Employer Sponsored Visas

482 visa processing time for employers: how long each sponsorship stage can take, what causes delays and how to plan a start date. Current Oct 2026.

A labour market testing advertisement for a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) or subclass 494 Employer Sponsored stream nomination must be in English, placed in Australia, and state the position title or a description of it, the skills or experience required, the name of the sponsor or its recruitment agency, and the salary if annual earnings are below AUD96,400.

If a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) worker resigns or is dismissed, the sponsoring employer must notify the Department of Home Affairs in writing within 28 days. The worker then has up to 180 days to find a new approved sponsor, be granted a different visa, or leave Australia, and the employer’s sponsorship obligations continue during that period.

Sponsoring a chef or cook in Australia? 2026 482 visa costs, salary thresholds and the chef-vs-cook mistake that gets nominations refused.

To become a standard business sponsor, a business must be legally established and currently operating, with no adverse information the Department cannot reasonably disregard, plus a commitment to local labour.

Written by Immigrad · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1805710 · Last updated September 2026 To apply for standard business sponsorship, the Department of Home Affairs asks for two sets of evidence: documents proving the business is legally established, such as an ABN, ARBN or overseas registration plus ASIC extracts where relevant, and documents proving

Check registration on the OMARA register, establish whether the agent acts for the sponsor or the worker, and get a written fee agreement that separates professional fees from the Department’s charges.

Sponsorship obligations in Australia for 482 and 494 employers: what to report within 28 days, records to keep, and the penalties for getting it wrong.

Yes. There is no minimum trading period. What the Department of Home Affairs requires of a standard business sponsor, what it costs, and where newer businesses are actually tested.

A standard business sponsorship is valid for five years from the date the Department of Home Affairs approves it. The charge is AUD420.00.