Everything to know about Standard Business Sponsorship Visa in Australia

Employers in Australia are facing difficulty in recruiting skilled staff from within the Australian labour market. To address critical skills shortages, many are turning to business sponsorship visas to sponsor qualified employees from overseas.

With the right business sponsorship strategy, businesses can fill critical skills gaps and drive innovation. Once your company obtains the required sponsorship approval, it can nominate overseas specialists for visas to work in Australia.

AndModern Migration Australia is here to support employers through this process.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about sponsoring overseas workers. Including the Standard Business Sponsorship, available visa options, eligibility requirements, step-by-step processes (with timelines), employer obligations, and how our migration agent can simplify all of it for you.

What is Standard Business Sponsorship?

Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) is a government-approved program that allows eligible Australian businesses to sponsor skilled workers from overseas when they can’t find the right talent locally.

Once your business is approved as a standard sponsor, you can nominate skilled foreign workers for visa. This way you can boost productivity and fill genuine skill gaps in your workforce.

Business Sponsorship Visa Options in Australia

As an approved sponsor, you can nominate workers under several visa programs:

1. Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage – TSS)

A temporary visa (2–4 years) for key skilled roles. It has two streams (Short-Term and Medium-Term) depending on the occupation list and often leads to permanent residency after three years (via ENS).

2. Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional)

A provisional visa (up to 5 years) for jobs in regional Australia. It includes a clear pathway to permanent residency through the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 191).

3. Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme)

A permanent residency visa (or temporary in some cases) for experienced professionals. It has Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) streams. The TRT stream lets eligible 482 visa holders apply for PR after 3 years with the same employer.

These visas share key requirements, like:

• an approved standard business sponsor
• suitable skills and qualifications for the nominated occupation
• meeting the salary threshold (at least AUD 73,150 from July 2024).
• Employers must also pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy (see below)

As shown above, each visa suits different needs. Subclass 482 and 494 allow you to hire quickly for gaps. Whereas, subclass 186 grants permanent residency. All require a standard business sponsor and compliance with Australian workplace standards.

For details on each visa type and its requirements, see our Visa Services page, which covers these employer-sponsored options.

How to Sponsor an Employee in Australia | 7 Easy Steps

But before you can offer a job to an overseas professional, there are a few important steps you need to take. Here’s a clear and easy-to-follow guide on how to sponsor a worker on a subclass 482 or subclass 494 visa in Australia.

Step #1: Prove There’s No Suitable Local Candidate

Before sponsoring someone from overseas, you need to show that the position can’t be filled by an Australian worker. This is called labour market testing. You’ll need to provide evidence, like recent job ads, to prove you’ve tried to hire locally without success. Some occupations are exempt from this requirement, but for most, it’s a must.

Step #2: Make Sure the Role Is on the Skilled Occupation List

The job you’re hiring for must be on the government’s Skilled Occupation List, which identifies roles currently in demand across Australia. If the position you want to fill isn’t listed, there may still be options through a Labour Agreement.

Want to bring in a highly paid or uniquely skilled worker? There are also visa streams for top-tier professionals with specialist experience.

Step #3: Match the Right Visa to the Role and Candidate

Different roles and circumstances call for different visas. For example:

• Subclass 482 – for temporary skilled workers
• Subclass 494 – for regional businesses hiring for longer-term roles
• Subclass 186 – for permanent residency pathways

Use the government’s VEVO system to check your candidate’s eligibility and visa history before proceeding.

Step #4: Confirm Your Business Meets Sponsorship Requirements

Not every business is eligible to sponsor employees. You’ll need to meet certain legal, financial, and compliance criteria. This includes being lawfully operating in Australia and having a genuine need for the position.

Step #5: Apply to Become a Standard Business Sponsor

To begin sponsoring, you must first apply to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). This approval is valid for 5 years and allows you to nominate workers for the 482 or 494 visa.

Tip: If your business hires a high volume of overseas employees, you can apply for Accredited Sponsor status, which offers faster processing times and extra benefits. Accreditation lasts up to 6 years.

Step #6: Nominate the Job and the Candidate

Next, you’ll need to nominate the position you’re offering to the overseas worker. This includes providing details of the role, salary, and the individual you intend to hire.

The role must align with an eligible occupation on the relevant visa’s skilled occupation list, and the salary must meet the market salary rate.

Step #7: The Employee Applies for the Visa

Once the nomination is approved, the skilled worker (your nominee) will need to apply for the visa. Depending on the occupation, they may also need a skills assessment from an approved authority. As the employer, it’s smart to double-check that your nominee meets all visa eligibility requirements.

Who Can Become a Standard Business Sponsor?

Many types of organisations are eligible to sponsor skilled workers, including:

• Sole traders
• Partnerships
• Private and public companies
• Government departments
• Statutory authorities
• Not-for-profits
• Educational institutions

Eligibility Criteria for Standard Business Sponsorship Approval

To qualify for standard business sponsorship approval, your Perth business must meet several requirements:

• Compliances with Australian Law: You must be actively trading in Australia with the necessary licenses or registrations. Evidence could include office leases, business registrations, employment contracts, or financial records.
• No adverse record: Your business must not have serious compliance issues. The Department checks for any criminal, tax, or immigration breaches and will reject applications with “adverse information”.
• Financial viability: You should show your business is financially sound and able to pay the sponsored employee’s salary and benefits. This might mean providing recent balance sheets or bank statements as proof.
• Genuine business: Home Affairs expects you to demonstrate a real commitment to hiring local workers in general. A sponsor cannot be relying too heavily on migrants.
• Evidence for new businesses: Even startups can apply if they can prove they’re operational (for example, equipment purchases, marketing activity, or signed contracts).
• Open to all sizes: Any organisation, from a sole trader or small business to a large corporation or university, can seek SBS approval. (Accredited sponsorship is a separate higher category with stricter criteria and extra benefits.)

