What Does It Cost to Sponsor a Worker in Australia?
By Amanda O'Shaughnessy, Registered Migration Agent | MARN 2619599
Last updated and government charges checked: 3 October 2026.
If you're considering sponsoring an overseas worker, one of the first questions is usually: how much is this actually going to cost my business?
For a Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), there isn't one single sponsorship fee. The process generally involves three stages — sponsorship, nomination and the worker's visa application — and different government charges apply at each stage.
There will also be professional fees and other costs depending on the worker's occupation and circumstances. Here is what employers should budget for.
The three stages of sponsoring a worker
For an employer sponsoring a worker through the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the process will generally involve:
1. Standard Business Sponsorship
If your business is not already an approved Standard Business Sponsor, it will generally need to become one.
2. Nomination
Your business nominates the position the overseas worker will fill.
3. Visa application
The worker applies for the subclass 482 visa and must meet the requirements relevant to their circumstances.
Each stage has its own requirements and costs. For more detail about the pathway, read NUA's 482 sponsorship guide for WA employers.
Standard Business Sponsorship: $420
If your business is not already an approved Standard Business Sponsor, the current Department of Home Affairs application charge is $420.
A Standard Business Sponsorship is generally valid for five years, so an approved business does not need to apply for a new sponsorship approval every time it wants to nominate another eligible worker during that period.
It is also possible for a business to apply to become a Standard Business Sponsor before it has identified the worker it intends to sponsor. This can be useful for businesses that know overseas recruitment is likely to form part of their workforce strategy and want to get the business sponsorship stage in place first. See Home Affairs' Standard Business Sponsor guidance.
Subclass 482 nomination fee: $330
Once you have identified the worker and position, the business will generally need to lodge a nomination. The current Home Affairs nomination application charge for a subclass 482 position is $330.
The nomination is where the proposed position is assessed. Depending on the circumstances, this can involve requirements relating to the occupation, duties, salary, Annual Market Salary Rate and labour market testing.
Skilling Australians Fund levy: $1,200 or $1,800 per year
The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is often the largest government cost for an employer sponsoring a worker on a subclass 482 visa. The amount depends on the business's annual turnover and the proposed sponsorship period.
For businesses with annual turnover of less than $10 million, the levy is generally $1,200 for each year or part of a year of the proposed period.
For businesses with annual turnover of $10 million or more, the levy is generally $1,800 for each year or part of a year of the proposed period.
For example, a business with turnover below $10 million sponsoring a worker for four years would generally pay $1,200 × 4 years = $4,800 SAF levy. For a business with turnover of $10 million or more, the equivalent four-year SAF levy would generally be $1,800 × 4 years = $7,200.
The SAF levy is payable in full when the nomination is lodged, rather than in annual instalments. Refunds are available only in limited circumstances. See Home Affairs' cost of sponsoring guidance.
The worker's 482 visa application charge and other costs
The worker also has a separate Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) application charge, currently at $4,015 for the main applicant. Check the Home Affairs subclass 482 page for the applicable charge.
The visa application charge is separate from the employer's sponsorship and nomination charges. Additional government charges can apply where a partner or children are included in the visa application.
Depending on the worker's circumstances, there may also be additional costs associated with:
health examinations;
police clearances;
English language testing;
skills assessments;
document translations; and
occupational registration or licensing.
These additional costs can vary considerably depending on the worker and occupation.
A worked example: four-year 482 sponsorship costs
Let's look at a straightforward example. Assume a WA construction business has annual turnover below $10 million, is not already an approved Standard Business Sponsor and wants to sponsor a worker for four years.
The government sponsorship and nomination charges would generally include:
Standard Business Sponsorship: $420
Nomination application: $330
SAF levy: $4,800
Total government sponsorship and nomination charges: $5,550
For a business with turnover of $10 million or more, the equivalent total would be $7,950 ($420 + $330 + $7,200). These examples exclude payment surcharges, recruitment costs, visa application charges and other expenses.
Professional migration fees would be additional.
The worker's visa application charge and any personal costs associated with their visa application are separate.
Sponsorship costs the employer must pay
For subclass 482 sponsorship, the employer must pay the costs of becoming and being a sponsor, the nomination fee, the SAF levy, and migration agent fees associated with sponsorship and nomination. Employers must also bear recruitment costs, including relevant recruitment agent fees and advertising.
These costs cannot be transferred or recovered from the sponsored worker, their family members or another person. A repayment clause or deduction from wages does not remove this obligation.
The worker's visa application charge is separate. An employer may choose to pay it, but it should not be confused with the costs the employer is required to bear. Seek advice before agreeing to any reimbursement arrangement.
Employers also have ongoing sponsorship obligations, including paying reasonable and necessary travel costs for the sponsored worker and sponsored family members to leave Australia when a qualifying written request is made. Read the Home Affairs Standard Business Sponsor obligations.
Why the total cost varies
The overall cost can vary depending on the business, proposed visa period, worker and occupation. For example, some workers may require a skills assessment before a subclass 482 visa can be granted.
For construction and trade occupations, there can also be additional considerations around skills assessments, Australian licensing and registration. A carpenter, electrician, plumber or other tradesperson may therefore have different requirements and additional costs depending on their nationality, qualifications, employment history and the occupation being nominated.
It is important to assess these requirements early rather than discovering them after the sponsorship process has already started. Read our guide to skills assessments for 482 visa workers.
Becoming an approved sponsor before finding a worker
You do not necessarily need to have identified the worker you want to sponsor before applying to become a Standard Business Sponsor. If your business expects to use employer sponsorship as part of its recruitment strategy, you may be able to complete the Standard Business Sponsorship stage first.
Then, when you identify a suitable worker, you can assess the particular position and worker and determine whether a subclass 482 nomination and visa application are appropriate.
Sponsoring construction and trade workers in WA
For construction employers, the cost of sponsorship is only one part of the decision. Before proceeding, it is important to establish whether the proposed worker has a viable pathway in the first place.
This may involve looking at:
the occupation;
the worker's actual duties;
qualifications and employment experience;
skills assessment requirements;
licensing or registration requirements;
salary requirements;
labour market testing; and
whether another skilled migration pathway should also be considered.
Nua Migration has a particular focus on employer sponsorship, construction and skilled trades in Western Australia.
Before establishing Nua Migration, Registered Migration Agent Amanda O'Shaughnessy worked within the WA State Government's Construction Migration Office, supporting construction employers and skilled migrants with migration pathways.
Considering sponsoring a worker?
If you're thinking about sponsoring an overseas worker, it is worth understanding the likely pathway, government costs and requirements before committing to sponsorship.
Nua Migration can assist with the complete process, including:
Standard Business Sponsorship;
assessing the proposed worker and occupation;
subclass 482 nominations;
Skills in Demand visa applications; and
longer-term employer-sponsored migration pathways.
Employers in WA may be eligible for the Construction visa subsidy program - $10,000 per eligible migrant to offset the costs.
Professional fees are additional to the government charges outlined above and will depend on the services required.
Contact NUA Migration to discuss your business and the worker you are considering sponsoring.
Amanda O'Shaughnessy | Registered Migration Agent | MARN 2619599
Government charges were checked on 3 October 2026 and are subject to change. Other charges and costs may apply depending on the circumstances of the business and visa applicant. This information is general in nature and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances.