You might want to understand how sponsorship works if you’re considering moving to Australia, whether through a business sponsorship application or a partner visa.
To be sponsored or become a sponsor, you must meet certain eligibility requirements set by the Australian government.
But what does it mean to sponsor another person, and how does it work? Our complete guide to visa sponsorship explains the process.
What Does it Mean to Sponsor Someone?
Visa sponsorship is when a person or company (the sponsor) legally agrees to help someone from another country get a visa to live, work or study in Australia. This arrangement means that the sponsor will provide support in areas such as:
- Financial
- Social
- Living arrangements
Simply put, sponsoring someone else (or being sponsored by someone) involves an exchange of value. For visa holders, a sponsor is:
- Someone who is married, intends to marry or is in a de facto relationship with someone who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
- A business sponsor is a company that has been assessed by the Department of Home Affairs as eligible to become a sponsor of an overseas worker.
You are financially responsible when you sponsor someone... for 2 years
You are required to provide accommodation and financial support to your partner and their family members for a period of up to two years after receiving your sponsorship. This includes the time that it takes to complete English language courses.
- Please consider your obligations before applying for a visa.
- Especially if you are in a relatively new relationship or if you do not have a secure job or housing.
- Being financially responsible means being able to pay for all of their needs for that period of time, including food, utilities, water, and transportation.
What can stop me from being an approved sponsor?
There are many reasons you may not be approved as a sponsor, including if you have:
- Sponsored a partner or prospective marriage visa in the last five years
- Successfully sponsored two main applicants for migration to Australia on a partner visa
- Already sponsored a main applicant for migration to Australia on a partner visa within five years
- Been granted a Women at Risk visa, and are applying to sponsor your partner who was with you when you received that visa
- And various other factors
Character and health requirements also apply to current sponsorship applications, so they need to meet all the eligibility requirements before starting the migration process.
Who Can Become a Sponsor for an Australian Visa?
For partner visas, the most important requirement is that you are in a committed and ongoing relationship, plus other requirements that relate to age and suitability.
To sponsor your partner, you must:
- Be in a married, or de facto relationship with the other person
- Be older than 18
- Be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen
- Meet the character requirements
Checklist for Australian Partner Visa Sponsor Requirements
To start a new application for partner visa sponsorship, you need to meet the sponsor requirements. Here is a checklist.
- Relationship Status: Be in a genuine, ongoing relationship with your partner, either married, in a de facto relationship, or engaged to be married.
- Residency Status: You need to be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen to qualify as a sponsor.
- Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old to act as a sponsor.
- Character Requirements: Meet the character standards, which include providing police clearance certificates from any country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the past 10 years. (prove you don’t have a significant criminal record)
- Sponsorship Limitations: You can sponsor a maximum of two main applicants for partner visas in your lifetime. You must wait at least five years if you have previously sponsored someone.
- Financial and Accommodation Support: You must provide financial and accommodation support to your partner for up to two years following the grant of the partner visa, so they have a stable environment while settling in Australia.
- Health Requirements: Sponsors should be aware that their partner must meet health requirements to be granted a visa.
- Application Process: Lodge a sponsorship form (such as Form 40SP) with the partner’s visa application, which shows you are serious about your sponsorship obligations.
- Compliance with Sponsorship Obligations: Once you become a sponsor, you must fulfill all the sponsorship duties. For example, you must let the Department of Home Affairs know if your circumstances change in a way that could affect your sponsorship (e.g., relationship status or address change).
Australian Employer Sponsored Visa Scheme
Employer-sponsored visas help Australian businesses hire people with the skills they need to expand their workforce. These visas allow Australian employers—including Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible New Zealand citizens—to sponsor skilled overseas workers for temporary or permanent positions when employers can’t find a suitable Australian worker for their nominated occupation.
Types of Employer-Sponsored Visas
- Sponsorship for employment can help individuals experience a different culture while earning money.
- The employer must pay the employee the market salary rate for the role being sponsored.
