How to Find an Employer Sponsor in Australia
One of the most common questions we receive is, "How do I find an Employer to sponsor me?"
Recent changes to Australia's migration landscape, including a significant reduction in state nomination allocations and stricter requirements for other visa pathways, have led many people to seek employer sponsorship. Furthermore, the Migration Strategy introduced in December 2023 continues to emphasize sponsored visas as a primary route for skilled workers to stay in Australia, potentially leading to permanent residency.
Finding a sponsor in Australia requires diligence, patience, a bit of strategy, and even some good luck. In this blog, we will provide 8 tips to help you to find a Sponsor in Australia.
1. Learn about the visa options and what they require for both the applicant and the sponsor
There are four types of visas for which you will need an employer sponsor:
- The new 482 Visa or Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482 - Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement enables Australian employers to address labor shortages by bringing in genuinely skilled workers.
- The 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa allows skilled workers who are nominated by an employer to live and work in Australia permanently.
- The 494 Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional Visa is designed for skilled workers who wish to work in regional Australia.
- DAMA, or Designated Area Migration Agreements, for arrangements that offer a flexible approach to addressing unique economic and labor conditions across Australia.
2. Preparing your profile for the employer-sponsored positions
First, make sure your CV/Resume and cover letter are relevant to Australian standards for an occupation on the relevant list. For example, if you are a Chef, highlight your relevant skills and experience and any training.
Questions you should ask yourself
- Is my LinkedIn profile updated to include experience and qualifications?
- Have I completed the English language testing required for many work visas?
- Does my occupation require registration, for example, for health professionals?
These steps can serve as the starting point in your search for a sponsor.
3. Searching the key online job websites
Seek is the most common job website in Australia. You can narrow the search by including keywords such as "482 sponsorship", "482 visa", "employer sponsor", or "DAMA", since many employers are not looking to hire employees that need a sponsored visa.
LinkedIn can also be a good place to look for potential sponsors in your field.
4. Researching and contacting employers that are already approved sponsors
Many Australian employers will say they do not sponsor, which can waste your time when applying for jobs, reading job ads, or attending interviews.
However, if an employer is already registered as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)—or even better, is an Accredited Sponsor—your chances of securing an employer-sponsored visa are much higher. Accredited Sponsors are businesses that frequently sponsor employees, have a strong compliance record, and receive faster processing times from the Department of Home Affairs.
Accredited Sponsor List
There is a list of Accredited Sponsors for 2025. Starting with these employers is one of the most effective strategies.
Check the Accredited Sponsor List here
Why Start With Approved Sponsors?
Approved sponsors are already registered with the Department of Home Affairs and fully understand what is involved in sponsoring a skilled worker. These employers are more open to hiring overseas candidates because they usually have:
Experience with the sponsorship process
Internal HR systems to manage visa applicants
An ongoing need for skilled workers
A history of employing sponsored workers
By targeting approved or accredited business sponsors, you give yourself a much better chance of securing a job that can actually lead to a 482, 186, or 494 visa.
It also saves time and reduces frustration, because you avoid applying for roles where visa sponsorship is not available at all.
This strategic approach helps you focus your energy where it matters—on employers who are genuinely able and willing to sponsor skilled overseas workers.
How to Search the Accredit Sponsor PDF List Effectively
The list is long and not organised by industry or location, so the best approach is to use the search function (Ctrl + F or Command + F) on your device.
You can search for keywords related to your occupation, industry, or job environment.
For example, if you are a Carer, try searching for:
“aged care”
“care”
“health”
“nursing”
Many employers include these words in their business names.
If you are in hospitality, you can search for terms like:
“restaurant”
“hotel”
“hospitality”
If you are an IT professional, search for:
“technology”
“IT”
“solutions”
“systems”
Searching for Approved Labour Agreement and DAMA Sponsors
Another excellent strategy is to look for employers who already hold a Labour Agreement or operate under a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA). These employers have established arrangements with the Department of Home Affairs and are often more open to sponsoring skilled overseas workers.
