The purpose of the Australian government in establishing employer sponsor visa category is to provide Australian employers with the opportunity to hire highly skilled professionals from overseas to address the shortage of relevant talent in the local labor market. Therefore, this visa requires sponsorship from a qualified Australian employer and may potentially lead to permanent residency in a single application.

About Us:

Newpoint Migration is an immigration agency that represents over a dozen publicly listed Australian companies in the 482/186/494/407 visa categories. We are the designated immigration firm for these listed companies, helping them sponsor overseas employees. In the past fiscal year alone, we have submitted applications for nearly a hundred nominated occupations, accumulating a vast amount of case-handling experience. Nomination applications submitted through NEWPOINT are often approved quickly and with no need for additional documentation. Our high visa approval efficiency far exceeds the expectations of both the sponsoring companies and the applicants, establishing NEWPOINT as a leading player in the employer-sponsored visa field.

Advantages of Employer-Sponsored Immigration:

The Australian employer-sponsored immigration visa, as our company's flagship program, has gained popularity among clients for its relatively simple requirements and faster processing times. It is increasingly becoming the preferred pathway to immigrate to Australia for executives in state-owned enterprises, foreign companies, returnees from overseas, and business owners.

The top 5 reasons for its popularity are:

i.Expedited processing times

ii.Guaranteed permanent residency status.

iii.Low application requirements.

iv.Assured access to quality education for children.

v.Access to a high-quality social welfare system.

Types of Employer-Sponsored Visas:

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa

Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) visa

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) - This visa is for employment in regional areas and offers a pathway to permanent residency.

Training Visa (subclass 407).

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa

This visa lets skilled workers, who are nominated by an employer, live and work in Australia permanently. It can be applied for both within Australia and offshore and is part of the Australian Employer-Sponsored Immigration program.

The subclass 186 visa has three streams:

Temporary Residence Transition Stream: Suitable for applicants holding a subclass 482 visa who have worked in their nominated occupation for the same employer for over two years and whose employer intends to provide a position for at least two more years.

Direct Entry Stream: Applicable to individuals who have worked in their nominated occupation for at least three years.

Labour Agreement Stream: Designed for applicants who have received employer sponsorship through a labor agreement or regional migration agreement.

Basic requirements for subclass 186 visa applicants include:

Age: Under 45 years (exceptions may apply for certain professions like university lecturers, doctors, scientists, etc.).

English language proficiency: IELTS score of at least 6 in each component (some exemptions are possible).

Nominated occupation: Must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). After November 25, 2023, other short-term and regional occupation lists may be eligible for a 482 visa to 186 visa transition.

Work experience: At least three years of full-time work experience in the nominated occupation.

Skills assessment: Applicants for the Temporary Residence Transition and Labour Agreement streams may be exempt from this requirement, while Direct Entry stream applicants will need a skills assessment.

Introduction to the 482 Visa:

Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) - TSS Visa is designed to specifically bring in overseas talent to alleviate temporary skill shortages in the Australian labor market. After meeting certain conditions, this visa can be transitioned to apply for the Australian Employer Sponsored 186 Visa, granting permanent residency in Australia.

The 482 TSS visa is divided into three categories, as follows:

Short-term stream: The visa is valid for up to 2-4 years; the nominated occupation must be on the STSOL list; permanent residency may be possible after November 25, 2023.

Medium-term stream: The visa can be valid for a maximum of 4 years; the nominated occupation must be on the MLTSSL or ROL list; there is an opportunity to apply for a 186 Permanent Residence Visa after working for the employer for 2 years.

Labour agreement stream: Employers can use labor agreements with the government to bring in skilled workers from overseas, similar to the previous 457 visa. This visa category primarily follows the specific requirements of the labor agreement set by the employer and the government.

Basic requirements for 482 visa applicants include:

Age: There is no age limit.

English language proficiency: Medium-term stream requires at least an IELTS score of 5 in each of the four components; short-term stream requires an IELTS score at least with a minimum average of 5 and no component lower than 4.5. Labor Agreement category may be exempt from English language requirements.

Occupation: Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL) are suitable for the Medium and Long-term 482 visa; short-term skilled occupations are suitable for the Short-term 482 visa; other occupations are suitable for the Labor Agreement 482 visa.

