Sponsored Work Visa in Australia

Australia is a popular destination for individuals searching for better career opportunities. However, a work visa is a prerequisite for overseas individuals who plan to work in Australia. Thankfully, with the provision of the employer sponsored work visa, you can relocate with little or no hassle if possible. Read on to find out more.

Consequently, Australia is a beautiful country known for its highly skilled workforce, excellent standard of living, and advanced infrastructure. However, in recent years, it has emerged as a popular destination for immigrants seeking better job prospects and career opportunities.

Furthermore, Australia offers various work visas to skilled professionals and international students to work and study in Australia. One such work visa is the Sponsored work visa, which is being increasingly opted by people wanting to work in Australia.

In this article, we will explain all you need to know about the sponsored work visa in Australia. The types of work visa and requirements, process of application. Finally, the challenges attached to each.

Employer sponsored work visa, Overview

The employer-sponsored work visa program gives international workers the chance to get employed in a qualified Australian organization or business.

Although, one of the key advantages of the employer sponsored work visa is that it allows workers to gain valuable experience working in Australia. This can be beneficial for their future career prospects both in Australia and abroad. Additionally, for employers, the sponsored work visa can be a valuable tool in attracting and retaining the best talent for their business.

Although, while the sponsored work visa can be a great opportunity for both workers and employers, it is important to note that the Australian government has strict regulations in place to ensure that the program is not exploited. Employers who sponsor foreign workers must comply with all relevant laws and regulations, including ensuring that workers are paid a fair wage, providing a safe working environment, and fulfilling all tax and superannuation obligations

Lastly, employers who wish to sponsor foreign workers must indicate that they have a genuine need for the worker and that they are unable to find a suitably qualified Australian worker to fill the position. Also, the emplorers must also be able and willing and able to meet all the legal and financial obligations associated with sponsoring a foreign worker.

What is a Sponsored Work Visa?

Australia, like many developed countries, is experiencing skills shortage in certain sectors of its economy. To address this shortage, the Australian government has implemented specific visa programs aimed at attracting foreign workers to fill these gaps. One such visa is the sponsored work visa, also known as the temporary skilled work visa.

A Sponsored work visa provides an opportunity for foreigners to work in Australia on a temporary basis.

More so, It is a visa that is sponsored by an Australian employer or an eligible business group. The visa allows foreign workers to reside in Australia for up to two or four years and work full-time for the sponsoring employer.

Individuals can apply for this visa either through their employer or through a government-approved sponsor. To be eligible for the sponsored work visa, applicants must meet certain minimum requirements, such as having the necessary skills and qualifications to fill a position that cannot be filled by an Australian worker.

Types of Employer Sponsored Work Visa in Australia

There are three types of employer sponsored work visas available in Australia such as the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (TSS), Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS).

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (TSS):

Also known as the subclass 482 visa, the temporary Skill Shortage Visa is an employer-sponsored visa that allows a foreign worker to live and work in Australia for a duration of up to four years. This visa is divided into two streams; short-term and medium-term.

The short-term or stream allows an overseas employee with the desired skills to work in Australia for up to two years where a suitable skilled Australian cannot be found to occupy the position.

The medium-term stream is issued to qualified foreign workers with skills that are required in Australia for up to four years.

Additionally, the temporary visa comes with a special feature which allows applicants to include their immediate family. Also, after completing the duration of four years (supposing a long-term visa is issued), both the worker and family members are eligible to transition to a permanent Australia residency visa.

However, to be granted the employer sponsored work visa subclass 482, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Skills requirement – You must possess the required skills and work experience relevant to the occupation for which you are being sponsored.

2. Sponsorship – As an applicant, you must have a sponsoring Australian employer or an eligible businesses group.

3. English language ability – you must have competent English skills.

4. Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement – you must intend to stay in Australia only temporarily.

5. Health and Character requirements– you must meet certain health and character requirements to be eligible.

6. Labour Market Testing– your sponsor must meet all labour market testing requirements.

Permanent Employer Sponsored Nominated Visas

The permanent employer sponsored Nominated visa is further divided into two parts, namely; the Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS)

#1. Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) – Subclass 186

The Employer Nomination Scheme is another employer-sponsored visa program, which is aimed at experienced, and skilled foreign workers whose abilities meet the country’s industry requirements. This visa program, otherwise called the permanent employee visa allows workers in Australia to apply for Australian permanent residence permits.

However, the ENS visa is issued in two stages; the nomination stage which is given to make sure that the employer satisfies the visa requirements and the visa stage which is issued to the nominated employee.

Also, there are two streams in the 186 Employer Nominated sponsored visa which are; the temporary residence transition stream and the Direct entry stream.