Obligations of Employers Under the Sponsorship Program

Becoming a sponsor comes with ongoing responsibilities. As an approved Perth employer, you must:

• Maintain a formal employment contract: The sponsored worker must have a written contract with terms at least as favourable as those for equivalent Australian employees. (Their pay, conditions and duties must match what you advertised in the nomination.)
• Pay correct salaries and entitlements: You must pay the market salary and provide benefits (superannuation, leave, etc.) as required by Australian labour laws. The Department may check that no underpayment or unfair conditions occur.
• Notify Home Affairs of changes: If your business circumstances change (e.g. company name, financial position, contact details) or if something changes for the sponsored worker such as they leave the job or change address, you must inform the Department promptly.
• Keep detailed records: Retain documents like employment contracts, salary records, and any correspondence about the visa. You may need to show these to inspectors during compliance checks.
• Cover return costs (if applicable): In certain cases (such as early termination through no fault of the worker), you could be required to cover the sponsored employee’s travel home.
• Cooperate with audits: If Home Affairs or Australian Border Force audits your sponsorship, you must grant access to documents and answer questions.

Failing to meet these obligations is serious. Sponsors who breach the rules face penalties including cancellation of their SBS approval, bans on future sponsorships, and hefty fines (up to AUD $82,500 per violation for a corporation). In short, careful compliance is essential.

Still worried about talent shortages? Spending too much time searching locally and still coming up empty?

Modern Migration Australia Can Help

Navigating employer sponsorship rules can be complex. Modern Migration Australia has a team dedicated to employer visas. We can handle every step of your sponsorship journey:

• Advising on eligibility and gathering the right documents for your SBS application.
• Crafting the nomination package (job description, contracts, etc.) that meets Home Affairs requirements.
• Coaching you on employer obligations (contracts, pay conditions, record-keeping) so you stay compliant.
• Liaising with the Department on your behalf and chasing updates to save you hours of red tape.
• Offering insights on WA-specific programs (like WA DAMA or state nomination) to give you an edge.

As leading migration agency in Perth with extensive experience in business sponsorship, we understand the local job market and the latest immigration policies. Our expert migration agents can guide you through every step of the sponsorship process.

We specialise in connecting WA companies with skilled sponsored workers, so you can keep your projects on track.

Why wait? Let us help you make employer sponsorship work for your business.

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FAQs About Business Sponsorship Visas

1. Which businesses can sponsor workers in Australia?

Any legally operating business in Australia can sponsor overseas talent. This includes companies, partnerships, sole traders, not-for-profits, and government organisations. They can sponsor workers through visas like the 482 TSS, 186 ENS, or 494 Regional.

2. How can I get sponsored by an Australian company?

To get sponsored, you’ll need to find an employer with a job vacancy that matches your skills and is listed on the Skilled Occupation List. If they can’t fill the role locally, they can apply to sponsor you by becoming an approved sponsor and nominating you for a suitable visa.

3. How do I find a company that offers visa sponsorship?

Start by focusing on industries with skill shortages. Like healthcare, tech, and trades. Use job platforms, LinkedIn, and recruitment agencies. Targeting regional employers can also improve your chances. They mostly have more incentive to sponsor skilled workers.

4. What do I need to qualify for a sponsored visa in Australia?

To be eligible, you generally need:

• A job on the Skilled Occupation List
• The right qualifications and work experience
• An approved sponsor
• Competent English skills
• To be under 45 years old (in most cases).

You may also be eligible under a DAMA if you’re working in a designated regional area.

5. What’s the easiest visa to get through sponsorship?

The Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa is one of the most common and straightforward options. It’s designed for skilled workers and can be a stepping stone to permanent residency via the 186 visa.

6. What’s the difference between a 482 and 186 visa?

The 482 visa is temporary (up to 4 years) and allows you to work in Australia. The 186 visa offers permanent residency. Many people start on a 482 and transition to a 186 through their employer.

7. Which companies in Australia sponsor visas?

Large employers like Google, BHP, Deloitte, AWS, and Rio Tinto regularly sponsor skilled workers. Sponsorship is also common in industries like IT, healthcare, engineering, education, and construction, especially in regional areas.

8. How long does it take to get SBS approval?

Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval usually takes 1–8 weeks. It depends on how complete the application is and whether extra documents are needed.

9. How long does SBS approval last?

Once approved, SBS is valid for 5 years. If you’re invited to become an accredited sponsor, your approval can last up to 6 years. You’ll need to renew it before it expires to continue sponsoring workers.

10. What does it cost to sponsor someone in Australia?

Here’s a rough cost breakdown:

Other potential costs include skills assessments, medical checks, and migration agent fees. Need help working out exact sponsorship costs? Contact us for a tailored quote.