1. Subclass 494 Visa (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa)
2. Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) Visa – Employer-Sponsored Work Visa
3. Subclass 186 Visa (Employer Nomination Scheme) – Permanent Residency Pathway
Employer-sponsored visas in Australia: the key facts
Australia’s employer-sponsored programme lets an approved Australian business nominate an overseas worker for a skilled position it cannot fill locally. There are three stages: the business is approved as a sponsor, the business nominates a specific position, and the worker applies for the visa. The three main subclasses are the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482), the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) and the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186).
| Charge | Amount (AUD) | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Business Sponsorship application | 420 | Employer |
| Nomination – subclass 482 | 330 | Employer |
| Nomination – subclass 186 | 540 | Employer |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy – subclass 482, turnover under AUD 10m | 1,200 per year or part year | Employer |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy – subclass 482, turnover AUD 10m or more | 1,800 per year or part year | Employer |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy – subclass 186 or 494, turnover under AUD 10m | 3,000 one-off | Employer |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy – subclass 186 or 494, turnover AUD 10m or more | 5,000 one-off | Employer |
| Visa application charge – subclass 482 | 4,015 base | Applicant |
| Visa application charge – subclass 186 or 494 | 6,140 base | Applicant |
Charges verified against the Department of Home Affairs on 6 September 2026. Government charges change, so confirm the current figures before you budget.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three main employer-sponsored visas in Australia?
The three main employer-sponsored visas are the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, subclass 482, a temporary visa of up to four years; the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, subclass 494, a five-year regional provisional visa; and the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa, subclass 186, which grants permanent residence on approval. Each requires an approved Australian business to nominate the position.
What does an employer pay to sponsor a worker in Australia?
An employer pays a Standard Business Sponsorship application charge of AUD 420, a nomination charge of AUD 330 for a subclass 482 nomination or AUD 540 for a subclass 186 nomination, and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. The levy is AUD 1,200 per year for a subclass 482 nomination by a business with turnover under AUD 10 million, and AUD 1,800 per year otherwise. Figures verified with the Department of Home Affairs on 6 September 2026.
Can an employer ask the worker to pay the sponsorship costs?
No. The Department of Home Affairs requires the sponsoring employer to pay all costs of becoming a sponsor and of nominating a worker, and those costs cannot be transferred to the visa holder or their family members. The Skilling Australians Fund levy in particular must not be passed on to the applicant. The visa application charge itself is normally paid by the applicant.
What salary must a sponsored worker be paid?
For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold for subclass 482 Core Skills and subclass 186 nominations is AUD 79,423. The Specialist Skills Income Threshold for the subclass 482 Specialist Skills stream is AUD 146,576, and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold for subclass 494 is AUD 79,423. The worker must also be paid the annual market salary rate for the occupation.
Does an employer have to advertise the job before sponsoring?
Usually yes. Labour market testing requires the position to have been advertised in Australia for at least four weeks within the four months immediately before the nomination is lodged, with at least two advertisements. Each advertisement must be in English and state the position title or description, the skills or experience required, the sponsor or recruitment agency name, and the salary where annual earnings are under AUD 96,400.
How long does an employer-sponsored visa take?
Processing times are published by the Department of Home Affairs and change regularly, so no agent can promise a date. The Department lists current global processing times for each subclass on its website, and the sponsorship, nomination and visa stages are assessed separately. A complete, well-evidenced application generally moves more predictably than one that attracts requests for further information.
Related pages
- Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa
- Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa
- Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
- Sponsor a worker cost calculator
This page is general information only and does not take your circumstances into account. Complex cases need personal advice from a registered migration agent. Immigrad is operated by Oceans Consultancy Pty Ltd; Gaurav Duggal, MARN 1805710. Contact Immigrad.