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Visas, Immigration and Refugees

Employer Sponsored Workers

Educational Visa (Subclass 418)

Sponsor Eligibility


To be eligible for approval as a temporary resident sponsor, the organisation must:

  • be a lawfully established and actively operating organisation in Australia
  • make, and have the capacity to comply with, sponsorship undertakings
  • have a satisfactory record of compliance with the immigration laws of Australia.

Who can be a sponsor

The sponsoring organisation must be one of the following:

  • an Australian tertiary education institution
  • an Australian research institution
  • an Australian school or an Australian technical college that is not a tertiary institution.

Labour market testing

Labour Market Testing is required, except where the:

  • stay is for less than three months
  • position is for senior academic/research staff
  • position forms part of a labour agreement.

Supporting documentation

The sponsor must provide:

  • a letter of appointment from the administrative office/Registrar's office of the organisation offering the appointment. The letter should confirm:
    • the appointment is full-time
    • the position is that of an academic, librarian, technician, laboratory demonstrator, graduate or post-doctoral reseacher or teacher
    • duration of the appointment
    • proposed number of hours a week to be worked (for positions other than a senior academic or scientific research)
    • job title and duties
    • proposed salary and other remuneration
    • if the position is to undertake research, the academic level at which the research will be undertaken.
  • evidence that the position meets labour market testing requirements
    See: Labour Market Testing
  • labour agreement (if relevant)
  • evidence of sponsor's professional standing within the relevant industry in Australia
  • financial information from the sponsor's accountant, bank or auditor to confirm their financial capacity to support you.

More information about this visa and lodging a sponsorship application is available.
See: Education Visa (Subclass 418)