How Do I Find A Sponsor In Australia?

If you do not have an Australian partner and/or are unable to secure an invitation through General Skilled Migration, employer sponsorship will likely be your best pathway to permanent residency. The process of finding a sponsor can vary based on your occupation and whether you are applying from within Australia or overseas. Below are some key strategies to help you secure employer sponsorship.

1. Start with an internship or a sample of your work

Employers invest thousands of dollars in sponsorship, so they need to be confident that you are worth the commitment. Demonstrating your value through direct experience with the company can significantly increase your chances of securing sponsorship. If you have the opportunity to come to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) or Student Visa, or a Temporary Graduate Visa after completing your studies on a Student Visa, this can provide a valuable chance to showcase your skills, work ethic, and contribution to the business. Many employers are more inclined to sponsor candidates they have already worked with and can see as a long-term asset to their team.

One of our clients, Amrita, a multimedia specialist from India, successfully secured employer sponsorship by strategically aligning her expertise with a company’s evolving needs. While she had the advantage of already being in Australia—having completed her studies and a three-month internship before receiving a full-time job offer and eventual sponsorship—this does not mean offshore candidates should lose hope.

We have successfully handled numerous employer-sponsored applications for offshore candidates across various occupations. Some sponsors have been willing to wait over a year for a candidate’s visa approval. This is especially the case with subclass 494 visa applications, which historically have taken longer to be processed than the 482 and 186 visa varieties.

Candidates who demonstrate a strong understanding of a company’s ongoing projects and clearly articulate how their skills contribute to these initiatives are more likely to stand out.

2. Job boards

• Use specific search terms like "482 sponsorship" or "visa sponsorship" on platforms such as Seek, Indeed, Linkedin, Jora, Glassdoor, WorkinAus, Workforce Australia.
• Set up job alerts to stay informed about new opportunities.
• Look for indirect indications of sponsorship availability in job descriptions.

3. Targeting accredited sponsors or sponsors with existing labour agreements

• Consult the Department of Home Affairs' list of accredited sponsors, and
• The list of sponsors who already have existing labour agreements with the department
• Research these companies to identify potential matches for your skills. Google is your best friend and you can usually find email address and contact details on the relevant company's website.
• Consider direct outreach even if no current vacancies are advertised.
• Note that employers who are not accredited sponsors or who already have labour agreements with the department can also sponsor, but they will just need to jump through more hoops (as the accredited sponsors/sponsors with existing labour agreements have already done) in order to get to a place where they are accepted as eligible sponsors. This can happen at the same time when you apply for a visa application.

4. Exploring regional opportunities

• Research industries and skills in demand in various regional areas.
• Utilise resources like the Regional Australia Institute's job board.
• Connect with regional chambers of commerce for local insights.\

Preparing Your Profile

To enhance your sponsorship prospects, focus on the following areas:

A. Enhancing your online presence

• Optimise your LinkedIn profile: Ensure the job descriptions comprehensive and positions are up-to-date, make sure your qualifications meet the minimum qualification requirements for an Australian worker in the role (for instance, if you're looking at being sponsored as an graphic designer, you must have a minimum of a bachelor's qualification or 5 years work experience in place of that qualification). You can investigate this further by matching your occupation to the requirements listed on the ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations website. If you're unsure, please contact us and we can help you.

B. Meeting English proficiency requirements

• Take an approved English language test such as IELTS or PTE academic.

C. Addressing registration and qualification requirements

• Verify if your occupation requires registration or licensing in Australia.
• Obtain assessment of your qualifications from the relevant Australian authority - get your non-Australian qualifications recognised and demonstrate that you have the skillset to do a good job in your occupation. To find the appropriate skills assessment body that corresponds to your occupation, go to this page on the department's website.
• Keep in mind that not all visa types require a skills assessment, and some visa types require different kinds of skills assessment to others, even when the skills assessment is undertaken by the same authoritative body. For instance, qualified carpenters with a passport from the United Kingdom do not need a skills assessment when applying for a subclass 482 visa which is a temporary visa, but those with a passport from Papua New Guinea will require a TSS skills assessment from TRA. The same qualified carpenter will need a different type of skills assessment from TRA if they are looking to apply for a subclass 186 visa (direct entry stream) which is a permanent visa, but would not need any skills assessment if they were transitioning into a subclass 186 visa (temporary residence transition stream) after having worked in Australia for their sponsor for 2 years. When in doubt, please seek professional advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer.

While sponsorship can be a viable pathway to permanent residency, it’s equally important to familiarize yourself with sponsor obligations and employee rights under Australian law. Be mindful that it is illegal for employers to request payment in exchange for sponsorship. Ensuring you work with reputable employers and understanding your rights will help you navigate the process confidently and ethically.

Need help with deciding on which visa is more suited to your circumstances? Have some burning questions about the 820, 300 visa or 309 visa that are still unanswered? The content on this page does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Australian immigration doesn't have to be complex and we can help with your unique circumstances. To seek legal advice or information that is specific to your situation, please contact us.