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 June 22, 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.
- 1
Check your occupation list
MLTSSL leads to PR; STSOL typically does not.
- 2
Complete a skills assessment
Required for many occupations — can take weeks to months.
- 3
Find an approved sponsor
Only approved sponsors can nominate you; employer pays the nomination fee.
- 4
Apply for the TSS (subclass 482)
You pay the visa application fee; processing ~2–6 months.
- 5
Work ~2 years in an MLTSSL role
Builds eligibility for employer-nominated PR.
- 6
Apply for ENS (subclass 186)
Permanent residence via the Employer Nomination Scheme.
Illustrative only. Occupation lists and thresholds change — verify on the official Department of Home Affairs site.
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.
Australia at a glance: pros and cons
Australia pairs a structured sponsorship system with a real PR pathway — but eligibility hinges on occupation lists and skills assessments. Weigh the trade-offs.
Pros
- Structured employer sponsorship with a genuine pathway to permanent residency.
- MLTSSL occupations lead to PR via the Employer Nomination Scheme after 2 years.
- Regional incentives and points routes (subclass 189/190) for high scorers.
- Strong demand and high salaries in many skilled fields.
Cons
- Skills assessments are required for many occupations and take weeks to months.
- Only approved sponsors can nominate you — not every employer qualifies.
- STSOL occupations often don't lead to permanent residence.
- Sydney and Melbourne housing is expensive; distance from family and climate risks matter.
Candidate experience
A mechanical engineer from the UK secured a subclass 482 role in Perth in about four months. The skills assessment was the gating step — booking it before job-hunting meant the visa stage moved quickly once the offer landed.
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