Written by Immigrad · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1805710 · Last updated October 2026
Yes. An Australian employer can sponsor a worker who is outside Australia, provided the business is an approved sponsor, nominates a suitable position and the worker meets the visa criteria. The Department of Home Affairs treats applicants lodging from offshore as a recognised group, although the location of the applicant when they lodge can change processing priority.
This is general information only. Complex cases need personal advice from a registered migration agent.
How does sponsoring an overseas worker work in practice?
The employer acts first. It becomes an approved sponsor, then lodges a nomination describing the position and the person. The overseas worker then applies for the visa, for example the Skills in Demand (SID) subclass 482 visa. Each step has its own requirements, including salary, genuine position and, for many roles, labour market testing. See our guide to the Skills in Demand (482) visa and the wider employer sponsored visa options.
Does applying from outside Australia change the processing order?
It can. Ministerial Direction 121, in effect from 19 September 2026, sets the order for temporary skilled visa applications. Specified sectors such as healthcare, teaching and construction come first, then the Specialist Skills stream, then applicants who were in Australia when they lodged, then primary applicants who were outside Australia. Home Affairs publishes processing times, and no outcome or timeframe is guaranteed. Our processing time guide for employers explains how to plan.
Can the employer find a suitable overseas candidate first?
Employers may recruit from anywhere, but labour market testing generally applies before nomination, and the worker must still meet skills, English and health and character requirements. If you are looking from the worker side, read how to find an employer to sponsor you.
What does it cost an employer to sponsor an overseas worker?
Fees and the Skilling Australians Fund levy depend on business size and visa type and change periodically. Check current amounts on the Home Affairs website or use our sponsor cost calculator before committing.
What happens if the worker later wants to change employer?
That is a separate process once the visa is granted. See changing employers on a 482 visa.
Quick answers
Does the worker need to be in Australia when the employer nominates them? No. An employer can nominate a person who is outside Australia. The Department of Home Affairs processing priorities expressly cover primary applicants who were outside Australia when they lodged, so overseas lodgement is an anticipated pathway. Eligibility still depends on the occupation, skills, English, salary and sponsor requirements.
Does it matter whether the applicant lodges from inside or outside Australia? It can affect processing order. Under Ministerial Direction 121, applications lodged by someone who was in Australia are prioritised ahead of those lodged by a primary applicant who was outside Australia. The Department publishes processing times, and no particular timeframe can be promised for any application.
What does the employer have to do first? The employer generally needs to be an approved sponsor, then lodge a nomination for the specific position and person. Labour market testing and salary requirements may apply to the nomination. The overseas worker then lodges a visa application linked to that nomination.
Can the worker apply before the employer is approved? The visa application is linked to an approved or lodged nomination, so the employer-side steps come first. A worker cannot usually start the visa process alone. Because sequencing matters, employers and workers should confirm the order of lodgement with a registered migration agent before paying any fees.