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Employer sponsored pathways

Start with the role, the employer and the right sponsorship framework.

Employer sponsorship is not one visa. Temporary work, permanent residence, regional sponsorship, training and labour agreements each solve a different problem.

Employer-sponsored migration planning meeting
FOR EMPLOYERS

Can the business lawfully sponsor this role?

Business operations, sponsorship status, genuine position, market salary, labour market testing, regional location and agreement access can all affect the nomination.

FOR APPLICANTS

Do your skills and history match the nominated position?

Occupation, experience, qualification, English, skills assessment, registration, age and prior sponsored work must be checked against the selected pathway.

Five routes and frameworks

What each option is designed to do.

Labour Agreements are the broader framework and DAMA is one regional route within it. They are agreement frameworks rather than standalone visas. Subclass 407 is a training visa rather than ordinary skilled employment.

482Temporary · up to 4 years

Skills in Demand

For an approved sponsor filling a skilled position that cannot be filled locally.

Construction tradesperson working on an Australian building site
  • Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams
  • Occupation, salary, English, skills and experience must align
  • Can support a later 186 pathway, but permanent residence is not automatic
The mainstream temporary employer-sponsored route.View pathway details →
186Permanent residence

Employer Nomination Scheme

For eligible skilled workers nominated for an ongoing position.

  • Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition are common pathways
  • Age, English, occupation, skills assessment and employment history vary by stream
  • Employer nomination and the applicant’s visa criteria are assessed separately
A permanent option, either directly or after eligible temporary sponsored work.View pathway details →
494Provisional · 5 years

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional

For regional employers addressing genuine skilled labour shortages.

  • Position must be in a designated regional area
  • Usually requires 3 years’ relevant experience and a skills assessment
  • May lead to subclass 191 after the applicable regional residence and visa requirements
A regional pathway with location and employment obligations.View pathway details →
407Temporary training · up to 2 years

Training visa

For structured workplace-based occupational training, not an ordinary job vacancy.

  • Requires an approved temporary activities sponsor and, usually, a nomination
  • Training must fit one of the prescribed occupational training types
  • It is not a direct permanent migration pathway and should not be presented as guaranteed preparation for 482
A sponsored training visa, distinct from skilled employment sponsorship.View pathway details →
LA / DAMAAgreement framework

Labour Agreements & DAMA

For employers whose genuine labour needs may require an industry, company-specific or regional agreement route.

  • Labour Agreements are the broader framework; DAMA is one regional pathway
  • Employer, location, position and applicant must all fit the current setting
  • A role appearing in an agreement never establishes visa eligibility on its own
An agreement framework, not a separate visa subclass.View pathway details →

Quick comparison

Visa, training or agreement?

OptionPurposeBusiness sideDefining featurePermanent direction
482Temporary workApproved sponsorStandard or agreement streamPossible 186 pathway
186PermanentNominating employerDirect Entry / TRT / agreementAlready permanent
494Regional provisionalRegional employerRegional position requiredPossible 191 pathway
407TrainingTemporary activities sponsorStructured training purposeNo direct PR pathway
Labour Agreements & DAMAAgreement frameworkEligible businessIndustry, company-specific or regional settingDepends on the exact agreement
01

Business and sponsorship

Confirm the sponsoring entity, financial and operational evidence, sponsorship type and any regional or agreement endorsement.

02

Position and nomination

Define duties, occupation, work location, salary, employment terms, labour market testing and genuine business need.

03

Applicant and visa

Match experience, qualifications, English, assessment, licensing, age and health or character evidence to the exact stream.

PATHWAY REVIEW

A strong case needs the employer, position and applicant to tell the same story.

We can review the available sponsorship route, identify evidence gaps and coordinate the sponsorship, nomination and visa stages.

Discuss an employer-sponsored case
General information only. Eligibility and concessions depend on the legislation, occupation, salary, location, agreement terms and evidence applying at the time of application. Policy checked 31 July 2026.