There are a variety of employer sponsored visa options for entry into Australia. Broadly there are permanent and temporary visa options. This is the most common form of migration to Australia.
Skilled Workers Permanent Visa Options
From 1 July 2012 a new Employer Nomination Scheme and Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa is available. Within each of these visa subclasses there will be three streams:
The Temporary Residence Transition stream
The Direct Entry stream
The Agreement stream.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) enables employers to sponsor highly skilled workers to fill skilled vacancies in their business. Employers can employ skilled workers from overseas, or temporary residents who are living and working in Australia.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) enables employers in regional, remote or low population growth areas of Australia to nominate highly skilled workers from overseas, or temporary residents living and working in Australia to fill skilled vacancies in their business.
Skilled Workers Temporary Visa Options
Subclass 457 – Business (Long Stay) visa – Standard Business Sponsorship
A program for employers to sponsor approved skilled workers to work in Australia on a temporary visa. Employers can nominate a number of positions for different occupations under the same sponsorship application.
Labour Agreements
Formal arrangements for an Australian industry group or employer to recruit a specified number of skilled workers on a temporary or permanent basis over a number of years.
Service Sellers
For representatives of overseas suppliers of services who are negotiating, or entering into, agreements to supply their services in Australia under the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).
Closure of the Subclass 422 – Medical Practitioner Visa
From 1 July 2010, as a result of the closure of the Subclass 422 – Medical Practitioner (Temporary) visa, IMGs applying under the subclass 457 visa program will be required to seek employer sponsorship from an approved standard business sponsor under the subclass 457 visa program.
