Country guide · Australia
Working in Australia: skilled visas and employer sponsorship
Australia has a structured employer sponsorship system with a genuine pathway to permanent residency — but the process involves skills assessments and specific occupational lists that determine your eligibility.
Last updated May 1, 2026
Quick facts
Main employer route
Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482)
Skills assessment?
Required for many occupations
Employer requirement
Must be an approved sponsor
Processing time
2–6 months typical
Bring family?
Yes — secondary applicants
Path to PR?
Yes — after 2–3 years in many cases
The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa
The TSS visa (subclass 482) is the main employer-sponsored route for skilled workers. Your occupation must be on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) or Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). The MLTSSL occupations lead to permanent residency — the STSOL typically does not.
Employers must be approved sponsors before they can nominate you. Not all employers are, so ask early in the process. The employer pays the nomination fee; you pay the visa application fee.
Skills assessments are required for many occupations and can take several weeks to months. Start this process before you begin applying.
Pathway to permanent residency
After 2 years on a TSS visa in an MLTSSL occupation, you may be eligible for the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS subclass 186) — a permanent residency visa.
The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) offer pathways without employer sponsorship for high-scoring candidates in Express Entry equivalent points systems.
Cost of living and salary context
Australia has a minimum salary requirement for sponsored workers (the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold — TSMIT). As of 2024 this is AUD 70,000/year. Most sponsored roles pay significantly above this.
Sydney and Melbourne are expensive cities — housing costs are high relative to salaries. Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth offer similar opportunities with lower living costs.
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