You can find the full list of current Labour Agreements here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/labour-agreements/list-of-current-labour-agreements
This list is extensive, but you can narrow your search by focusing on agreements that relate to your occupation or industry.
Other Ways to Identify Potential Employers
Look for employers who regularly advertise roles that mention “visa sponsorship.”
Try to identify companies that commonly hire in your occupation or industry.
For example:Restaurants or large hotels for Chefs
Construction or civil engineering companies for Engineers and Tradespeople
Childcare centres or early education groups for Childcare Workers
5. Build your personal and professional network
Next, consider networking, including in-person events. Attend industry meetups, webinars, and forums, both online and in-person if possible. Conferences could be a good place to make connections within your industry. The more you network, the higher your chances of finding a potential sponsor.
6. Consider regional areas and smaller cities
Consider moving to regions where there are more shortages and potentially more opportunities to find a sponsor in your occupation.
For onshore candidates, consider roles in or related to the industry you are targeting, but possibly at a lower level than your desired job. For example, if you want to work as an Architect, also consider working as an architectural draftsperson. This could be your opportunity to start working in your field in Australia.
7. Engaging with the employer
When you find potential sponsors, it's time to engage.
For onshore applicants on temporary visas, you may want to consider getting a relevant job and building the relationship before you ask for sponsorship.
For offshore applicants, it can be more difficult because you may need to talk about wanting sponsorship very early on.
8. Getting professional help with the Visa
When you find a sponsor, consider seeking help from a registered migration agent or lawyer to help you with your visa application.
Contact us if you need help with an existing employer-sponsored visa such as 186 Visa Direct Entry, the new Skills in Demand 482 Visa, the 494 Visa or DAMA.
No Payment for Sponsorship
It is important to know that you cannot pay an employer to sponsor you, and the employer is committing a crime if they ask for payment or receive a benefit for sponsorship.
The legislation imposes penalties on a person who asks for, receives, offers, or provides a benefit in return for a visa sponsorship or employment that requires visa sponsorship.
The aim is to:
- Prevent employers from asking potential employees for money or other benefits for a sponsored visa position.
- Prevent applicants from offering employees money or other benefits for a sponsored visa position.
Civil Penalties
- Infringement notice of up to AUD12,600 for a body corporate and AUD2520 for an individual for each failure.
- Civil penalty order of up to AUD63,000 for a corporation and AUD12,600 for an individual for each failure.
The visa holder can have their visa cancelled.
The sponsor can have their Standard Business Sponsorship cancelled. If the employer has multiple employees on 482’s, then if their sponsorship is cancelled, none of the 482 holders can work for the employer. This can be highly disruptive for an employer.
Do you need help with your Sponsor visa application?
Our team of experienced Immigration Lawyers and Migration Agents look forward to assisting you with your visa application.
Based in Adelaide, South Australia, we provide Australian Immigration advice to people and businesses from all over the world.
You can book an appointment online or call us at (+61) 8 8351 9956.
To learn more about the 482 visa click on the following links:
TSS 482 Visa Application Process
TSS 482 Business Sponsorship Requirements
TSS 482 Sponsorship - How do I find a Sponsor?
TSS 482 Sponsorship Obligations
TSS 482 Nomination Requirements
TSS 482 Nomination – Occupation Requirements
TSS 482 Nomination – Labour Market Testing (LMT)
TSS 482 Nomination – Salary requirements including the TSMIT and Market Salary
TSS 482 Nomination – Position Requirements
TSS 482 Visa Application Requirements
TSS 482 Visa application – English Requirement
TSS 482 Visa application – Age Requirement
TSS 482 Visa Condition 8607
TSS 482 Visa and Changing Employers
TSS 482 Occupation List
TSS 482 Regional Postal Codes
What are common issues for the TSS 482 Visa?
TSS 482 Business Sponsor Compliance and Response to Monitoring
