Employer Sponsorship Visas 482 & 186: What Employers Need to Know

Australian employers facing skills shortages can sponsor overseas workers through several visa pathways. The two most common are the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186).

Subclass 482 - Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa

The TSS visa allows employers to sponsor overseas workers to fill skilled positions when they cannot find a suitable Australian worker. It offers short-term (up to 2 years) and medium-term (up to 4 years) streams.

Key Requirements:

• The occupation must be on the relevant skilled occupation list
• The employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor
• The employee must have at least 2 years of relevant work experience
• Meet English language requirements

Subclass 186 - Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

This is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers nominated by their employer. It has three streams: Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, and Labour Agreement.

The Sponsorship Process

1. Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) - Employer applies to become an approved sponsor
2. Nomination - Employer nominates a position for the overseas worker
3. Visa Application - Employee applies for the visa

Costs

Employers should budget for sponsorship, nomination, and Skilling Australia Fund (SAF) levy costs in addition to the employee’s visa application fees.

How Visa2AU Helps Employers

We provide end-to-end employer sponsorship services, from initial sponsorship approval through to visa grant. Our team ensures compliance with all Department of Home Affairs requirements.