Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Australia 2025: 482 Visa, Skilled Worker Guide & Employer List
Australia is one of the most popular destinations for skilled workers — and its visa infrastructure reflects that. The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, subclass 482, is the main employer-sponsored pathway. This guide explains how it works, which occupations qualify, and how to find 482 sponsorship jobs in 2025.
Browse sponsored jobs: Every listing on our visa-sponsored job board explicitly confirms sponsorship — including positions in Australia.
1. How the 482 Visa Works
The 482 visa has three streams:
- Short-Term Stream: Roles on the STSOL (Short-Term Skilled Occupation List). Up to 2 years. No direct PR pathway.
- Medium-Term Stream: Roles on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List). Up to 4 years. Leads to permanent residency after 3 years via the subclass 186 ENS visa.
- Labour Agreement Stream: For employers with a formal government labour agreement (common in agriculture and mining).
What the employer must do
- Be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)
- Nominate you for a position matching an eligible occupation
- Pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy — AUD $1,200–$1,800/year
- Complete Labour Market Testing (prove they tried to hire locally first)
- Pay you at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — currently AUD $70,000/year
2025 update: The TSMIT increased to AUD $70,000 in July 2023, up from $53,900. Always verify the current threshold on the official Home Affairs page.
2. The 482 Visa Occupation Lists
Your job title must appear on one of two lists:
Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) — 4-year visa + PR pathway
- Software and applications programmers
- Registered nurses (all specialisations)
- Civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers
- Accountants and auditors
- Medical practitioners and allied health professionals
- Secondary school teachers
- Construction project managers
- Farm and agricultural managers
Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) — 2-year visa
- Cooks and chefs
- Hotel and hospitality managers
- Some technical and trade roles
- Web developers (some classifications)
Check your occupation: Use the official Skilled Occupation List tool to see if your role qualifies and which stream applies.
3. Industries That Sponsor the Most Visas
- 🏥 Healthcare: Largest sponsoring sector — nurses, GPs, aged care, allied health
- 🏗️ Construction: Civil engineers, project managers, trades supervisors
- 🍽️ Hospitality: Chefs, cooks, hotel managers — particularly in tourism regions
- 💻 Technology: Software developers, cybersecurity analysts, ICT managers
- 🌾 Agriculture: Farm managers, agricultural scientists, horticulturalists
- ⚒️ Mining: Mining engineers, geologists, heavy plant operators
4. How to Find 482 Sponsorship Jobs
Job boards
- SEEK — Australia's largest board. Search "visa sponsorship" in keywords
- Indeed Australia — Add "482 visa" to your query
- VisaJobs.xyz — Every listing confirms sponsorship is available
Tips for your search
- Target large employers (hospital networks, mining companies, hotel groups) who already hold SBS approval
- Look for "we welcome international applications", "visa sponsorship available", or "relocation assistance provided"
- Regional Australia often has more sponsoring roles and state government incentives — check regional migration pathways
- Work with a registered migration agent (RMA) to verify sponsor status before accepting an offer
5. AEWV Approved Employers List — Australia vs New Zealand
The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) is New Zealand's employer-sponsored visa, not Australia's. Many people searching for "AEWV approved employers Australia" are looking for the equivalent — Australia's Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) register.
Australia does not publish a public SBS employer list. Instead:
- Ask any employer directly whether they hold current Standard Business Sponsor approval
- Major hospital networks (Ramsay Health Care, St Vincent's), mining companies (BHP, Rio Tinto), and large hotel chains are almost always approved sponsors
- A registered migration agent can verify eligibility before you proceed
For New Zealand: New Zealand does publish a public AEWV employer list. See our New Zealand AEWV guide for details.
6. Costs and Timeline
For the applicant
- Visa application fee: AUD $3,115 (primary applicant, 2024–25)
- Skills assessment: AUD $300–$900 (if required for your occupation)
- English test: AUD $300–$400
- Health examination: AUD $300–$500
For the employer
- Nomination fee: AUD $330
- SAF levy: AUD $1,200–$1,800 per year of the visa
- Total per hire: Typically AUD $5,000–$10,000+ including migration agent fees
Processing time
- Nomination + visa combined: 75% processed within 77 days (2024 data)
- Total timeline from offer: Budget 3–6 months including embassy steps
7. Pathway to Permanent Residency
If you are on the Medium-Term stream (MLTSSL occupation):
- After 3 years with your sponsoring employer → apply for Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa, subclass 186
- Alternatively, submit an Expression of Interest to SkillSelect for the Skilled Independent (189) or Skilled Nominated (190) visa
- Regional employers can sponsor permanent residency via the SESR visa, subclass 494
8. Frequently Asked Questions
Can my family join me in Australia on a 482 visa?
Yes. Your spouse/partner and dependent children can be secondary applicants. Your partner receives full work rights and can work for any Australian employer.
Can I change employers on a 482 visa?
Yes. Your new employer must be an approved SBS and lodge a new nomination. You cannot work for an unapproved employer. Once the nomination is approved, you can start with the new company.
Do I need a skills assessment?
It depends on your occupation. Engineers (Engineers Australia), nurses (AHPRA), and teachers (AITSL) typically require one. Check the requirements for your specific occupation code.