Australia remains one of the most popular destinations in the world for skilled workers, and employer sponsorship is the main route that lets a foreign worker take a job with an Australian company. This guide explains how visa sponsorship in Australia works today, which visa subclasses are used, the current salary thresholds, the sectors that sponsor most often, and the step-by-step process for finding a genuine sponsored job.
The system changed in an important way recently. On 7 December 2024, the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, with clearer streams, a single Core Skills Occupation List and a direct path to permanent residence. Everything in this guide is based on the current rules published by the Department of Home Affairs, including the income thresholds that apply from 1 July 2026. Read it carefully before you apply, and remember that no genuine employer or agent will ever ask you to pay for sponsorship — charging a worker for sponsorship is illegal in Australia.
What Is Visa Sponsorship in Australia?
Visa sponsorship means an Australian employer agrees to employ you and officially nominates you for a work visa. The employer must first be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor by the Department of Home Affairs. The employer then nominates the position, showing that the job is genuine, that it could not be filled locally, and that the salary offered is at least the annual market salary rate for the occupation and never below the government income threshold. Only after the sponsorship and nomination are in place do you lodge your own visa application.
Sponsorship is always tied to a specific job with a specific employer. It is not a general work permit, and you cannot buy it. If anyone offers to sell you a sponsored visa, or asks you to pay the employer's sponsorship or nomination costs, that is against the law and a clear sign of a scam. For farm and harvest work through the Pacific scheme, read our Fruit Picking Jobs in Australia guide as well.
Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482):
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is the main sponsored work visa in Australia. It replaced the TSS visa on 7 December 2024 and has three streams:
- Specialist Skills stream — for highly skilled specialists whose salary is at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
- Core Skills stream — the main stream, for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
- Labour Agreement stream — for workers sponsored under a special labour agreement between the employer and the government.
The Core Skills Occupation List contains 456 occupations, covering healthcare, trades, hospitality, technology and many other fields. For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 per year, up from AUD 76,515 in the previous year. The Specialist Skills Income Threshold for the same period is AUD 146,576 per year. Your offered salary must meet the threshold and the market rate for your occupation, whichever applies.
The good news is that the experience requirement is now lower than under the old visa. You need only one year of relevant full-time work experience in your occupation. The visa can be granted for up to four years, and the main applicant visa fee is AUD 3,210. The visa also allows the holder to study an eligible course, add dependants, and travel freely in and out of Australia. For full details, read our Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) guide.
Other Sponsored Work Visas:
Other employer sponsored visas are available for other situations:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) — a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer; some streams allow direct entry with three years of relevant work experience.
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) — a provisional visa for skilled workers sponsored by an employer in a designated regional area, which can lead to permanent residence.
- Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) — the earlier temporary visa, replaced by the Skills in Demand visa in December 2024; existing visa holders keep their original grant conditions.
Sectors That Sponsor Workers Most Often:
The occupations most often sponsored sit on the Core Skills Occupation List, and many sit on the relevant state or territory lists as well. The strongest demand right now is in:
- Health and aged care — registered nurses, enrolled nurses, aged and disability carers
- Trades — electricians, carpenters, plumbers, motor mechanics, chefs and cooks
- Information technology — software and applications programmers, ICT security specialists, systems analysts
- Education — early childhood, primary and secondary teachers
- Hospitality — chefs, cooks and some management roles
- Construction — construction managers, project managers, engineers and skilled trades
- Engineering and science — civil, mechanical and electrical engineers, geologists
The shortages are sharpest in regional Australia, which is also where regional visas offer extra points and extra nomination places. For unskilled or semi-skilled work, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is the main legal route, and farm roles are covered in our Fruit Picking Jobs in Australia guide.
Salary Thresholds and Conditions:
Your employer must pay at least the annual market salary rate for your occupation — what an Australian worker would be paid for that job — and never below the government income threshold for your stream. The thresholds are indexed each 1 July:
- Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) — AUD 79,423 (from 1 July 2026)
- Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) — AUD 146,576 (from 1 July 2026)
- Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — AUD 76,515 (applies to some older visas)
Nominations are refused when the offered salary is below the market rate, and the employer must also show that it tried to hire locally, usually through labour market testing, and that the position itself is genuine. These rules protect local workers and make genuine job offers easier to recognise.
Pathways to Permanent Residence:
A 482 visa can become permanent residence. After two years of holding a Skills in Demand visa and working in the nominated occupation, you can be sponsored for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) under the Temporary Residence Transition stream, provided you still meet the age, skills and English requirements at that time. This is the main reason applicants choose employer sponsorship over other routes.
Regional 494 visa holders can qualify for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) after three years of living and working in a designated regional area. As with every visa, the exact conditions are listed in the Department of Home Affairs' instrument for the relevant stream, so always confirm the current rules with your migration agent or lawyer.
How to Find a Sponsoring Employer:
The most successful applicants follow these steps:
- Check that your occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List, or on the list used by the visa stream you aim for.
- Prepare an Australian format CV that lists your qualifications, skills and work history.
- Search for jobs on Australian job boards such as Seek, Indeed Australia, Workforce Australia, LinkedIn and the JobSearch portal, filtering for employers that sponsor or mention visa sponsorship.
- Apply directly to employers and recruitment agencies that are licensed as Standard Business Sponsors. Registered migration agents and lawyers can also help you find a sponsor.
- Attend interviews and assessments, and check the genuine details of any offer, including the workplace and ABN, before accepting.
Focus on employers with a history of sponsoring, and keep a record of every application, including the employer's name, the date and any response you receive. For a full list of visa options, read our Work Visa in Australia guide.
Beware of Scams:
Never pay for a job offer or a sponsored visa. A genuine employer pays for the sponsorship and nomination costs, and it is illegal for an employer to charge an employee for them. If an employer or agent asks you to pay, walk away and report it. You can check an employer's details, including its ABN, in the Australian Business Register and on the Department of Home Affairs' list of sponsors. No real visa can be bought, and a paid job offer is a red flag.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1: What is the most common way to work in Australia?
It is employer sponsored visas, including the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).
2: How much salary do I need to receive sponsorship?
Your offered salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 per year (from 1 July 2026), and the market rate for your occupation.
3: Can I work in any occupation?
No. Your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List or the list used by your chosen visa stream.
4: Do I need to be sponsored by a company to work in Australia?
Yes, for employer sponsored visas, you must be nominated by a sponsor. This is different from points tested visa subclasses such as the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190).
5: Can my family live with me in Australia?
Yes, dependants can be included in your 482 application. They can live, work and study in Australia, and can attend school on the same conditions as Australian residents.
6: Can my visa lead to permanent residence?
Yes, subclass 482 visa holders can become eligible for the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) after two years of holding their visa and working in their nominated occupation.
7: How can I check the genuine details of a sponsor?
You can check an employer's details, including its ABN, in the Australian Business Register and on the Department of Home Affairs' list of sponsors.
8: Can an agent charge me for finding a sponsor?
No. A genuine employer pays the sponsorship costs, and it is illegal for an employer to pass them on to you. An agent can charge a service fee, but not for the sponsorship itself.
