Finding workers with the right skills can be a challenge for many employers in Australia.

Skilled migration is an option for hiring workers from overseas when you can't find a suitable local candidate, but you need to meet certain criteria to be eligible.

Skilled migration can take longer and cost more than other recruitment methods.

The following steps give you a general idea of how to sponsor a skilled migrant for your business. Note that some visas, such as Working Holiday and Student visas, are not part of the Skilled Migration Program and have different requirements, processes and costs. The specific details will depend on the occupation and visa type you choose."

Can I apply to be a sponsor?

If your business is legally established and operating, you can apply to be a sponsor. There are several forms of sponsoring that a business can apply for, with the most common being a Standard Business Sponsor.

What about the costs?

The costs vary depending on the visa option and associated fees. Some of the costs you may have to pay are:

• Becoming an approved sponsor ($420 as of October 2022).
• Selecting a skilled migrant ($330 to $540 as of October 2022).
• Paying one or more fees to the Skilling Australians Fund levy, which will depend on your business size, how long the sponsored worker will stay and your visa choice (for most small businesses the fee will be either a one-time payment of $3,000 or a yearly payment of $1,200, depending on the visa, as of October 2022).

The skilled migrant will also have to pay for their application. You or the visa applicant can pay for the visa preparation and submission and the costs will depend on the visa type, but they will usually be between around $1,300 and $4,200 (based on fees as of September 2022).

Do I need to prove I tried to hire locally? 

For many visas, a business must show that they can’t find a local worker who can do the job. For these visas, a business must advertise the job in Australia according to immigration department rules before choosing a migrant worker. 

Labour market testing (LMT) is the process of advertising the job in Australia. The aim of LMT is to show you have tried to hire locally first. The LMT requirements are strict and important for a successful application.

Which visa can I choose?

The Skilled Occupation List shows which visas match your required occupation. After you find an occupation on the list, you can check the details, cost and expected timeframes of the visas consulting us.

Do I have any obligations when I sponsor a worker? 

Because the skilled migration program is only for filling real gaps in the Australian labour market, your responsibilities to a sponsored worker will be the same or more than they would be for a local worker.

You must give sponsored workers the minimum benefits as set by the National Employment Standards and you may have to follow other rules that help prevent migrant workers from being exploited. 

Which workers can I sponsor to work in Australia? 

As an approved sponsor, you can sponsor a skilled worker who is:

• Overseas
• in Australia on another visa that does not let them work
• in Australia working on another visa. 

You can also take over the sponsorship of people who have a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482). The process to take over a sponsorship will still need you to do all the steps listed above. 

How can I hire someone who has a working holiday or student visa?

Working Holiday and Student visas let their holders work for a limited time while they are in Australia. This is not part of the skilled migration program, and you can hire them directly without following the process above. You can also sponsor someone who has a working holiday or student visa as a skilled migrant.

What are the first steps if I want to go ahead? 

Sponsoring skilled workers can be tricky. If you want to increase your chances of success, we can help you to go through the process and avoid errors. 

If you are thinking of hiring us as your migration agent, you are in the right place because we are registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA). This registration shows we have enough expertise and are a suitable person to provide immigration help you need.

If you are serious to sponsor a skilled migrant for your business in Australia, please, ask us now for our quote completing the form below.

MaCson Queiroz JP. is the founder and director of M.Quality, the only immigration and business agency with over 21 years of experienceWe are driven, ethical and energetic professional, with a commitment to providing exceptional client care.

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