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Work and stay in Australia with an Employee Sponsor
Explore the option of an Employer Sponsored Visas
As the name suggests, the Employer Sponsored Visa stream requires the main applicant to be sponsored by an eligible Australian employer as part of acquiring a work visa.
The subclasses that fall under this category are:
Core requirements of an Employer Sponsored Visas Australia:
Regardless of which stream you decide to apply for, here are the main features of an Employer Sponsored visa that may differ from a general skilled migration visa:
- A nomination must be in place by an Australian employer.
- The main applicant must align their skills against an Occupations List.
- A minimum of Competent English must be evidenced by the main visa applicant.
- A Skills Assessment may be required (depending on the stream).
- The applicants must meet health and character requirements.
- The applicants must satisfy the age requirements under each subclass.
- A Regional Certification must be obtained for a Subclass 187 visa application.
The Visa Application Process:
Understanding the different streams and sub-categories can prove to be difficult. Additionally, measuring your skills against the right Occupations List can be confusing. It definitely pays to speak to the experts.
The Employer Sponsored Visas for Australia are essentially a two-step process.
The Temporary – Permanent Visa Option
The Temporary Option
The temporary skilled visa programme has undergone substantial changes in the past. What was once known as the Subclass 457 visa has now been completely replaced with the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 visa. While some components of the 457 visa remain the same, the most significant difference is the emergence of two pathways known as:
- The short-term stream which allows for a stay of up to 2 years; and
- The medium-term stream which has a visa duration of up to 4 years.
Both streams require the applicant to align their skills against a Skilled Occupation List:
- The short-term stream > Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL)
- The medium-term stream > Medium and Long Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL)
If your position is based in regional Australia, it is also possible for you to apply for a Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa if your nominated occupation is on the MLTSSL or the Regional Occupation List (ROL).
Employers can also negotiate a labour agreement with Department of Home Affairs, if the standard Subclass 482/494 visa programs are not sufficient in addressing the skills shortages.
The Permanent Options
In most cases, if your occupation is on STSOL, it does not lead to a permanent visa option, and will only last for a period of 2 years with one renewal allowable onshore.
The MLTSSL and ROL occupations however, can apply for permanent residency once the temporary visa holder has fulfilled employment, and/or residence & income requirements:
- Subclass 482 TSS visa holders can apply for Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa under Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream, after working for the nominating employer for at least 3 years.
- Subclass 494 visa holders will be able to apply for Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa if residence and income requirements are met.
It is also possible to apply for Subclass 186 ENS visa without having worked with the nominating employer. This is known as the direct entry stream of Subclass 186 ENS visa. To be eligible, visa applicants must have a positive skills assessment in an MTLSSL occupation, in addition to competent English and at least 3 years of relevant work experience.
Lastly, the aforementioned labour agreement program can also incorporate a permanent residency pathway, subject to negotiation between the employer and Department of Home Affairs.
How the VEVS team can help
The VEVS team will help you get sorted, pointing you in the right direction from the nomination process right through to the submission of the visa application.
Speaking to the Department of Home Affairs can be rather daunting so we’ll take care of all communications on your behalf, not only with the government, but also any skill assessing bodies and other relevant stakeholders.
Get in touch with the team at VEVS Global. If you believe you have the skills that Australia requires then its best to get started sooner rather than later.
