Employer Eligibility

An employer needs to be approved as a sponsor in order to employ skilled workers from overseas. The following requirements must be met for an employer to become a sponsor.

Domestic business sponsors

If you are an employer with a business that operates in Australia, you must meet benchmarks relating to the training of Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Overseas business sponsors

If you are an employer with a business that has no formal operating base or representation in Australia, you may apply to bring employees to Australia to do one of the following:

• establish a business operation in Australia
• fulfil obligations for a contract or other business activity in Australia.

Note: Overseas Business Sponsors do not need to be operating in Australia but may need to meet other employer eligibility requirements.

Employing local labour and non-discriminatory employment practices

From 27 June 2009, there has been a requirement for sponsors under subclass 457 visa program to attest that they have a strong record of, or a demonstrated commitment to:

• employing local labour
  and
• non-discriminatory employment practices.
  See: Frequently asked Questions – Attestation

No adverse information

To meet this requirement, there must be nothing adverse known about the business.

Adverse information includes the conviction, finding of non-compliance, administrative action, investigation, legal proceedings or insolvency. Adverse information is relevant to a person's suitability as an approved sponsor, when it occurred within the previous three years.

 

Before lodging an application, please read all related eligibility requirements.
See: Other eligibility