Work Sponsored Visas​

The Work Sponsored Visas
There are three lists of skilled occupations that are used by the Department of Home Affairs. There is the Short-Term Skills Occupation List (STSOL) and the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) ROL. The lists are changed regularly. If your occupation is on the either the lists, you may be eligible for a work sponsored visa.

The Department of Home Affairs publishes a combined list which is to be used as a guide only and can be found here: Combined List

If you are a business in Australia wanting to know about sponsoring an employee on a visa, click here.

There are various work sponsored visas. The most common ones utilised are:

• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)
• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
• Training visa (subclass 407)
• Temporary activity visa (subclass 408)

Subclass 482
The subclass 482 visa is a temporary business sponsored work visa. The 482 visa can be granted for 2 years or for 4 years. The visa will be granted for up to 2 years if the occupation is on the short-term list. The visa will be granted for up to 4 years if the occupation is on the long-term list. If the occupation is on the long-term list, there may be a pathway towards permanent residency on the subclass 186 visa. The Department of Home Affairs have made a combined list which is to be used as a guide only and can be found on this link.

Subclass 186
The subclass 186 visa is a permanent work sponsored visas.

The subclass 186 visa can be utilised:

• If the visa applicant is already the holder of a 482 visa in what’s called the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream; or
• Through the Direct Entry (DE) stream. The DE stream does not require the visa applicant to hold any pre-requisite visa (meaning the subclass 186 permanent visa can be applied for directly in some circumstances).

Subclass 494 
The subclass 494 visa is a temporary business sponsored visa that is granted for 5 years. To be eligible for the 494 visa, the visa applicant will need to have first obtained a positive skills assessment and to have worked in the occupation for at least 3 years in the previous 5 years. Once the visa applicant has held the subclass 494 visa, the visa applicant may become eligible for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191).

Process Involved
For the 482, 186 or 494 visas, the process involves being nominated by a business in Australia. The business must be a qualifying business, meaning that the business itself must meet certain eligibility criteria. Once the nomination is approved the visa application will be processed.

Eligibility criteria
There are different eligibility criteria for each subclass of work visa such as:

• Age
• English ability
• Skills and qualifications
• Genuine temporary entrant criteria
• Which list your occupation is currently on

To determine your eligibility for a work visa to Australia, you must have first undergone a personalised visa pathway assessment which will determine your visa options.

Contact us to find out more about our personalised visa pathway assessment service.