Employer Sponsored Visas in Australia: Your 2025 Guide to the 482, 186, and 494

Employer sponsored visas are one of the most practical pathways for skilled workers to live and work in Australia — and for Australian businesses to access talent they can't find locally. Whether you're an employer looking to sponsor a candidate or a skilled worker hoping to secure sponsorship, understanding the three main employer-sponsored visas is essential.

The Three Core Employer Sponsored Visas

Australia offers three primary employer-sponsored visa subclasses in 2025, each targeting a different situation:

Subclass 482 — Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa

The 482 is Australia's primary temporary work visa. It allows businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers for up to 2 years (short-term stream) or up to 4 years (medium-term stream), with the possibility of transitioning to permanent residence.

• Short-Term Stream: Occupations on the STSOL; 2-year duration, limited renewals

• Medium-Term Stream: Occupations on the MLTSSL; up to 4 years, pathway to PR via 186

• Labour Agreement Stream: For occupations outside standard lists via an industry or company-specific agreement

• The employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) before sponsoring any worker

• Labour Market Testing (LMT) is required in most cases — employer must demonstrate they tried to hire locally

Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)

The 186 is a permanent residency visa for skilled workers who are nominated by an approved Australian employer. There are two primary streams:

• Temporary Residence Transition (TRT): For workers who have held a 482 (or predecessor) visa for 3 years with the same sponsor

• Direct Entry: For workers applying without prior temporary residence — generally requires skills assessment

• Employer must be an approved SBS and nominate the position

• Grants permanent residency on approval

Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)

The 494 is a 5-year provisional visa for skilled workers sponsored by an employer in regional Australia. It leads to the Subclass 191 permanent visa after 3 years of living and working regionally.

• Employer must be in a designated regional area

• Occupation must be on the relevant list for the 494

• Pathway to permanent residency (191) after meeting work and income thresholds

• Can be a strong option if your occupation doesn't qualify for the 482 standard streams

Step 1: The Employer Becomes a Standard Business Sponsor

Before any worker can be sponsored, the employer must apply to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). This requires demonstrating the business is lawfully operating in Australia and meets training benchmark requirements. Approval is typically valid for 5 years.

Step 2: Nominating the Position

Once approved as an SBS, the employer nominates the specific position they wish to fill. The nomination must demonstrate the position is genuine, the salary meets or exceeds the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), and Labour Market Testing has been conducted.

Step 3: The Worker Applies for the Visa

After the nomination is approved (or submitted concurrently), the worker lodges their visa application. This includes skills assessment documentation, character and health checks, and proof of relevant qualifications and experience.

SAF Levy: What Employers Need to Know

The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is a mandatory payment employers make when sponsoring workers on a 482 or 494 visa or nominating for a 186. It funds local apprenticeships and training programs.

• Small businesses (turnover < $10M/year): $1,200 per year of visa duration

• Medium/large businesses: $1,800 per year of visa duration

• Paid upfront as a lump sum (e.g., 4-year 482 = $7,200 for a large business)

• Partially refundable if the visa is granted for a shorter period than applied

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a 482 visa holder change employers?

A: Yes, but the new employer must also be an approved SBS and must nominate you for the same or a similar occupation. You can work for a new employer once a new nomination is approved — you don't need to leave Australia.

Q: Is Labour Market Testing always required?

A: LMT is required for most 482 and 494 nominations. Exemptions apply for countries covered by trade agreements (e.g., US, Japan), for intra-company transfers, and for occupations on the exemption list. A migration agent can confirm if your situation qualifies for an exemption.

Q: How long does the 482 sponsorship process take?

A: End-to-end (SBS approval + nomination + visa), the process typically takes 3–6 months depending on occupation, workload at the Department, and whether health and character checks cause delays. SBS approval alone can take 2–4 weeks.

Q: What is TSMIT and does it affect all sponsored visas?

A: TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) is the minimum salary threshold — currently $73,150 per year as of 2024 (indexed annually). All 482 nominations must meet or exceed this threshold. The 186 and 494 have similar market salary rate requirements.

Q: Can a 482 visa lead to permanent residency?

A: Yes. Workers on a medium-term 482 visa can apply for the 186 ENS (Temporary Residence Transition stream) after 3 years with the same sponsoring employer. This is one of Australia's most reliable pathways from temporary to permanent residency.