Step by step, how to become a sponsor business

Your company is expanding, and you need to enhance and increase your team of skilled professionals, and some of the best candidates are international professionals. How can you sponsor them?

Many companies may be reluctant to sponsor skilled migrant professionals, questioning the complexity of the process, the cost or even the advantages of hiring an international professional.

Aaron Chan, Principal Migration Consultant at SEVEN Corp, answers the key aspects any company needs to know to become a sponsor. Here are the steps to follow to become a sponsor company in Australia.

First of all, we need to explain that companies can apply to be a Standard Business Sponsor, Accredited Sponsor, and Temporary Activity Sponsor. The difference among those three categories is the purpose under Australia’s immigration system.  

A Standard Business Sponsor (SBS): This business can sponsor overseas workers under the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), and  Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494). The new Core Skill Occupation List includes 456 occupations that employers can use to bring skilled international workers. Sponsorship lasts up to 5 years.

Accredited Sponsor

Large, reputable companies with a solid track record of sponsoring foreign workers are encouraged to apply to become an Accredited Sponsor, a faster, more streamlined version of the Standard Business Sponsor.

Priority may be given to reviewing the application process. Due to the company’s track record, less evidence is required from accredited sponsors. It can sponsor overseas workers under the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494). Sponsorship lasts up to 5 years.

Temporary Activities Sponsor

Businesses that need to sponsor overseas visitors for short-term, non-ongoing activities like events, performances, research, or training. It is recommended to event organisers, entertainment companies, universities and related. It can sponsor overseas workers under a Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408), or a Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, or nominate and sponsor an applicant for a Training visa (subclass 407). Sponsorship lasts up to 5 years.

Labour Agreements

This is an agreement between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers. It allows an employer to sponsor international skilled workers when standard visa programs are not suitable, usually because the occupation is not on the standard skilled occupations list, or the company has specific workforce needs.

It can sponsor overseas workers under the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), and  Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494), and the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186).

Currently, these are the industry agreements in place – Advertising, aged care, dairy, fishing, horticulture, meat, minister of Religion, on-hire, pork, restaurant (premium dining).

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The Principal Migration Consultant, Aaron Chan, highlights those essential steps to take to become any of the sponsors described above:

Step 1: Ensure the company can demonstrate the legality of its operations. It must be operating legally in Australia.

Step 2: Ensure the company’s financial standing demonstrates profitability and positive equity. Documents such as ABN, CAN or similar may be required, as well as financial statements and information on the company structure.

Step 3: Ensure the size and scope of your operations justify sponsoring foreign talent, especially if the ratio of foreign to local workers is already high.

*Mr Chan emphasises that this is one of the most difficult aspects to navigate during the sponsorship process. “Proving the size and scope of your operations ensures a genuine position for nomination, rather than just facilitating the visa outcome,” says Aaron Chan.

Step 4: Apply to be a sponsor. Yes, once you have gathered all the necessary documents, the next step is to apply. To ensure that all required documents are correct and contain the necessary information, an immigration agent consultant is the professional who can assist companies in this process.

Step 5: Once the Australian Government has responded positively, the company will receive a Sponsorship Approval Letter and can begin the process of nominating an overseas worker for the role.

Mr Chan explains that the company doesn't need to have already selected a foreign candidate to apply to be a sponsor. Companies can become sponsors at any time, as long as they submit the necessary documents. However, it is recommended that the company be aware of the type of visa applicable to the available role.

Sponsor will need to prove that the position is genuine and required through the Labour Market Testing (LMT), and payment is under the Australian salary benchmark.

Step 6: Assist the nominated worker with the required documents, as the new employee also needs to submit a visa-related application.

It is important to keep records of employment and sponsorship obligations, and notify the government of any significant change in business name and employment status.

The advantages of investing as a sponsor are the possibility of accessing skilled workers, regardless of nationality, but with a focus on the needs and growth of the business. Immigration consultant Aaron Chan rephrases that the business could “be the opportunity to offer employment to foreigners, with the benefit of a possible avenue for public relations.”

To understand more about the opportunities these changes can bring to your business, contact the Seven Corp specialists for a free consultation.

Email: employer@sevencorp.com.au

Phone number: 1300 157 707