Employer Sponsored Visas are a visa category introduced by the Australian government to address skill shortages in the domestic job market and encourage Australian companies to hire overseas employees with specific skills.
At present, this type of visas are mainly divided into three categories: Subclass 482, Subclass 186, and the newly introduced Subclass 494. Among these, Subclass 482 and Subclass 494 are temporary visas (TR), while Subclass 186 is a permanent residency visa (PR). Therefore, the requirements for the latter are slightly higher than those for the former two.
Subclass 482 Visa (TSS)
TSS is divided into three streams: short-term, medium-term, and labour agreement. Its key features are:
- Validity period of 2-4 years
- No age requirement
- Minimum IELTS score of 5
- Requires sponsorship from an Australian employer
- Requires nomination for a specific position
- Applicants need to have relevant qualifications
- Nominated occupation must be on the relevant occupation list
- Requires two years of work experience
- Requires a positive skills assessment
Its advantage lies in its relatively fast processing time, with approvals possible within days to weeks. The application criteria are more lenient compared to Subclass 186 and are not limited to regional areas.
Subclass 186 Visa
This is a permanent visa. It is also divided into several streams, allowing individuals with varying qualifications to apply directly, transition from a Subclass 482 visa, or apply through a labour agreement. The basic requirements are as follows:
- Age not exceeding 45 years
- Minimum IELTS score of 6
- Requires sponsorship from an Australian employer and nomination for a specific position
- For direct-entry stream applicants, a minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience is required, along with a positive skills assessment
- For those transitioning from a Subclass 482 visa, generally a minimum of 2 years on a Subclass 482 visa is needed.
Subclass 491 Visa
The DHA has introduced a new employer sponsored Visa category, 494 Visa. It is a temporary visa and is intended for employer sponsorship in remote areas. Its key features include:
- Validity period of 5 years, with an option to apply for PR after holding it for 3 years
- Age not exceeding 45 years
- Minimum IELTS score of 6
- Requires a minimum of three years of relevant work experience
- Requires sponsorship from an Australian employer and nomination for a specific position
- Employment must be located in a remote area of Australia
- Requires a skills assessment
As the latest addition to the employer-sponsored visa categories, the Subclass 494 aims to facilitate the transfer of skilled labour to remote Australian regions while providing a pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers. One of its advantages lies in the willingness of remote area employers to provide sponsorship, making it relatively easier to secure both sponsorship and position nomination. Additionally, the range of eligible occupations for this visa is broader compared to the Subclass 482 visa.
In summary, the advantages of employer-sponsored visas are that they allow for the inclusion of family members in the application, can be applied for both onshore and offshore, grant the eligibility to work full-time in Australia, and have lower language requirements compared to skilled migration pathway. These visas are particularly suitable for highly skilled individuals with expertise and work experience, even if they have limited education and English proficiency.