Employer Sponsorship in Australia and New Zealand: The 482, 186 and AEWV Work-Visa Routes Explained

What employer sponsorship means

Employer-sponsored work visas are a different mechanism from the points-tested skilled visas many graduates read about first. With a points-tested visa (Australia's subclass 189, 190 or 491) you nominate yourself and are ranked on points; with an employer-sponsored visa, a specific employer sponsors or nominates you for a specific role.

This guide covers the main employer-sponsored routes: in Australia, the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) for temporary work and the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) for permanent residence; in New Zealand, the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).

This is general information, not immigration advice. Occupation lists, thresholds and stream rules change frequently, and individual eligibility depends on your circumstances. Confirm everything on the official Department of Home Affairs and Immigration New Zealand websites, and consider a registered migration agent (Australia) or licensed immigration adviser (New Zealand) for your own case.

Australia — the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

The Skills in Demand visa lets an approved employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they cannot fill with a suitably skilled Australian. It is a temporary visa, generally granted for up to 4 years, and it has multiple streams. (Confirm the exact grant period, which can differ for some passport holders, on the official Home Affairs page.)

• Core Skills stream — for occupations on the relevant skilled occupation list where the employer cannot source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
• Specialist Skills stream — a stream for higher-skilled roles (subject to the current criteria set by Home Affairs).
• Labour Agreement stream — for workers nominated by an employer who holds a labour agreement with the government.

How subclass 482 sponsorship works

There are three parties and, in effect, three approvals. First, the business must become an approved sponsor. Second, it nominates the specific position — the role usually needs to be on the applicable skilled occupation list, and for some cases the employer must complete labour market testing (advertising the role in Australia to show no suitable Australian is available). Third, you lodge the visa application, showing you have the skills and experience for the nominated occupation.

A subclass 482 can be a stepping stone: time in an eligible sponsored role can help you qualify later for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme.

Because salary thresholds, occupation lists and stream settings change, we do not quote figures here — check the current requirements on the Home Affairs subclass 482 pages before you rely on them.

Australia — the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)

The subclass 186 is the permanent employer-sponsored visa: it lets a skilled worker nominated by their employer live and work in Australia permanently. It generally has a Direct Entry stream, a Temporary Residence Transition stream (often used by people who have already worked for the employer on a temporary sponsored visa), and a Labour Agreement stream.

As with the 482, the role usually needs to be on the skilled occupation list (or covered by a labour agreement), and the employer must nominate the position. Because it is permanent, the criteria — including skills, age and English — are generally more demanding than for the temporary visa.

For many graduates the practical route is post-study work first, then a subclass 482, then a subclass 186 once they and their employer meet the permanent-visa criteria. Confirm the current stream rules on the Home Affairs subclass 186 pages.

New Zealand — the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)

The AEWV is New Zealand's main temporary employer-sponsored work visa and lets you work for an accredited employer for up to 5 years. Like Australia's system, it puts obligations on the employer first.

The employer must hold employer accreditation, then obtain a Job Check for the specific role — which normally requires checking whether suitable New Zealanders are available (and, if the job was advertised, applying for the Job Check within 90 days of the advertisement closing). You then apply for the AEWV itself.

On the worker side, you generally need a qualification at NZQCF Level 4 or higher (or relevant work experience) in the same field or industry as the job, evidence of your work experience from an independent source, and — for roles at certain skill levels — evidence of English. Skilled time on an AEWV can also count toward New Zealand residence pathways.

Employer-sponsored vs points-tested — choosing a route

The two systems suit different situations. Employer-sponsored routes (482/186 and the AEWV) depend on securing a genuine job offer from a business willing and eligible to sponsor you — the employer drives the process. Points-tested routes (Australia's 189/190/491) depend on your own profile — age, qualifications, work experience, English and, for state/regional visas, a nomination — and you compete in an invitation system.

Many graduates end up on an employer-sponsored visa first because a job offer is more attainable than a high points score early in a career, and then keep the points-tested option open as their profile strengthens.

Neither route is guaranteed, and both change over time. Read the linked points-system, occupation-list and post-study-work guides for the wider picture, and always verify the current rules on the official government sources before acting.