Work Visas

The Business (Long Stay) - (Sponsorship & Nomination) visa (commonly known as a Work Permit) is valid for stays between 3 months and 4 years. This visa is used by Australian businesses that seek to employ highly skilled personnel from overseas. The position to be filled must require specialist or technical skills and/or knowledge and be unable to be filled by an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

The application procedure works in 2 stages as follows:

1. The prospective employer applies to become an approved sponsor and to nominate the vacant position within their organization;

2. The person nominated to fill the vacant position applies to be granted a visa in order to travel out to Australia and commence work.

The sponsorship involves an assessment of the standing of the business, the proposed benefit to Australia from recruiting overseas personnel and the commitment to training Australian citizens and/or residents. The nomination involves putting forward a position which is to be filled, and demonstrating that the position is one for which it is appropriate to recruit overseas personnel. The position being nominated must be remunerated at a level not less than the average annual salary for Australian workers (currently approximately $35,828) and must be one that is listed on the Gazetted List of Occupations as determined by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

Once the sponsorship and nomination application is approved, the visa application is made by the proposed employee and is assessed to determine that the visa applicant has the skills and qualifications required for the nominated position.