Temporary Residence Transition Steam: This is for oversea applicants who have been with the same employer for 3 years (482/457 visa) or 2 years on a 457 visa

Direct Entry Stream: For a direct entry stream application, a worker is required to have a skills assessment in an occupation on the medium-and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience, anywhere in the world.

#2. Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) – Subclass 186

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa is an employer sponsored visa that permits skilled foreign workers to work and live in regional Australia.

Addditionally, this visa is issued to foreign workers who perform work for an employer within the designated regional regions of Australia. You can get this visa type through a direct entry stream or a transitional stream like the subclass 186 (ENS) Visi. However, this depends on the occupation type.

Benefits of Employer Sponsored Work Visa in Australia:

i. Job Prospects:

An employer-sponsored work visa in Australia can increase foreign workers’ job prospects and assist them in finding employment in their selected industry.

ii. Long-Term Opportunity:

The employer sponsored work visa program offers a long-term opportunity for skilled foreign workers to work and stay in the country.

iii. Sponsorship:

Employers use the employer-sponsored work visa program to sponsor overseas workers. They require filling vital positions and do demanding jobs.

iv. Training:

The employer-sponsored work visa scheme comes with exceptional training benefits that allow foreign workers to gain new and advanced skills in their preferred field.

Steps to apply for sponsorship work visa

Find an eligible sponsor

The first step to applying for a sponsorship work visa is to find an eligible sponsor. The sponsor can be an Australian employer or an eligible businesses group.

Eligibility assessment

Once you have found a sponsor, you need to determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements for the visa. You can use the Visa Finder Tool, which is available on the Department of Home Affairs website, to check your eligibility.

Obtain Sponsorship and Nomination

The sponsoring employer must provide a nomination and the applicant must be nominated by their sponsors prior to lodging their visa application.

Gather evidence and documentation

You need to gather evidence and documentation to support your application. This includes your qualifications, proof of work experience, English language proficiency, health, character, a passport with validity for a minimum of 6 months, police clearance certificate and financial records.

Lodging the visa application

Once you have gathered all the documentation necessary, you can then lodge your visa application. You can do this online through the Department of Home Affairs website.

Wait for the visa processing

After lodging the visa application, you need to wait for the visa processing. The Department of Home Affairs will assess your application and verify the details provided by your sponsor.

Process After Receiving the Sponsored work visa in Australia

Employment Agreement

After receiving the visa, you must enter into an employment agreement with your sponsor. This agreement must stipulate the terms and conditions of your employment.

Visa Conditions

Sponsored work visa has certain conditions that the applicant must meet. These conditions include working only for the sponsoring employer, complying with Australian laws, and informing the Department of Home Affairs about any changes in your circumstances.

Visa Renewal

If you wish to renew your visa, you can apply for a new visa before the expiration of your current visa. However, you will need to meet the eligibility requirements for the new visa and submit all necessary documents.

Benefits of Sponsored Work Visa In Australia

Job opportunities

Sponsored work visa provides foreign nationals with an opportunity to work in Australia and develop their careers. Check out available job vacancies in Australia.

Excellent working conditions

Australia has strong employment laws that protect the rights of workers. Sponsors must meet all legal requirements regarding employment terms and conditions.

High wages

Australian employers pay competitive wages to foreign workers. Hence, this makes it an attractive destination for international job seekers.

Quality of life

Australia offers a high standard of living, good healthcare, and excellent infrastructure. Therefore, this makes it a desirable location to live.

Permanent Residency

Sponsorship work visa provides pathway to permanent residency in Australia. Hence, the applicant can be eligible to apply for permanent residency. However, this will take a period of time,

Challenges of Sponsorship Work Visa

Language barrier

Applicants must have competent English language skills, which can be a challenge for non-English speaking applicants.

Limited availability

Sponsored work visas are only available for certain occupations that are in demand in Australia.

High cost

The application fees for sponsored work visas are high, which can be a financial burden for some applicants.

Lengthy process

The application process for sponsorship work visas can be lengthy and complicated, which most applicants find frustrating.

Summary on Sponsored Work Visa in Australia

The Sponsorship work visa is an excellent opportunity for talented foreign workers to work and develop their careers in Australia, either temporarily or permanently.

However, while the program is subject to strict regulations, it can be a valuable tool for both employers and workers looking to gain an edge in a competitive job market. Although, this visa program also provides the opportunity for skilled foreign workers to showcase their working capacity in Australia and explore better career opportunities.

However, to apply for this work visa program, foreign workers must meet the eligibility requirements and provide all the documentation necessary to increase their chances of success. Overall, a sponsorship work visa is a valuable option for foreign nationals who aspire to live and work in Australia.