Written by Immigrad · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1805710 · Last updated July 2026
If your business wants to hire a skilled worker from overseas, standard business sponsorship is the first door you have to walk through. It is the approval that lets an Australian business nominate and sponsor workers for the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) and Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visas. Get this stage right and the rest of the process runs far more smoothly. This step-by-step guide explains what standard business sponsorship is, who qualifies, what it costs, and exactly how to apply in 2026. All details are current as at July 2026.
What is standard business sponsorship?
Standard business sponsorship (SBS) is a formal approval from the Department of Home Affairs that recognises your business as suitable to sponsor overseas workers. It is Stage 1 of a three-stage process: first you become an approved sponsor, then you nominate a specific position, and finally the worker lodges their visa application. An SBS approval is valid for five years from the date the Department approves it, and during that time you can nominate as many workers as your business genuinely needs — each position is assessed separately. For the bigger picture of how sponsorship fits together, see our complete employer’s guide to sponsoring a worker.
Who can become a standard business sponsor?
To be approved, your business generally needs to show that it is lawfully and actively operating in Australia, that there is no adverse information known about the business or its directors, and that it will be the direct employer of the worker (unless an exemption applies). In practice the Department is looking for a real, trading business with a genuine need for the role — not a shell set up to facilitate a visa. Both established businesses and start-ups can apply; start-ups simply provide different evidence, as explained below.
What it costs
The standard business sponsorship application charge is $420. This is a one-off government fee, and because the approval lasts five years, you pay it once rather than per worker. The larger sponsorship costs — the $330 nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy of $1,200 or $1,800 per year depending on business size — come at the nomination stage, not here. You can estimate your full outlay with our sponsorship cost calculator, and there is a detailed breakdown in our guide to 482 visa costs for employers.
The step-by-step process
Step 1: Confirm your business is eligible
Before spending anything, check that your business is lawfully operating, holds an active ABN, and can demonstrate genuine trading activity. Consider whether the role you want to fill is genuine, ongoing and appropriate to your business.
Step 2: Gather your supporting documents
An established business typically provides around two years of financial statements prepared by its external accountant, along with evidence that it trades day to day — think bank statements, BAS lodgements, contracts or invoices. A start-up that cannot yet show a trading history can still apply by submitting a business plan with financial forecasting covering roughly the next twelve months. Having these ready before you lodge is the single biggest time-saver; our Employer Sponsorship Readiness Checklist walks through what to prepare.
Step 3: Lodge the SBS application
Sponsorship applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, with the $420 charge paid at submission. In many cases you can lodge the sponsorship, the nomination and the visa application together to save time, although they are assessed as separate decisions.
Step 4: Respond to any requests and await a decision
The Department may ask for further information during assessment; responding promptly and completely helps. Processing times vary depending on the completeness of your application and the Department’s workload, so we do not quote a fixed timeframe — plan for the process to take time rather than assuming a quick turnaround.
Step 5: Once approved, nominate and sponsor
With SBS approval in place, you can move to nominating the position and supporting the worker’s Subclass 482 visa application, or a Subclass 494 application for a regional role. The same sponsorship approval covers both visa types.
Your obligations as a sponsor
Approval comes with ongoing responsibilities that last for the life of the sponsorship. You must pay the worker at least the equivalent terms and conditions you would give an Australian doing the same job, keep accurate records, cooperate with departmental inspectors, and ensure the role remains genuine. Importantly, you must notify the Department of certain notifiable events — such as the worker ceasing employment or a change in your business structure — generally within 28 days. You also cannot recover sponsorship, nomination or SAF levy costs from the worker. Note that the old training benchmark requirement no longer applies to 482 sponsorship; the training contribution is now made through the SAF levy at the nomination stage.
Common reasons SBS applications run into trouble
The most frequent stumbling blocks are thin evidence of active trading, financials that do not reconcile, an unclear or overstated need for the role, or adverse information about the business or its directors. Start-ups sometimes underestimate how detailed their business plan and forecasts need to be. Careful preparation up front avoids most of these issues.
Frequently asked questions
How long does standard business sponsorship last?
Five years from the date the Department of Home Affairs approves the sponsorship. The Department states a single duration, with no shorter term for newly established businesses — a widely repeated claim that new businesses receive only a 12-month sponsorship is not supported by the Department’s current guidance. During those five years you can nominate multiple workers, with each position assessed on its own merits. Checked against the Department of Home Affairs on 14 September 2026.
How much does it cost to become a standard business sponsor?
The sponsorship application charge is $420, paid once. Nomination fees ($330 per position) and the SAF levy ($1,200 or $1,800 per year of the visa) apply later, at the nomination stage.
Can a new business or start-up become a sponsor?
Yes. A start-up that cannot yet show a trading history can apply by providing a business plan with financial forecasting, typically covering the next twelve months, in place of established financial statements.
Do I need a separate sponsorship for the 482 and 494 visas?
No. A standard business sponsorship covers nominations for both the Subclass 482 and Subclass 494 visas, so one approval serves both pathways.
Can I lodge the sponsorship, nomination and visa at the same time?
Often yes. Lodging the three applications together can save time, though each is decided separately and the nomination and visa depend on the sponsorship being approved.
Get your sponsorship right the first time
Standard business sponsorship is where a smooth hire begins — and where avoidable delays start when the evidence is not ready. This article is general information only and does not replace advice tailored to your business; complex cases, start-ups and unusual structures in particular benefit from a professional review. Immigrad is a MARA-registered Australian migration agency. Contact our team to get your sponsorship application prepared properly from the start.
More frequently asked questions
How much does standard business sponsorship cost in 2026?
The Standard Business Sponsorship application charge is AUD 420, published by the Department of Home Affairs. An approved sponsorship lasts five years from the date it is approved. The charge is separate from the nomination charge of AUD 330 for a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) nomination and from the Skilling Australians Fund levy, both of which are paid later, per nomination.
Can sponsorship costs be recovered from the worker?
No. The Department of Home Affairs states that an employer must pay all costs associated with becoming a sponsor and nominating a worker, and cannot transfer those costs to the visa holder or their family members. This includes the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Recovering these costs may breach sponsorship obligations and lead to sanctions against the business.
Related reading
- 482 visa costs for employers — what follows once sponsorship is approved.
- Labour market testing rules — the advertising you must complete before nominating.
- How to sponsor an employee — the end-to-end employer process.
- Employer-sponsored visas — the 482, 186 and 494 pathways compared.
General information only, current at 10 September 2026 and based on figures published by the Department of Home Affairs. It is not personal migration advice. Complex cases should be discussed with a registered migration agent.