Sponsor skilled talent
Employer-sponsored migration is the pathway of the year - the 2026‑27 program lifts it to up to 58,040 places. We provide end-to-end management for corporations and SMEs, from sponsorship approval to nomination, visa and the pathway to permanent residence.
Employer sponsored places rise to up to 58,040 for 2026‑27, up from around 44,000. A public register of approved work sponsors was legislated in April 2026, publishing sponsor details - so compliance and record-keeping matter more than ever.
Skills in Demand
The primary temporary work visa, across Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Essential Skills streams - with a pathway to permanent residence for most holders after two years.
Base VAC $4,015 · plus sponsorship, nomination & SAF levy
View subclass →ENS (186)
Permanent residence via employer nomination - the Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition streams, managed to the same evidentiary standard.
Base VAC $6,140 · SAF one-off $3,000/$5,000
View subclass →Fees current as at 3 July 2026 (FY2026‑27); the charge at your lodgement date applies - confirm at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Sponsorship and nomination fees are additional.
The corporate framework
01. Business sponsorship
The business must show it is lawfully and actively operating in Australia. A standard business sponsorship is generally valid for five years once approved.
02. Nomination
The core assessment - proof of a genuine position, Labour Market Testing where required, and a salary at or above the relevant income threshold and the market rate.
03. Visa application
The worker’s application - meeting the experience requirement for the stream, together with health, character and English standards.
The SAF levy & costs
Sponsoring employers must pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy for every nomination, and it cannot be passed to the worker. For a 482 it is charged per year of the visa; for a permanent 186 nomination it is a one-off amount. These are in addition to the visa application charge and are non-refundable in most cases.
SAF levy - 482 (per year)
$1,200 per year of the visa for businesses with turnover under $10 million; $1,800 per year for larger businesses.
SAF levy - 186 (one-off)
$3,000 one-off for businesses under $10 million turnover; $5,000 for larger businesses, payable at nomination.
Fees current as at 3 July 2026 (FY2026‑27); the charge at your lodgement date applies - confirm at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Employer sponsorship, answered
What is the difference between the 482 and the 186?
The Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) is a temporary work visa; the Subclass 186 (ENS) is a permanent residence visa. Most 482 holders have a pathway to the 186 after two years of sponsored work with their nominating employer. Which route suits you depends on the role, the occupation and the employer’s standing - we plan the temporary-to-permanent strategy from the start.
What does the public sponsor register mean for employers?
Legislation enacted in April 2026 enables publication of approved work sponsor details, including business name, ABN, postcode, and the occupations and numbers sponsored. This raises the visibility of sponsorship activity and makes clean record-keeping and compliance more important. We keep your sponsorship and nomination files audit-ready.
How many employer-sponsored places are there in 2026‑27?
The 2026‑27 permanent Migration Program allocates up to 58,040 places to the Employer Sponsored category, up from around 44,000 - making it the fastest-growing stream. With regional places cut sharply in the same year, employer sponsorship has become the pathway of choice for many skilled workers.
What is Labour Market Testing?
Labour Market Testing requires the sponsoring business to advertise the position and demonstrate that no suitable Australian worker is available, within strict rules on timing, content and duration. Advertising errors are a common cause of nomination refusals. We audit every advertisement before it runs and keep the evidence lodgement-ready.
Sponsor with certainty
Sponsorship, nomination and visa each run on strict evidentiary rules - and the public register raises the stakes. We act for employers and sponsored workers Australia-wide.