Everything your business needs to sponsor an overseas worker
10 chapters. Plain English. No legal jargon. Written by a MARA-registered agent with 18+ years of Australian migration experience — covering every stage of the sponsorship process.
10 chapters — everything in one place
No need to search through multiple government websites. Each chapter covers a key stage of the sponsorship process in plain English.
Becoming an Approved Sponsor
Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) process, eligibility criteria, common refusal reasons, and how to prepare a strong application.
Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
How to match your role to the right ANZSCO code, check CSOL eligibility, and avoid misclassification at nomination stage.
Labour Market Testing (LMT)
What evidence you must gather, which platforms satisfy the advertising requirement, timing rules, and exemptions that apply.
The 482 Nomination Process
Step-by-step guide to lodging a compliant nomination — position description, AMSR, salary benchmarking, and submission checklist.
SAF Levy — Calculation & Payment
How the Skilling Australians Fund levy works, exact calculation method, when partial refunds apply, and common payment errors to avoid.
Your Sponsor Obligations
Every obligation you take on as a sponsor — pay, working conditions, notification duties, and what triggers a compliance audit.
Record-Keeping Requirements
Exactly which records to keep, for how long, and in what format — with a practical template you can adapt for your HR system.
482 → 186 PR Pathway
Full roadmap from temporary 482 sponsorship to permanent residence via the 186 ENS — timelines, milestones, and employer commitments.
DAMA Programs for Regional Employers
Overview of Designated Area Migration Agreements — which regions have DAMAs, what occupations they cover, and how to access them.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
The ten most common reasons nominations are refused or sponsors are audited — and exactly what to do differently at each stage.
Key figures at a glance
Three free reference items you can use right now — no download required.
SAF Levy Rates 2025–26
| Business | Per Year |
|---|---|
| Small (<$10M turnover) | $1,200 |
| Standard (>$10M turnover) | $1,800 |
| 2-yr visa — small | $2,400 |
| 2-yr visa — standard | $3,600 |
| 4-yr visa — small | $4,800 |
| 4-yr visa — standard | $7,200 |
Rates confirmed for 2025–26. Levy is non-refundable except in limited circumstances.
Typical Processing Timelines
| Stage | Typical Time |
|---|---|
| SBS Approval (standard) | 4–8 weeks |
| SBS Approval (accredited) | 1–2 weeks |
| 482 Nomination | 3–6 months |
| 482 Visa Application | 3–9 months |
| 186 Nomination (TTP) | 6–12 months |
| 186 Visa Application | 12–24 months |
Timelines are indicative. Priority processing may be available for certain occupations.
Got a Specific Question?
Our Employer Sponsorship FAQs covers 31 common questions across 7 categories — from SBS approval to compliance and PR pathways.
Getting the most from these resources
Start with the chapter that matches where you are. If you have never sponsored before, read the Standard Business Sponsor and visa-comparison chapters first; if you already sponsor, jump to obligations, the 28-day rule, and audit preparation. Each chapter is self-contained, so you can use the handbook as a reference rather than reading cover to cover. Pair it with our sponsor obligations guide and, when you are ready to act, a migration consultation for advice on your specific business. The handbook does not cover every edge case — complex ownership structures, previous compliance issues, or unusual occupations often need tailored advice — but it gives you the right questions to ask and the documents to gather before you speak to an agent, which makes that conversation faster and cheaper.
Employer resources — frequently asked questions
The handbook covers the full sponsorship journey across 10 chapters: becoming a Standard Business Sponsor, choosing the right visa (Subclass 482, 186, 494 and 407), the nomination and Regulation 2.72 criteria, the Skilling Australians Fund levy, Labour Market Testing, your ongoing sponsor obligations, the 28-day notifiable-events rule, compliance audits, Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA), and pathways to permanent residence — plus quick-reference SAF levy tables.
Yes. The handbook is free to download with no obligation. It is general, MARA-registered guidance written for Australian employers who are considering sponsoring an overseas worker, or who already sponsor and want to stay compliant. You don't need to book anything to access it.
They're written for small-business owners, HR and people teams, first-time sponsors, and experienced employers who want a current reference. Regional employers weighing up a DAMA, and businesses comparing the 482, 186 and 494, will find the side-by-side summaries and checklists especially useful.
No. The handbook and resources are general information only and are not personal migration or legal advice. Sponsorship outcomes depend on your business, the role, and the candidate. Before lodging anything, confirm your specific situation with a Registered Migration Agent. Visa outcomes are not guaranteed.
The resources are reviewed regularly — last reviewed June 2026. They reflect the 482 Skills in Demand visa, the Core Skills Income Threshold of $76,515 (rising to $79,499 on 1 July 2026), and current SAF levy tiers. Government fees and thresholds change often, so always verify current figures on the official Department of Home Affairs website before acting on them, especially around the 1 July indexation that updates the income thresholds and SAF levy each year.