Employer Sponsored Visas

    Types of employer sponsor visas:

    Skills in Demand (subclass 482)

    1. Core skills stream

      This visa allows you to work and stay in Australia up to 4 years (up to 5 years if you hold a Hong Kong passport). You can apply for permanent residency if you are eligible.

      To be eligible for this visa:

      • Your occupation must be listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
      • You must be paid the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for your occupation and be no less than the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which is currently $76,515.
      • Have a relevant skills assessment for your occupation (if applicable).
      • Have 1 year of relevant full-time (equivalent) work experience in your nominated occupation, within the last 5 years.
      • Work only for your sponsor, unless exempt.
      • Meet the minimum English language proficiency (See table with Level of English proficiency required below).

    2. Specialist skills stream

      This visa allows you to work and stay in Australia up to 4 years (up to 5 years if you hold a Hong Kong passport). You can apply for permanent residency if you are eligible.

      To be eligible for this visa:

      • Your occupation must be listed under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
      • The occupation cannot be part of Major Groups 3,7, or 8 of the ANZSCO.
      • You must be paid a salary that meets the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, which is $141,210 per annum.
      • Have a relevant skills assessment for your occupation (if applicable).
      • Have 1 year of relevant full-time (equivalent) work experience in your nominated occupation, within the last 5 years.
      • Work only for your sponsor, unless exempt.
      • Meet the minimum English language proficiency (See table with Level of English proficiency required below).

      Level of English proficiency needed for subclass 482 Skills in Demand

    Minimum score required
    IELTS
    At least 5 in each band, with an overall of 5.0
    OET
    At least B in each of the four components.
    TOEFL iBT
    At least an overall of 35 with a minimum of 4 in listening, 4 in reading, 14 in writing and 14 in speaking.
    PTE Academic
    At least 36 in each component, with an overall of 36.
    Cambridge C1 Advanced
    At least 154 in each component, with an overall of 154.

    If you hold a passport from one of the following countries, you are exempt from providing the English language proficiency requirement:

    • Canada
    • New Zealand
    • Republic of Ireland
    • The United Kingdom
    • The United States of America

    Requirements for your sponsor:

    • The sponsor must be or have applied to become a Standard Business Sponsor.
    • The sponsor must nominate you under an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) (unless you are applying under the specialist skills stream)
    • The sponsor must be unable to find an Australian citizen or permanent resident with the required skills and qualifications to fill the nominated position.
      • It must conduct Labour Market Testing to demonstrate that they cannot find an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident to fill the role.
    • If you’re applying under the Core skills stream, have a salary that is:
    • at least $76,515 per year (excluding any non-monetary benefits) for occupations on the CSOL AND
    • at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for your nominated occupation
    • If you’re applying under the specialist skills stream, you must have a salary that is:
    • at least $141,210 per year (excluding any non-monetary benefits) f AND
    • at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for your nominated occupation

    NOTE: the AMSR for your nominated occupation (excluding non-monetary benefits) must also be no less than $76,515 per year. The AMSR is the salary that an Australian earns (or would earn) for performing equivalent work on a full-time basis for a year in the same workplace and at the same location. You will be exempt from this requirement if your salary is more than $250,000 per year.

    • Be able to demonstrate a genuine necessity for the position. This must be full-time.

    The nominee must be engaged under a written contract of employment to work exclusively for the business or an associated entity of the business.  

    Employer Nomination Scheme visas (subclass 186)

    1. Direct Entry Stream
      This visa allows you to work and stay in Australia indefinitely. You can apply for citizenship residency if eligible.
      To be eligible for this visa:
      • Your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
      • Have at least 3 years of relevant work experience in your occupation.
      • You must be licensed, registered, or a member of a professional body, if required, within the state or territory where you intend to work.
      • Have a relevant skills assessment for your occupation (unless exempt).
      • You must be nominated by an Australian employer whose business is actively and lawfully operating.
      • You must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.
      • You must have at least competent English at the time you apply for your visa.
        • Any dependent applicants aged 18 years or older must have a functional level of English.

    2. Temporary Resident Transition Stream
      This visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. You can apply for citizenship residency if eligible.

      To be eligible for this visa:
      • You must have been employed, on a full-time basis, in Australia, in an eligible sponsored employment for a total of 2 years in the 3 years before the date you apply for your visa.
      • You must be licensed, registered, or a member of a professional body, if required, within the state or territory where you intend to work.
      • You must hold a subclass 457, 482 or an eligible bridging visa.
      • You must be under 45 years of age at the time of application.
      • You must have at least competent English when you submit your application (see below).
        • Any dependent applicants aged 18 years or older must have a functional level of English.
    Minimum score required
    IELTS
    At least 6 in each band.
    OET
    At least a minimum of 290 in listening, 310 in reading, 290 in writing and 330 in speaking.
    TOEFL iBT
    At least a minimum of 16 in listening, 16 in reading, 19 in writing and 19 in speaking.
    PTE Academic
    At least a minimum of 47 in listening, 48 in reading, 51 in writing and 54 in speaking.
    Cambridge C1 Advanced
    At least a minimum of 163 in listening, 163 in reading, 170 in writing and 179 in speaking.
    CELPIP General
    At least 7 in each component.
    LANGUAGECERT Academic
    At least a minimum of 57 in listening, 60 in reading, 64 in writing and 70 in speaking.
    MET
    At least a minimum of 56 in listening, 55 in reading, 57 in writing and 48 in speaking.