Immigration Law
Work Visas & Employer Sponsorship — Secure Your Working Future
Employer-sponsored work visas are among the most complex in the Australian immigration system — involving obligations for both employer and employee, skills assessments, labour market testing, and a pathway to permanent residence. Legal advice protects both your job and your visa.
⚠ Changing employers on a sponsored visa without proper advice can make you unlawful — submit your request now.
Does This Sound Like You?
Common situations we help with.
Employer Wants to Sponsor You on a 482 TSS Visa
A Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa requires your employer to become an approved sponsor, nominate you for a specific occupation, and demonstrate that labour market testing has been conducted. The process has multiple stages — each with its own requirements and fees. A migration lawyer can guide you and your employer through the process efficiently.
Occupation Not on the Relevant Skilled List
TSS and employer-sponsored visas require that your occupation appears on the relevant occupation list. If your exact job title is not listed, it may still be eligible under a related ANZSCO code — or a different visa pathway may better suit your occupation. A migration lawyer can assess the closest matching occupation code and whether your duties qualify.
Employer Sponsor Approval Refused or Conditions Breached
If your employer's sponsorship approval has been refused or if sponsorship obligations have been breached — such as failing to pay market salary rates, not paying travel costs on cessation, or not keeping required records — your visa and employment status may both be at risk. A migration lawyer can advise the employer on compliance and you on your options as a visa holder.
Wanting to Change Employers While on a Sponsored Visa
TSS visa holders are generally tied to their sponsor — you cannot simply start working for a new employer without a new nomination and, in some cases, a new visa application. Understanding the correct process, your grace period, and how to protect your lawful status during a change of employer is important before you hand in your notice.
Pathway From 482 to Permanent Residence
Many TSS visa holders are eligible to apply for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS, subclass 186) after meeting minimum years of work experience with their sponsor. The pathway and eligibility criteria depend on which stream of the 482 you hold. A migration lawyer can advise on the right time to apply and whether you qualify for the Direct Entry or Temporary Residence Transition stream.
Labour Market Testing Requirements Not Met
Employers must generally conduct Labour Market Testing (LMT) before nominating an overseas worker for a TSS visa — advertising the position for a prescribed period and demonstrating no suitable Australian workers were available. Deficient LMT is a common grounds for nomination refusal. A migration lawyer can advise your employer on what LMT must look like and how to document it correctly.
How It Works
From Sponsorship to Permanent Residence
Work visa applications involve your employer, the Department, and potentially a skills assessment body — all at the same time. We connect you with a migration lawyer who manages the whole process and protects your immigration status throughout.
Submit Your Work Visa RequestSubmit your request
Tell us about your occupation, employer, current visa status, and what you are trying to achieve — whether it is getting a new sponsored visa or transitioning to permanent residence. We match you with an experienced migration lawyer.
Eligibility and pathway assessment
Your lawyer reviews your occupation, qualifications, salary, and employer's status to identify the correct visa pathway. They advise on skills assessment requirements, LMT obligations, and the timeline to permanent residence.
Sponsor approval, nomination, and visa application
Your lawyer prepares the three-stage sponsorship, nomination, and visa application process — coordinating with your employer and managing Departmental correspondence at every step until your visa is granted.
3 Stages
Employer sponsorship, nomination, and visa application — each stage has separate requirements and fees
All 8 States
Requests matched to specialist lawyers across every state and territory in Australia
Free
Initial consultation — understand your rights and options before committing to any action
ENS Pathway
Eligible 482 holders can transition to permanent residence via the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Before You Apply
Practical questions about work visas and employer sponsorship.
What are the Short-Term and Medium-Term streams of the TSS visa? +
The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) has two main streams. The Short-Term stream is for occupations on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) and is granted for up to 2 years (or 3 years under a bilateral agreement). It does not have a direct pathway to permanent residence through the TSS itself. The Medium-Term stream is for occupations on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and is granted for up to 4 years — with a pathway to permanent residence through the ENS after 3 years of work experience with the sponsor.
Do I need a skills assessment to be sponsored on a 482 visa? +
A skills assessment is not always required for the 482 visa itself — the primary requirement is that you have the skills, qualifications, and employment experience needed to perform the nominated occupation at the required skill level. However, for the transition to permanent residence through the ENS (subclass 186), a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority is generally required. A migration lawyer can confirm the skills assessment requirements for your specific occupation and assessment body.
What obligations does an approved sponsor have? +
Approved sponsors have ongoing legal obligations under the Migration Act 1958 and Regulations, including: paying the sponsored worker at least the market salary rate; not passing on the costs of sponsorship to the worker; keeping employment records; cooperating with Department inspections; and paying reasonable return travel costs when employment ends. Breaches can result in deregistration as a sponsor, civil penalties, and bar orders. Employers must take their sponsorship obligations seriously — a migration lawyer can advise on compliance.
Can I change employers if I hold a 482 visa? +
Yes, but the process is not simple. You must obtain a new nomination from your new employer (who must be an approved sponsor or become one) and in many cases lodge a new visa application. A 60-day grace period applies after your employment ends, during which you can seek new sponsorship — but you cannot work for the new employer until the nomination (and where required, the new visa) is granted. You should consult a migration lawyer before accepting any new role or handing in notice.
What is the nomination and visa application process for employer-sponsored workers? +
The process for a TSS visa involves three separate stages: (1) the employer applies for and obtains approval as a standard business sponsor; (2) the employer lodges a nomination for the specific position and worker, demonstrating LMT compliance and that the position meets the criteria; and (3) the visa applicant lodges the visa application. All three stages involve government application fees. A migration lawyer can project-manage the entire process to avoid delays caused by errors in any single stage.
What are the pathways to permanent residence for TSS visa holders? +
Medium-term stream 482 holders can apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS, subclass 186) through the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream after 3 years of full-time work with their sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation. Short-term stream holders must generally apply through the Direct Entry stream and obtain a positive skills assessment. The Labour Agreement stream has separate criteria. A migration lawyer can map the most efficient permanent residence pathway for your specific occupation and employment history.
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