Work experience: At least 2 years of full-time work experience in the nominated occupation is required.

Occupation assessment: Some technical occupations may require occupation assessment.

Introduction to the 494 Visa:

Subclass 494 - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, this visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker can be applied for both onshore and offshore and is part of Australia's Regional Employer-Sponsored Migration Program. To obtain this visa, one must live and work in a regional area for 3 years, after which they can apply for permanent residency.

The 494 Visa has two categories:

Employer Sponsored Stream: This category is suitable for occupations listed on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), Short Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and the Regional Occupation List.

Labour Agreement Stream: This category is for applicants who have obtained employer sponsorship through a labor agreement or regional migration agreement.

Basic requirements for 494 visa applicants include:

Age: Applicants must be under 45 years old, although exemptions are possible for certain professions like university teachers, doctors, scientists, etc.

English Language Proficiency: An IELTS score of at least 6 in each of the four components is required.

Occupation: Applicants can apply under the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List, Short Term Skilled Occupation List, or the Regional Occupation List.

Work Experience: At least 3 years of work experience in the nominated occupation is required.

Occupation Assessment: Occupational assessment is necessary, although exemptions are possible for university teachers.

Introduction to the 407 Training Visa:

If you are unable to meet the requirements for other visa options, the 407 Visa can serve as a pathway. The 407 Training Visa is particularly suitable for students who have completed relevant studies in Australia within the last year or graduates who have completed 1 year of work on a 485 working visa.

Requirements for the 407 Visa:

Employer: A sponsoring employer is required, and the employer's industry should correspond to the nominated occupation.

Age: Applicants must be 18 years or older.

English Language Proficiency: An IELTS score with an average of 4.5 is necessary.

Training Plan: A detailed training plan outlining the training content and assessment methods is required. This is a crucial aspect, and it's recommended to seek professional immigration agent assistance for handling related matters.

Education or Experience: Within the past 24 months, applicants should have either 1 year of relevant study experience or 1 year of relevant work experience.

Sponsorship Requirements for 186/482/494 Visa:

Employers providing sponsorship for these visa categories need to be legitimate and operating companies within Australia. They can either be locally registered Australian companies or companies registered in other countries. If the employer is registered in another country, they must also be registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and compliant with Australian tax laws.

For most nominated occupations, there are no strict and specific requirements imposed on the employer. However, for certain occupations, there may be additional criteria that the employer needs to meet. Here are a couple of examples:

For instance, if an employer wants to sponsor an accountant position, they would need to meet the following requirements:

The company's annual turnover should be no less than 1 million Australian dollars.

The company should employ a minimum of 5 people.

The job role should not involve low-level financial tasks, such as clerical, bookkeeper or accounting clerk positions.

If an employer wishes to sponsor a marketing specialist position, they would need to meet these requirements:

The company's annual turnover should be no less than 1 million Australian dollars.

The nominated employee's salary should not be less than 65,000 Australian dollars per year.

The job role should not involve a front-line retail setting predominantly, and not involve direct client transactional interaction on a regular basis.

For a few other select occupations, there may be additional requirements. For further details, it's advisable to contact our consultants for one-on-one migration consultation.

Occupational Requirements:

Applicants must nominate an occupation that matches the occupation list established by the Australian government. The occupation list created by the Australian government is divided into the following categories: the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (for 482 visas medium-term stream and 186 DE visas, also applicable to 494 visas), the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (for 482 visas short-term stream, also applicable to 494 visas), and the Regional Occupation List (applicable to 482 visas and 494 visas). While this list covers a wide range of occupations, it does not include all possible professions or specialties. Only those occupations or specialties that are currently assessed as being in demand in Australia will appear on the list, and the list is periodically updated according to government plans.

You can check the occupational list at this website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list

Before submitting visas, applicants need to refer to the list of occupations. For some 482 visa occupations and the direct PR pathway for 186 visas, occupational assessment is required. It's important to review the requirements of the relevant assessing authority before submitting the application. The requirements of each assessing authority vary, if needed, you can contact our consultants for professional guidance.

