Employer Sponsored
Employer Sponsored Visa Options in Australia
How to Get an Australian Employer Sponsored Visa
To obtain an Employer Sponsored Visa Australia, you must have a business/emplyer willing to sponsor you. This typically occurs when individuals are already in the country on a temporary visa (such as a student visa), but many employers also sponsor skilled workers directly from overseas.
How We Help with Employer Sponsorship and DAMA Visas
We offer end-to-end support for your Employee Sponsored Visa Australia application:
- Assessing your visa eligibility for employer or regional sponsorship.
- Guiding employers through sponsorship requirements and compliance obligations.
- Preparing and submitting all required documentation.
- Lodging the application and liaising with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf.
There is a range of Employer Nominated Visas. Their main purpose is to enable Australian employers to fill skills shortages with overseas skilled workers.
The most common Employer Nominated visa type is the Temporary Skills Shortage visa, subclass 482.
There is also a permanent residency employer-sponsored visa Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 visa.
In the regional areas, employers can nominate for SESR visa subclass 494. This a provisional visa issued for five years with a pathway to permanent residence subject to some qualifying requirements.
The permanent residency regional visa RSMS subclass 187 has been closed for direct application but it is still available for some 482 or 457 visa holders as a transitional pathway to PR
Employers can also sponsor for the subclass 407 Training Visa to enhance skills, facilitate licensing or training for capacity building overseas
DAMA Immigration Australia – Tailored Regional Sponsorship
To support regional workforce needs, the Australian Government has introduced Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) – resulting in additional regional visa options DAMA Work Visa Australia and DAMA Regional Visa pathways.
Purpose of DAMA:
- Address regional labour shortages.
- Help employers access skills not available locally.
- Provide flexible sponsorship optionsnot available under standard visa programs.
Key Features of DAMA Immigration Australia:
Visa Pathways Supported:
- Subclass 482 – Temporary Skills Shortage
- Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
- Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (Permanent)
Concessions Offered:
- Expanded Occupation Lists– Jobs not on national skill lists may qualify.
- Lower English Requirements– IELTS and equivalent tests may have reduced thresholds.
- Salary Concessions– Up to 10% below TSMIT.
- Age Flexibility– Some DAMAs allow permanent residency applications for older workers.
Employer Conditions:
- Must prove local recruitment efforts.
- Must receive endorsement from the local Designated Area Representative (DAR).
- Must comply with all sponsorship obligationsunder the DAMA framework.
Regional Coverage Under DAMA (2025)
There are currently 13 active DAMAs across Australia, including:
- Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
- East Kimberley, WA: East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Far North Queensland, QLD: Cairns Chamber of Commerce
- Goulburn Valley, VIC: Goulburn Valley
- Great South Coast, VIC: Warrnambool City Council
- Northern Territory, NT: Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement
- Orana, NSW: Regional Development Australia – Orana, NSW
- Pilbara, WA: RDA Pilbara
- South Australia Regional, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
- South West, WA: Shire of Dardanup
- The Goldfields, WA: City of Kalgoorlie Boulder
- Townsville, QLD: Townsville Enterprise Limited
- Western Australia: Department of Training and Workforce Development
Whether you’re an employer looking to sponsor a worker or a skilled applicant pursuing a DAMA Immigration Australia option, our team can help navigate the process and maximize your visa success.
Choose a program for yourself
Types of Company Sponsored Visas in Australia
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186)
This permanent residency employer sponsored visa enables businesses to nominate skilled workers for permanent residence.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Subclass 187)
While this visa is closed to new applicants, it may still be accessible as a transitional pathway to permanent residency for some 482 or 457 visa holders.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)
This Regional Employer Sponsored Visa is a five-year temporary visa leading to permanent residency and is designed for businesses in designated regional areas.
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)
This is the most common Company Sponsored Visa Australia. It allows Australian businesses to sponsor overseas workers in occupations where there is a skills shortage.
Training Visa (Subclass 407)
Employers can also sponsor candidates for this visa to help improve skills, gain occupational licensing, or conduct structured training.
