Visa Nomination Australia

What Businesses and Applicants Should Know about Employer Nomination | Visa Nomination Australia

The visa nomination process for employer-sponsored skilled visas (such as the 482, 186, 187 or 494 Visas) requires an employer to provide evidence of their need to fill a position in their business by an overseas skilled worker.

Before starting the visa nomination process, your business will need to be approved by the Government as a sponsor. This is done through a Standard Business Sponsorship or Accredited Sponsorship application, or by negotiating a Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs.

Australia’s various Skilled Occupation Lists determine which occupations can be nominated for a visa. Preparing a nomination application requires evidence that your business has conducted Labour Market Testing and that salary and employment requirements have been met. Additional nomination requirements may also apply depending on the visa and occupation that is needed.

There are very specific ways employers should provide evidence for Labour Market Testing and Labour Agreements. When determining whether to grant your Nomination application, the Government will review your evidence to decide if your level of advertising for the role in the local market is sufficient, whether Annual Market Salary Rates (AMSR) and employment conditions have been met, and if nominating for the position will adversely impact local Australians.

Your nomination application must also include evidence that your business is active and lawful and that it has a genuine need for the position to be filled by overseas talent.

What Applicants Should Know about State Nomination for Independent Skilled Migration | Visa Nomination Australia

States and Territories in Australia can also nominate skilled individuals for visas such as the Skilled Nominated Visa (Subclass 190) and the Temporary Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 491). Skilled individuals can apply for State Nomination under a very different process to applying for employer-sponsored visas.

The process for State nomination requires the applicant to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Government. Your Expression of Interest must indicate the State or Territory for which you are seeking Nomination. For example, you may intend to request nomination from Western Australia for Visa Nomination Australia arrangements. Your nominated occupation must be listed on a relevant Skills Occupation List for your intended visa subclass and you also need to indicate you currently reside in Australia.

Applying for State Nomination requires you to have met several Points-tested requirements across categories such as age, skills and qualifications, and English language ability. Documents and evidence must be provided to support your claim for points. A Skills Assessment with a relevant skills assessing authority for your occupation is required and you may also have to sit an English exam. Some occupations also need licensing or registration before you can work in the State or Territory. Each State or Territory may have different nomination criteria.

It is a competitive process as you not only have to meet the minimum points required for State Nomination, but you also need enough points to compete with other skilled applicants applying for State Nomination under your occupation. Invitations to apply for State Nomination are issued based on a ranking system. You can only lodge a 190 or 491 Visa application after being invited to apply.