There are several visa types for employer sponsorship, with each one designed to fill a specific business need:
Permanent Employer Sponsored Nominated Visas (Subclass 186 and 187)
You are required to provide acco
Temporary Skills in Demand Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)
There are many reasons you may not be approv
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
There are many reasons you may not be approv
Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) Program
In addition to the main visa categories, the Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) program gives Australian employers an opportunity to sponsor highly-skilled workers from other countries for niche jobs that can’t be filled, either:
- By existing Australian workers
- Or through other visa programs like the Skills in Demand (SID) visa
This program can lead to permanent residency for eligible workers and is designed to:
- Help fill the skills Australia needs to be successful
- Help employers who already have a strong record of employing local labour
Employer-sponsored visas benefit both employers and skilled professionals who are seeking employment opportunities in Australia, whether to fill temporary skill shortages or on a permanent basis. But, the employer-sponsored visa process is complex and has:
- Strict eligibility requirements
- Multiple visa conditions
- Geographical restrictions
The Role of the Department of Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for checking compliance for all visa subclasses the responsibilities of sponsors. Anyone who fails to meet their obligations can receive a penalty or cancellations.
Fortunately, the Australian government offers resources and support so you can understand your:
- Responsibilities
- Processing times
- The steps involved in sponsoring overseas workers
How Can Immigration Consultants Assist with Australian Sponsorship Applications?
Immigration consultants help both sponsors and visa applicants meet the detailed requirements and legal obligations set by the Australian government to give them a much higher chance of success. Here’s how we can assist.
- Eligibility Assessment: Our lawyers can advise if the sponsor and nominee meet all the eligibility criteria, including residency status, character requirements, and occupation suitability.
- Find the Right Visa Option: With multiple visa subclasses available, our migration team can recommend the best type of visa based on your relationship, the sponsor’s business needs, and the nominee’s work experience and qualifications.
- Prepare and Lodge Application: An Australian visa application is expensive make sure you lodge the best application that avoids delays or a denial due to wrong or missing information.
- Labour Market Testing Support: Our migration lawyers can help employers with the labour market testing process to prove there are no suitable Australian workers available for a role. This step is often required, depending on the visa subclass.
- Skills Assessment Coordination: We can help visa applicants with the necessary skills assessments so they meet all their visa requirements.
- Advice on Sponsorship Obligations: Migration lawyers also advise sponsors on their ongoing obligations, such as paying the market rate salary and keeping records, to avoid penalties or sponsorship cancellation.
- Communication with the Department of Home Affairs: Our consultants also talk to the Department to handle requests for more information and keep an eye on progress.
- Appeals and Reviews: If you have a refused application, our immigration lawyers can assist with appeals or a review request.
An experienced Timpson migration lawyer can make sure you get it right the first time and avoid an expensive mistake (you don’t get a refund for a failed application).
We help both sponsors and visa applicants work through the complex sponsorship process so you are more likely to have a successful visa grant. Learn how we ca assist you by calling 07 3166 9100
How Does it Work When You Sponsor Someone FAQs
How do you become a standard business sponsor?
To become an Australian Standard Business Sponsor, first you need a lawfully operating business, and then you apply to the Department of Home Affairs. You must prove:
- Your financial viability
- Compliance with the laws of Australia
- Your commitment to hiring local workers
- No adverse information about your business
Once approved, you can hire skilled workers from other countries.
How long does a business sponsorship last?
A standard business sponsorship usually lasts for 5 years. However, new businesses may have less than 18 months, while “accredited” sponsors could have longer periods.
You can reapply approximately two months before a current sponsorship ends.
How many people can I sponsor?
- You can sponsor a maximum of two partner visa applications in your lifetime.
- If you have already sponsored someone, you must wait a minimum of five years before sponsoring a new partner.
Which Australian companies offer visa sponsorship for skilled workers?
There are many large Australian companies who regularly sponsor skilled workers in sectors such as:
- Tech (Google, Meta, Telstra, Microsoft)
- Healthcare (CSL, Ramsay Healthcare)
- Mining and engineering (Rio Tinto, BHP, Downer)
- Construction (Multiplex)
You can search for these jobs on websites such as Seek and CareerOne.
You can also see a list of Accredited Sponsors here
