For skilled people to be employed in Australia on a temporary or permanent basis. Applicants for these visas seeking to work for an Australian employer must be sponsored by their employer.
Temporary Visas
For lawfully operating Australian and overseas employers to employ approved skilled workers for temporary vacancies in Australia. Temporary visas can offer a pathway to a permanent visa.
Temporary Business Long Stay – Standard Business Sponsorship (subclass 457)
This is the most commonly used program for employers to sponsor overseas workers to work in Australia on a temporary basis. There are also special arrangements for employers in regional areas across Australia.
A new English language requirement was introduced on 1 July 2007. Applicants need to have proficiency in English and detail their language skills on their visa form.
Find out more about the Temporary Business Long Stay 457 visa.
Service Sellers
For representatives of overseas suppliers of services who are negotiating, or entering into, agreements to supply their services in Australia under the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).
Medical Practitioner visa (subclass 422)
Doctors should generally apply for a Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457) but this visa is an alternative for doctors registered to work in Australia. Employers must lodge a separate sponsorship application for each doctor sponsored.
Educational visa (subclass 418)
For educational workers to be employed in Australia on a temporary basis. The sponsoring organisation must be an Australian tertiary education or research institution, school or technical college.
Labour Agreements
Formal arrangements for an Australian industry group or employer to recruit a specified number of skilled workers on a temporary or permanent basis over a number of years.
Permanent Visas
This type of visa is for lawfully operating Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers in particular occupations required in Australia.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121/856)
For lawfully operating Australian employers to recruit workers on permanent visas, to fill full-time highly skilled positions which cannot be filled from the Australian labour market.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 119/857)
For employers in regional Australia to employ skilled people in positions unable to be filled from the local labour market.
Labour Agreements
Formal arrangements for an Australian industry group or employer to recruit a specified number of skilled workers on a temporary or permanent basis over a number of years. Agreements are generally effective for 2 to 3 years.
More information
Latest news for Employer Sponsored Workers.
Find out more about Employer Sponsored Workers visa options.