How to become an approved sponsor for small and medium businesses in Australia

Small and medium businesses, including newly formed start ups, can become an approved sponsor to hire employees from overseas under the sc 482 visa scheme or the subclass 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme).

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From the perspective of a business already operating in Australia, here are some of the key pros and cons of each visa option when compared with each other.

Sponsoring on a sc 482 visa as an approved sponsor

The pros and cons for an approved sponsor:

• No geographical restrictions on where the job must be located in Australia
• Skills assessment only required for limited occupations
• Faster processing time

Sponsoring on a subclass 186 visa (Employer Nomination Scheme)

The pros and cons for an approved sponsor:

• Permanent visa offering your workers access to Medicare
• No geographical restrictions on where the job must be located in Australia
• Skills assessment generally required under direct entry stream
• Slower processing time
• There are three streams under this visa:
  1. Temporary Residence Transition for certain sc 482 visa holders
  2. Direct Entry for people who have never worked in Australia
  3. Agreement stream for workers sponsored under a labour agreement.

Sponsoring on a subclass 187 visa

The pros and cons for an approved sponsor:

• This is also a permanent visa
• The job must be in regional Australia
• Skills assessment required under direct entry stream but for more limited occupations only

This visa is currently closed for new applications.

Become a sponsor for the sc 482 visa

The sc 482 visa (Temporary Skill Shortage visa) has replaced the subclass sc 457 visa. The sc 482 visa has two different streams, read more about the new sc 482 visa

sc 482 visa

Or read more about the sc 400 visa

sc 400 visa

Sponsoring employees as an approved sponsor

Contact us to become an approved sponsor. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Review migration case studies and business solutions from other small and medium business who became an approved sponsor.Case Studies

Becoming an approved business sponsor

Watch our webinar on "Tips on Sponsoring Employees" which was held in conjunction with the NSW Chamber of Commerce.