- Alternatively, you may be able to apply for permanent residency through the General Skilled Migration pathway, leveraging on additional points gained from working for an Australian employer.
Subclass 494
494 visa holders are eligible for the Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa if:
- They have held a Subclass 494 visa for 3 years in a designated regional area;
- They have had a taxable income at or above the specific income threshold for at least three years while on the Subclass 494 visa.
- Both primary and secondary applicants have complied with Subclass 494 conditions.
Current processing Time
The general processing times set by the Department for Employer Sponsored Migration are as follows:
Subclass 407 -Training Visa
75% of applications: 8 months
90% of applications: 14 months
Subclass 482 - Short Term Stream
75% of applications: 77 Days
90% of applications: 7 months
Subclass 482 - Medium Term Stream
75% of applications: 4 months
90% of applications: 7 months
Subclass 494 - Employer Sponsored Stream
75% of applications: 3 months
90% of applications: 5 months
Individual processing times for any given application may vary depending on an applicant’s specific circumstances, their country of origin, as well as the quality of the application lodged with the Department of Home Affairs, i.e. a decision ready application in compliance with all legislative and policy criteria.
Temporary Employer Sponsored Visa Costs
Subclass 407
- Temporary Activities Sponsorship Application AUD 420
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Nomination Application AUD 170
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Visa Application AUD 315 PP
Main applicant and any secondary applicants over 18. Any additional applicants under 18 are charged AUD 80.
- Medical Examination Cost Varies
Paid directly to the panel clinic/hospital that undertakes the medical examination for the applicants.
- Police Checks Cost Varies
Paid to the relevant authorities that issue national/state level police/character checks for the applicants.
Subclass 482 - Short Term Stream
- Sponsorship Application AUD 420
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Nomination Application AUD 330
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
- SAF Levy Fee (Small Business) AUD 1200 per year or part thereof
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs. (Annual turnover less than $10 million)
- SAF Levy Fee (Other Business) AUD 1800 per year or part thereof
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs. (Annual turnover of $10 million or more)
- Visa Application – Main Applicant AUD 1,290
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Application – Secondary Applicant Over 18 AUD 1,290
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Application – Secondary Applicant Under 18 AUD 325
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Subsequent Temporary Application Charge AUD 700
The subsequent temporary application charge applies to certain temporary visas and payable by each person in your application and is based on their individual visa history. The subsequent temporary application charge, if applicable, is payable in addition to any other visa charges that apply to your visa application at the time of lodgement.
- Police Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to authorities that undertake your character examination.
- Medical Examination Cost Varies
This is paid directly to medical agencies that undertake your health examination.
Subclass 482 - Medium Term Stream
- Sponsorship Application AUD 420
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Nomination Application AUD 330
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
- SAF Levy Fee (Small Business) AUD 1200 per year or part thereof
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs. (Annual turnover less than $10 million)
- SAF Levy Fee (Other Business) AUD 1800 per year or part thereof
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs. (Annual turnover of $10 million or more)
- Visa Application – Main Applicant AUD 2,690
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Application – Secondary Applicant Over 18 AUD 2,690
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Application – Secondary Applicant Under 18 AUD 675
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Subsequent Temporary Application Charge AUD 700
The subsequent temporary application charge applies to certain temporary visas and payable by each person in your application and is based on their individual visa history. The subsequent temporary application charge, if applicable, is payable in addition to any other visa charges that apply to your visa application at the time of lodgement.
- Police Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to authorities that undertake your character examination.
- Medical Examination Cost Varies
This is paid directly to medical agencies that undertake your health examination.
Subclass 494
- Sponsorship Application AUD 420
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
- Nomination Application Nil
Department of Home Affairs does not charge a fee for lodging nominations under the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa.
- SAF Levy Fee (Small Business) AUD 3,000
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is payable for each nomination under the 494 programs. Small (annual turnover less than $10 million)
- SAF Levy Fee (Other Business) AUD 5,000
A Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is payable for each nomination under the 494 programs. Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more)
- Visa Application – Main Applicant AUD 4,115
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Visa Application – Secondary Applicant Over 18 AUD 2,060
Paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs
- Police Checks Cost Varies
This is paid directly to authorities that undertake your character examination.
- Medical Examination Cost Varies
This is paid directly to medical agencies that undertake your health examination.
No, you can only work for your sponsoring employer.
No. This visa requires that your sponsored employee work at least 30 hours per week. However, COVID-19 concessions may apply.
Yes. If you find another employer to sponsor you, the company can apply for you to be nominated for the same occupation.
Yes, you can include members of your family unit, such as your spouse/partner and dependent children to your visa application.
If your current visa (substantive or bridging visa) does not have a condition that restricts you from working, you can work in Australia.
If you are eligible, and your employer is willing to sponsor you, you can apply for a permanent work visa.
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Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. Further, this info is subject to constant change based on any changes in the law, and therefore, is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute a solicitor-client relationship. The reader should consult with an immigration lawyer prior to lodging any application as each lawful case may be different.