Visa Entitlements:

482 Visa Entitlements:

Holders of the 482 Visa can work in Australia for a period ranging from 2 to 4 years. Applicants can include their spouse and children on their visa, and these family members have the right to work and study in Australia. Children are entitled to 12 years of compulsory education (primary to high school) at public schools, with partial exemption from tuition fees.

494 Visa Entitlements:

Holders of the 494 Visa can work in Australia for 5 years and have access to Medicare, the national healthcare system (for specific details about Medicare, please refer to the Medicare section below). Applicants who reside and work in regional areas for 3 years are eligible to apply for permanent residency. Like the 482 Visa, applicants can include their spouse and children on their visa, and these family members have the right to work and study in Australia. Children are entitled to 12 years of compulsory education (primary to high school) at public schools, with tuition fees fully waived.

186 Permanent Residency and Corresponding 191 Permanent Residency:

As permanent residents of Australia, applicants have the right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. Permanent residents can engage in any occupation and work for any type of employer. However, employment in the Australian public service or defense forces is typically limited to Australian citizens. Children and teenagers aged 6 to 18 are eligible for compulsory education in Australian public schools.

Medicare National Healthcare:

Upon applying Australian permanent residency, individuals are eligible for Australia's public healthcare benefits, known as Medicare. This benefit is centrally administered by the government.

To apply for Medicare, you can complete the application form online.

Form Link: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/forms/ms004

Social Security:

For other social security benefits and welfare, there is typically a waiting period of 2-4 years after the visa is granted. Social security categories may include maternity allowances, unemployment benefits, and more.

You can find information on specific social security benefits on the government agency Centrelink's website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink

Medicare:

All Australian permanent residents are covered by the government's healthcare plan, which includes the government paying for most or all of the medical expenses. Australia has reciprocal healthcare agreements with New Zealand, the UK, Sweden, Italy, and Malta, allowing Australian permanent residents to receive free healthcare in these countries when traveling with their Australian Medicare card.

Free Compulsory Education:

Australia provides 12 years of free compulsory education, with tuition fees fully waived for children from primary school to high school.

Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) Interest-Free Loans:

Regardless of family circumstances, university tuition fees can be covered by the government's interest-free loan scheme, which is repaid after finding employment. If an individual does not secure a job or does not meet the government's minimum wage standards, they are not required to repay the loan. However, this benefit is now only available to Australian citizens, and Australian permanent residents are no longer eligible for it.

Youth Allowance for students and apprentices：After residing as an Australian permanent resident for at least two years, students pursuing higher education can apply for a student allowance every two weeks, ranging from $250 to $600 AUD, depending on their family circumstances.

Newborn Upfront Payment or Paid Parental Leave:

For full-time mothers, they can receive a one-time allowance of $641 AUD for each childbirth. For children born on or after July 1, 2023, eligible families will receive $882.75 AUD per week, for a maximum of 20 weeks. This is an important benefit to help families with the expenses associated with a newborn.

JobSeeker Payment：

In Australia, individuals who temporarily lose their jobs (not due to industrial action) and can demonstrate their willingness and capacity to work, and are between the ages of 22 and 67 years old, can apply for unemployment benefits. Starting from September 20, 2023, unemployment benefits are paid every two weeks, and the amount varies depending on the individual's family circumstances, ranging from approximately $749 to $970 AUD per payment. This provides financial support to those who are temporarily out of work and meet the eligibility criteria.

Compulsory Superannuation & Age Pension：

According to Australian law, starting from July 1, 2023, companies must contribute 11% of employees' wages. Some companies or universities may even contribute more than 15% of wages for their employees.

For individuals who are at least 67 years old and have resided in Australia for a cumulative total of over 10 years (with the majority of the time spent in Australia for at least 5 years), they can receive government pension payments every two weeks. The government pension ranges from $755 to $1,653 AUD every two weeks, depending on family circumstances, and is adjusted annually based on the consumer price index.

Eligibility for government pensions and the amount received depend on personal income, assets, and residency requirements. Australian residents receiving government pensions can also enjoy discounted medication and other healthcare benefits.

Recipients of government pensions can also receive various benefits, including reduced transportation fees, local taxes, electricity bills, and car registration fees, among other expenses.