Standard Business Sponsor
Application to become an approved work sponsor
Preparation and lodgement service
Employers in Australia that sponsor qualified and highly experienced workers from overseas recognise it is an effective long-term strategy for employee retention, with a well proven and excellent return on investment.
Skilled Migration Group has assisted businesses all over Australia that were not able to source appropriately skilled employees from the local labour market to meet their staffing needs.
To sponsor a worker from overseas, businesses first need to lodge an application to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor
Skilled Migration Group offers a service to Employers in Australia to prepare and lodge applications with the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs to become a Standard Business Sponsor (approved work sponsor).
When you become a Standard Business Sponsor you can:
Australian Employers that are approved as a Standard Business Sponsor can nominate and sponsor someone for a Skills in Demand (Class GK) visa Subclass 482.
There are three streams available under the Skills in Demand Subclass 482 Visa:
The Specialist Skills Stream
The Specialist Skills Stream is for employers to source skilled overseas workers who are nominated in a 6 digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) 2022 occupation in Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6, and earn at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of AUD $141,210 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
The Core Skills Stream
The Core Skills Stream is for employers to source skilled overseas workers who are nominated in an occupation specified in the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), and earn at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD $76,515 for Nomination applications lodged on and between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
The core skills stream is perfect for Australian employers that want to hire trades people such as Heavy Equipment Technicians for large surface mining equipment which is covered by ANZSCO 321212 Diesel Motor Mechanic.
The Labour Agreement Stream
The Labour Agreement Stream is utilised where an employer has executed a labour agreement with the Commonwealth to source skilled overseas workers because there is a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market.
There are five types of labour agreements:
Company Specific labour agreements
Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)
Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) agreements
Industry labour agreements
Project agreements
Who is eligible:
To become a standard business sponsor, your business must be legally established and currently operating.
- Your business can be inside or outside of Australia.
- The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs must not be aware of any adverse information about you or anyone associated with you that affects your suitability as a sponsor.
Additional requirements for businesses in Australia:-
- You should have a strong record of, or a demonstrated commitment to, employing local labour.
- You must declare that you will not engage in discriminatory recruitment practices.
Home Affairs Application Fee:
The current Standard Business Sponsor application fee is $420. A payment surcharge may also be applied, with the percentage rate dependent on your method of payment.
How long does a Standard Business Sponsorship last:
The standard business sponsorship is valid for five years from the date it is approved.
Migration Agent (Offshore) Fee:
The fee for the Standard Business Sponsorship Preparation and Lodgment service provided by Skilled Migration Group Limited is AUD $5000 if a stand alone service, or $2500 if combined with a one of our nomination and or visa preparation and lodgment services.