Employers under the 457 Australian visa program can be either an Australian business or an overseas business employing foreign staff to work in their Australian operations.

There are two (2) types of sponsors:

1. Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)

Used by most small-medium Australian companies to sponsor, within a 12-month period, an unlimited number of temporary business entrants. if the person operates a business in Australia, the sponsorship application may be made on form 1196S or 1196 (Internet). If the person does not operate a business in Australia, then the sponsorship application must be made on form 1196S.
Labour Agreements
Used by industries in which the Department of Immigration and industry representative bodies have agreed to negotiate industry-wide terms. Examples include the meat processing industry & nursing industry. Labour agreements are also compulsory within all ASCO 5 - 7 occupations to ensure that employers using the 457 visa program to access these occupations satisfy obligations on local training and employment.
Sponsors who are parties to approved labour agreements must pay their overseas workers in accordance with the terms of the labour agreements.
For further information regarding labour agreements please contact our office.

2. Overseas Sponsors

Employers with a business that has no formal operating base or representation in Australia may also apply under the Standard Business Sponsor program to bring employees to Australia to do one of the following:

• Establish a branch or other business activity such as joint ventures, agency distributorships or subsidiary branches in Australia
• Fulfil obligations for a contract or other business activity in Australia.

Under the 457 visa program, overseas sponsors do not need to be operating in Australia but must meet all other employer eligibility requirements outlined above.