An employer’s guide to hiring international talent—without the overwhelm.
Hiring someone from overseas? You’re not alone. With ongoing skill shortages across many industries, more Australian employers are choosing to sponsor foreign workers to fill critical roles.
But where do you start? What does sponsorship actually involve? And how do you make sure you get it right?
Here’s asimple guide that walks you through the process step by step.
Why Employers Are Sponsoring Talent from Abroad
When you can’t find the right skills locally, sponsorship lets you hire qualified workers from overseas under Australian visa programs like the subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) or subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme).
These workers help you grow your team, maintain operations, or bring in specialist expertise you can’t source locally.
Step-by-Step: How to Sponsor a Foreign Worker
1. Check Eligibility
To sponsor someone, your business must:
- Be legally operating in Australia
- Offer a full-time role on the Skilled Occupation List
- Pay a fair, market-rate salary
- Be unable to fill the role locally
You’ll also need to become an approved sponsor, unless you already are.
2. Become a Standard Business Sponsor
This is a one-time application through the Department of Home Affairs. Once approved, your business can sponsor workers for 5 years.
🕐 Processing time: Around 1–2 months
💰 Application fee: From $420
3. Nominate the Role
Next, you submit a nomination—outlining the role, salary, duties, and why a foreign worker is needed.
This must match one of the approved skilled occupations and meet Fair Work standards.
💰 Nomination fee: $330
📦 Also includes a Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: $1,200–$1,800 per year depending on company size
4. Candidate Applies for Visa
Once the nomination is approved, your selected worker applies for the relevant visa (usually the 482 visa). They’ll need to meet skill, English, and health criteria.
What Are Your Obligations as a Sponsor?
Once the visa is granted, your business is legally responsible for:
✅ Paying the agreed salary
✅ Keeping employment conditions fair and lawful
✅ Reporting changes (resignation, termination, changes to hours or duties)
✅ Maintaining records and compliance
Failure to comply can lead to penalties or cancellation of your sponsorship rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I pass sponsorship costs to the candidate?
No. Under Australian migration law, certain costs—including the SAF levy, nomination fee, and sponsorship application fee—must be paid by the employer and cannot be recovered from the employee.
The visa application fee may be paid by either party, but shifting the full burden to the candidate is strongly discouraged and may raise red flags during auditing.
2. How long does it take to sponsor a foreign worker?
Timelines can vary depending on the visa type and government processing times, but here’s a typical estimate:
- Sponsorship application: 1–2 months (if not already approved)
- Nomination and visa applications: 2–6 weeks (often processed together)
If the candidate needs skills assessment or health checks, allow additional time. Using a registered migration expert can speed up the process by avoiding errors or missing documents.
3. What if my business has never sponsored before?
That’s completely fine. Many small and mid-sized employers are sponsoring for the first time. We’ll help you:
- Understand your obligations
- Apply for Standard Business Sponsorship
- Prepare compliant nomination and job details
- Communicate with your chosen candidate
You don’t need prior experience—we guide you through every step.
4. What types of roles can be sponsored?
Only roles listed on the Skilled Occupation List can be sponsored under the relevant visa subclass (e.g., 482, 494, 186). These typically include:
- Healthcare, aged care, and nursing
- Engineering and construction
- IT and software development
- Trades and technical roles
- Hospitality and chefs
- Agriculture and regional work among others
We can help you assess if your role qualifies before you start the process.
5. What happens if the sponsored worker leaves early?
You’re not obligated to keep the position open, but you must:
- Notify the Department of Home Affairs within 28 days
- Keep employment records and end-of-contract details
- Consider hiring a replacement (we can help)
The visa holder will typically have 60–90 days to find a new sponsor or leave Australia, depending on visa conditions.
Need to Sponsor a Foreign Worker? We Make It Easy.
At Greener Grass, we simplify the entire process for Australian employers looking to bring in talent from abroad.
✅ We source and vet qualified candidates from overseas
✅ Our in-house immigration experts handle every step of the visa process
✅ We ensure your business stays compliant and stress-free
Whether it’s your first time sponsoring or you need help scaling your team fast, we’ll guide you from job posting to visa approval—and beyond.
Contact us now for a free, no-pressure consultation with our team.
