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Visas, Immigration and Refugees

Specialist Entry

Step 2 - Sponsor Nominates a Position


The nomination process identifies the:

  • position to be filled
  • skills and experience required for the position, and
  • person who has been nominated to undertake the activity.

To make a nomination the Australian tertiary or research institution should have either:

  • lodged a sponsorship application, or
  • already be an approved visiting academic sponsor.

Nomination form

The sponsor must complete the nomination form and attach all necessary documentation.
See: Form 1378 Nomination for a temporary resident position (334KB PDF file)

Nomination fee

There is a non-refundable fee for this application.
See: Specialist Entry Visa Charges

Information to help prepare your application

Information about certifying and translating documents, communicating with the department, using a migration agent, authorising another person to receive information from the department, and receiving assistance with your application.
See: Information to Help Prepare Your Application

Nomination checklist

The checklist details the information and supporting documents the sponsor must provide with their application. Complete applications are likely to be processed more quickly. Incomplete applications may be delayed or, in some cases, refused.
See: Nomination Document Checklist ( 44KB PDF file)

How and where to lodge

The sponsor can lodge the application, documentation and appropriate fee by post, courier, fax or in person.

Nomination applications and any supporting documentation must be lodged with the ACT Specialist Temporary Entry Processing Section.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Processing Centre

After the sponsor lodges the application

The application will be considered by the department. In some cases additional information may be requested to enable a decision to be made.

If an application is approved, the department will send the sponsor an approval letter. The nomination approval letter is to be retained.

If an application is not approved, the department will send the sponsor a refusal letter advising of the decision, reasons for the decision and information about any review rights.

Where should I go now?

See: Step 3 - Applicant Applies for the Visa