Step 3 - Employee Applies for a Permanent Visa
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The employee must apply for a visa to work permanently in Australia.
Application charge
There is a non-refundable charge for this application.
See: Fees & Charges
Other costs
In addition to the application charge you will need to pay for any medical examinations. You may also be required to pay a charge for obtaining police checks. This charge varies in each country. When required to obtain your own police checks, you are personally responsible for all arrangements. There may also be other costs associated with the application, such as translating documents into English.
Application checklist
The application checklist details the information and supporting documents that you must provide with your application. Complete applications are likely to be processed more quickly. Incomplete applications may be delayed or, in some cases, refused.
See: Visa Application Checklist
Application information
This information helps you to understand the requirements for certifying and translating documents, communicating with the department, using a migration agent, and more.
See: Information to Help You Prepare Your Application
How to apply
Complete the following form to apply for a visa.
See: Form 47ES Application for employer sponsored migration to Australia (905KB PDF file)
Eligible family members of the employee may apply with the employee or separately. If they apply separately, they must complete a separate application form and pay a separate application charge.
How and where to lodge
All Temporary Business (Long Stay) (subclass 457) visa applications with Australian businesses are processed by one of three centres of excellence.
See: Centres of Excellence
Alternatively, you can lodge a paper-based application by post, courier or in person directly to the appropriate centre of excellence or at any other state or territory office.
Note: If your application is lodged at an office that does not process these applications, it will be receipted and forwarded to the appropriate centre for processing.
All applications lodged prior to 1 July 2008 will continue to be processed in the receiving state or territory office.
If you are offshore and have an overseas business sponsor, you can lodge your application with an Australia Government Overseas Office responsible for applications in your country, either by post or courier.
See: Immigration Offices outside Australia
When lodging Applications
The visa application can be lodged at the same time as the nomination form or within 6 months of the nomination being approved. It should not be lodged before the nomination. The visa application must be refused if lodged before the nomination.
More information
Further information about the visa application process is available.
See: More Information