Hire Skilled Workers
from Overseas — Confidently
We manage the entire sponsorship process for Australian businesses — from Standard Business Sponsorship approval through to visa grant and compliance. MARA-registered expertise at every step.
How do Australian employers sponsor overseas workers?
Australian employers sponsor skilled overseas workers through five main pathways: the Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482), Employer Nomination Scheme (186), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494), Training visa (407), and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA). Visa Advisor, based in Sydney NSW, helps employers choose the right pathway, secure Standard Business Sponsorship, and stay audit-ready.
Everything Employers Need — In One Place
Use the sections below to navigate your employer sponsorship journey from start to finish.
Which Visa Is Right for Your Business?
Each sponsorship stream has different occupation lists, salary thresholds, and pathways to permanency. We'll help you choose — and execute — the right one.
Skills in Demand Visa (SID)
Australia's primary temporary work sponsorship visa. Sponsor a skilled overseas worker for up to 4 years with a clear pathway to permanent residency via the 186.
- 3 streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, Labour Agreement
- CSIT applies — $79,423 (2026–27) minimum salary threshold
- Occupation must be on the CSOL (Core Skills stream)
- Pathway to permanent residence via Subclass 186 TRT
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
Directly nominate an overseas worker for Australian permanent residency. Available via Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, and Labour Agreement streams.
- 3 streams: Direct Entry, TRT, Labour Agreement
- TRT stream: 3 years on 482 before applying
- Occupation age and skills assessment requirements apply
- Permanent residency from the day of grant
Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
For regional employers facing critical skill shortages. Workers must live and work in a designated regional area, with a pathway to permanent residence via Subclass 191.
- Employer must be located in a designated regional area
- Up to 5 years — worker must remain in the region
- Pathway to PR via Subclass 191 after 3 years
- Broader occupation list than metro 482 options
🌏 DAMA — Designated Area Migration Agreements
DAMAs give regional employers exclusive access to occupations and salary concessions unavailable under standard sponsorship pathways. If your business is in a DAMA region, you could sponsor workers in roles that don't appear on any standard occupation list.
How Employer Sponsorship Works
From initial strategy to visa grant — here's what the journey looks like with Visa Advisor managing the process for you.
Free Eligibility Check
We assess your business, the role, and the candidate to identify the right visa pathway and flag any compliance risks early.
SBS Application
We prepare and lodge your Standard Business Sponsorship approval — the first step before any nomination or visa can be filed.
Nomination & Visa
We handle the nomination application for the role and the visa application for the worker — simultaneously where possible.
Compliance & PR Pathway
We monitor sponsorship obligations, manage renewals, and guide your worker toward permanent residency when eligible.
What We Do Differently for Employers
Working with a MARA-registered agent means compliance, accuracy, and accountability — not just paperwork.
MARA-Registered Expertise
Our Registered Migration Agent (Registered Migration Agent) is legally authorised to provide immigration advice and represent employers before the Department of Home Affairs.
Labour Market Testing Compliance
We guide you through LMT requirements, advertising timelines, and exemptions to ensure your nomination is audit-proof from day one.
End-to-End Sponsorship Management
From SBS through to visa grant and beyond — we manage the entire process and keep your sponsorship obligations on track.
Transparent Fee Structure
We provide itemised quotes covering our professional fees, DHA government charges, and SAF levy estimates before any engagement.
DAMA Specialist
We have deep expertise in regional DAMA programs across all participating states and territories — helping regional employers access a broader talent pool.
Dedicated Support Line
Your HR team can call or WhatsApp us directly. We respond fast and in plain English — not migration jargon your team can't act on.
Employer Sponsorship — Frequently Asked
Quick answers to what employers ask us most. More in-depth FAQs are on the Employer FAQs page →
To become an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS), your business must be legally established and actively operating in Australia, able to demonstrate a genuine need for the role, and committed to meeting ongoing sponsorship obligations. We assess eligibility in your first call at no cost.
The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is a government training levy paid by employers at nomination stage. The cost depends on your annual turnover and the visa duration. Small businesses (under $10M turnover) pay $1,200 per year; larger businesses pay $1,800 per year. We provide a full cost breakdown before you commit.
LMT requires you to demonstrate you tried to recruit locally before sponsoring from overseas. For most 482 nominations it involves advertising the role on at least two platforms (including Seek or LinkedIn) for 28 days within the 4 months before lodging. There are exemptions — including some DAMA streams and international trade obligations. We'll tell you exactly what applies to your case.
Processing times vary. SBS approval typically takes 1–4 weeks. Nomination and visa applications can take anywhere from 2 weeks to several months depending on the stream, the applicant's country, and current DHA processing loads. We lodge SBS, nomination, and visa applications as efficiently as possible to minimise wait time.
As the sponsor, you have obligations to notify DHA and in some circumstances to fund the worker's return travel. You also need to cooperate with DHA monitoring. We advise on your obligations upfront and assist you to manage any employment changes or visa variations that arise during the sponsorship period.
Ready to Sponsor Your Next Hire?We'll find the right visa pathway for your business.
Check your eligibility free in minutes. We'll assess your business, your role, and the right visa pathway — at no cost and no obligation.