As is widely known, Australian skilled migration has tightened this financial year, yet the number of applicants keeps climbing. Faced with this contradiction, applicants looking to secure Australian status can, in addition to grinding for higher points and English scores, also consider Plan B — employer sponsorship.
This financial year, whether it is the one-step 186 Employer Sponsored PR visa, the 482 Employer Sponsored visa, the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, or even the 407 Training visa, all have received strong backing from the Australian government. Employer sponsorship has repeatedly made headline news:
- The 482 short-term list now has 400+ occupations, with a pathway to PR after two years of work. There is no cap on places, which has left a great many applicants both inside and outside Australia eager to apply;
- The Department of Home Affairs is prioritising the processing of employer-sponsored visa applications;
- Processing times for the 482 visa have been dramatically reduced — as short as 1–2 weeks, or at most 2–3 months, before a grant is issued;
What is more, none of the above employer-sponsored visas require high test scores or top-tier English. If you have been waiting in vain for skilled migration and want to secure your status as soon as possible, employer sponsorship is well worth considering.
The Most Enquired About — the 482 Employer Sponsored Visa
First up is the 482 Employer Sponsored visa, which is also the employer-sponsored category we field enquiries about every day.
Advantages of the 482 Employer Sponsored Visa:
- No cap on places;
- No age limit at application stage (transitioning to the 186 PR visa later still requires the applicant to be under 45);
- Most occupations do not require a skills assessment;
- Occupations on both the short-term (STSOL) and long-term (MLTSSL) lists are eligible;
- After holding the visa for 2 years, applicants can transition to the 186 PR visa, with no occupation list restrictions;
- Low English requirements;
Application Requirements for the 482 Employer Sponsored Visa:
- Nominated occupation must be on the medium-to-long-term or short-term occupation list (MLTSSL/STSOL);
- At least 2 years of work experience closely related to the nominated occupation;
- IELTS overall 5, with no band below 4.5 (short-term list occupations).
- IELTS overall 5, with no band below 5 (long-term list occupations);
- Meet health requirements, with no criminal record;
If you are currently working in any of the fields below and have accumulated 2 years of experience, you may want to consider applying for the 482 Employer Sponsored visa.
Popular 482 Occupations Include:
- Finance: financial investment adviser / finance broker / insurance practitioner, etc.;
- Marketing: sales and marketing manager / advertising manager / human resources manager / ICT project manager / production manager / restaurant manager / hotel manager / customer service manager / conference and event organiser / advertising specialist / marketing specialist / ICT account manager / ICT sales representative, etc.;
- Design: graphic design / interior design / web design / UI / jewellery design, etc.;
- Teaching: private tutor / dance teacher / art teacher, etc.;
- ICT: web development / software testing / data entry / network administrator, etc.;
- Blue-collar: various technicians / chef / baker / hairdresser, etc.;
- Other: project administrator / contract administrator, etc.
Many Years of Work Experience — the 186 Employer Sponsored Visa
We also see clients who already have many years of work experience in China, whose occupation sits on the medium-to-long-term list and who meet the 186 visa’s occupation requirements. These clients can apply from within China, wait for the grant in China, and obtain Australian PR in a single step. Below is a rundown of the 186 Employer Sponsored PR visa.
186 Employer Sponsored PR Visa
Advantages of the 186 Employer Sponsored PR visa:
- One-step PR;
- No need to chase high scores; low English threshold;
- No residence requirement — you can apply directly from China, obtain the PR visa, and then enter Australia;
- When one applicant is granted the visa, the entire family secures PR status, enjoying free education, healthcare and other benefits;
Application Requirements for the 186 Employer Sponsored PR Visa:
- Under 45 years of age;
- IELTS 6 across all four bands or equivalent;
- A positive skills assessment, and three years of full-time work experience (in Australia or overseas) related to the nominated occupation, which must be on the MLTSSL medium-to-long-term list;
- A qualified sponsoring employer;
- Meet health requirements, with no criminal record;
Older Applicants — the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa
If you are currently aged 42–44 and worried about the age requirement when transitioning from a 482 work visa to the 186 PR visa, and your occupation is not on the medium-to-long-term list (ruling out the 186 Employer Sponsored PR pathway), you can also consider the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa. Meet the residence and visa conditions and, after three years, you can transition directly to the 191 PR visa.
Advantages of the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa:
- 400+ eligible occupations covering the vast majority of professions;
- Low employer requirements — even self-employed individuals may qualify;
- No age limit when transitioning to the 191 PR visa after three years. The Department of Home Affairs has also explicitly placed the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa at the highest processing priority, in order to better meet skills needs in regional areas;
- Transitioning to the 191 PR visa after three years does not require further employer sponsorship;
- Applicants can access some PR benefits, including Medicare;
Application Requirements for the 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa:
- Under 45 years of age (some groups may be exempt);
- IELTS 6 across all four bands or equivalent;
- A positive skills assessment, and at least 3 years of full-time work experience related to the nominated occupation, which must be on the MLTSSL medium-to-long-term list or the ROL (Regional Occupation List);
- A qualified regional employer willing to offer employment and sponsorship;
- Meet health requirements, with no criminal record;
Onshore Visa Renewal — the 407 Training Visa
There are also clients currently holding a 408 Temporary Activity visa or a 485 Graduate visa whose visa is about to expire, yet who have no suitable visa to renew onto. If you currently have a job in Australia, the 407 is the best stepping stone.
Advantages of the 407 Training Visa:
- No skills assessment required;
- 200+ eligible occupations;
- Employer sponsorship eligibility and nominated position requirements are more relaxed than for the 482 Employer Sponsored visa;
- Full-time work rights;
- Fast processing times;
Application Requirements for the 407 Training Visa:
- IELTS overall 4.5 or equivalent English ability;
- In the two years before lodging the 407 visa application, the applicant must satisfy one of the following:
- 1. One year of full-time work experience in the nominated occupation within the past two years (part-time work may be calculated pro rata or aggregated);
- 2. One year of full-time study related to the nominated occupation within the past two years;
- A qualified employer offering employment and willing to provide sponsorship;
- Meet health requirements, with no criminal record
Recent Success Stories
Nominated occupation: Photographer
482 nomination approved: 2024/03/11
Processing time: 32 days
Nominated occupation: Computer Network and Systems Engineer
482 nomination approved: 2024/03/10
Processing time: 20 days
Nominated occupation: Civil Engineer
186 nomination approved: 2024/02/14
Processing time: 3 weeks
Nominated occupation: Accountant
186 nomination approved: 2024/01/11
Processing time: 9 months
Nominated occupation: Copywriter
482 nomination approved + visa granted: 2024/03/08
Processing time: 2 months
Nominated occupation: Supply and Distribution Manager
482 nomination approved: 2024/03/7
Processing time: 2 weeks
Nominated occupation: Technical Sales Representative
482 nomination approved: 2024/02/23
Processing time: 30 days
Nominated occupation: Insurance Broker
482 visa granted: 2024/03/07
Processing time: 40 days
Nominated occupation: Mechanical Engineering Technician
407 nomination + visa granted: 2024/03/01
Processing time: within 3 months
482/494 Employer Sponsorship Accreditation
Nomination approved / visa granted: 2024/02/19
Processing time: 5 days
407 Sponsorship Accreditation
Sponsorship accreditation approved: 2024/02/19
Processing time: 5 days
