The Three Main Subclasses
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa — Subclass 482
The 482 is the standard short-term employer sponsored visa. It operates in two streams:
| Stream | Occupation list | Max stay |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term | STOL | 2 years (4 years under labour agreement) |
| Medium-term | MLTSSL | 4 years |
To sponsor a worker, the employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, demonstrate genuine recruitment efforts from the local market, pay at least the market salary rate, and pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy annually.
Employer Nomination Scheme — Subclass 186
The 186 is a permanent residence visa. It has three streams:
- Temporary Residence Transition (TRT): For 482 holders who've worked for their sponsor for at least 2 years in the same occupation
- Direct Entry: For applicants who haven't held a 482 but meet the occupation, age, and skills requirements directly
- Labour Agreement: For employers with an approved labour agreement
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme — Subclass 494
The 494 is a 5-year provisional visa for regional employers. After 3 years of living and working in a designated regional area, holders can apply for permanent residence through the subclass 191.
For Employers — Standard Business Sponsorship
Before nominating a worker, you need to be an approved Standard Business Sponsor. This involves demonstrating your business is actively and lawfully operating in Australia. Once approved, you take on a set of ongoing obligations — salary requirements, record-keeping, notification events, and SAF levy payments.
We assist employers with the sponsorship application, nomination preparation, and maintaining compliance with the ongoing obligations. Whether you're applying for an employer sponsored visa or managing sponsorship duties, breaching obligations can result in bans and fines.
Read more: Standard Business Sponsorship →For Workers — Reviewing Your Nomination
If your employer has offered to sponsor you, it's worth having the nomination reviewed before you lodge. Errors in the occupation, salary, or nomination conditions create delays — sometimes significant ones. We review nominations to make sure everything is correctly structured.
Pathway to Permanent Residence
Most medium-term 482 holders can transition to the 186 (TRT stream) after two years. We plan your employer sponsored visa pathway from the start so the timing, occupation, and employer obligations are all on track.