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Employer Sponsored Visas · Australia
Employer Sponsored
Visa Pathways
General information on subclasses 482, 186, 494 and 407, with Australian immigration assistance by Aftab Ali Khan, Registered Migration Agent – MARN 2619317.
MARN 2619317
Subclass 482
Skills in Demand Visa
Temporary employer-sponsored pathway
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is an employer-sponsored temporary visa. Eligibility depends on the relevant stream, the nominated role, sponsorship and nomination requirements, the applicant’s skills and experience, and the rules applying at the time of application.
Key Features
- Temporary employer-sponsored work pathway if granted
- Not a points-tested visa
- Some holders may later become eligible for another employer-sponsored or permanent pathway
- Eligible family members may be included in some circumstances
General Requirements
- An approved sponsor or other eligible sponsoring arrangement
- A nomination meeting the requirements for the relevant stream
- An eligible occupation or role under the settings applying to that stream
- Relevant skills, experience and any required skills assessment
- Meet the English-language requirement for the stream, unless an exemption applies
- Meet health, character and other applicable criteria
Subclass 186
Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent employer-sponsored pathway
The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is a permanent employer-sponsored visa with different streams, including Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition and Labour Agreement. Each stream has separate nomination and applicant requirements.
Key Features
- Permanent residence if the visa is granted
- Different streams are available for different employer and applicant circumstances
- Eligible family members may be included in some circumstances
- Potential pathway to citizenship if later eligible
General Requirements
- A valid employer nomination for the relevant stream
- Direct Entry — skills assessment and work-experience requirements where applicable
- Temporary Residence Transition — meet the current requirements applying to eligible sponsored visa holders
- Labour Agreement — the employer and applicant must meet the terms of the approved agreement and visa stream
- Meet applicable age, English, health, character and other criteria or an available exemption
Subclass 494
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
Regional employer-sponsored provisional pathway
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494) is a provisional employer-sponsored regional visa. The standard employer-sponsored stream and labour-agreement or DAMA-related arrangements should be treated separately because their requirements and concessions can differ.
Key Features
- Regional employer-sponsored pathway if the visa is granted
- Not a points-tested visa
- Some eligible holders may later qualify for subclass 191 permanent residence after meeting the applicable requirements
- Eligible family members may be included in some circumstances
General Requirements
- Nomination by an eligible regional employer for the relevant stream
- Meet the occupation and role requirements applying to that stream
- Suitable skills assessment where required
- Meet the work-experience requirement applying to the stream
- Meet the English-language requirement unless an exemption applies
- Comply with regional and other visa conditions if granted
Subclass 494 standard employer-sponsored requirements are not the same as DAMA or other labour-agreement arrangements. Agreement-based occupations or concessions apply only where the relevant approved agreement provides them.
Subclass 407
Training Visa
Structured occupational training pathway
The Training visa (subclass 407) is for eligible occupational training activities. It is not a substitute for ordinary employment and requires the sponsorship, nomination, training-plan and applicant criteria applying to the relevant activity.
Key Features
- Temporary stay for approved occupational training if granted
- Structured training must be tied to an eligible training purpose
- Can support professional development or registration-related training where the criteria are met
- Eligible family members may be included in some circumstances
General Requirements
- An approved sponsor and nomination where required
- A genuine structured training program meeting the relevant criteria
- Relevant background, qualifications or experience for the proposed training
- Meet the English-language requirement applying to the visa
- Meet health, character and other applicable criteria
Subclass 407 is for approved training activities, not general employment or filling an ordinary ongoing vacancy.
General information only. Employer-sponsored visa and nomination requirements change and must be checked against the current rules and the relevant stream.
Last reviewed: September 2026 · Reviewed by Aftab Ali Khan – MARN 2619317.
Official source: Department of Home Affairs – Working in Australia.
Review the Employer-Sponsored Pathway That Applies
Book a migration consultation to discuss the employer, role, stream and applicant requirements relevant to your circumstances. No visa or nomination outcome is guaranteed.