Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa

1. Standard business sponsorship
   To employ a TSS visa holder, a business must become approved as a Standard Business Sponsor. This involves demonstrating the business is lawful, active, operating business and that they meet local labour and employment practices.
   
   
2. Nomination
   Once the employer has applied for Standard Business Sponsorship they must nominate a position within their business. You employer must engage you under a written contract of employment to work only for their business or an associated entity of their business, unless the occupation is exempt. They must provide a copy of the contract signed by both parties with their nomination.
   
   The business must be lawfully operating in Australia. You must be employed to work in the nominated occupation and in a position within the sponsoring business or an associated entity of that business, located in a designated regional area of Australia.
   
   There are a number of other requirements that must be met for the nomination to be successful:
   
   

• Labour Market Testing (LMT)
  Employers must show they have tried to find suitably qualified Australians before they can seek to employ an overseas skilled worker on a Subclass 494 visa.
  
  They must advertise the role on at least 2 prominent or professional recruitment websites on two separate occasions before offering the position to an overseas applicant (unless an international trade obligation applies).
  
  Advertisements must meet a number of standards to be accepted. For most nominations, advertising must be done within the 4 months immediately before lodging a nomination application.
  
  
• Salary Level
  The remuneration must be above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). This threshold is set by DIBP each year and is currently $53,900 plus superannuation.
  
  The proposed salary must also be within the market rate for the role. This ensures that the applicant will be paid in line with Australian employees in comparable roles.
  
  Caveats are attached to some occupations which set a minimum remuneration level that is above the TSMIT.
  
  
• Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy
  The nominating employer will need to pay the SAF levy. The SAF is calculated according to the annual turnover of the business, the number of years for which the visa is required as set out in the nomination:
  
  
• Businesses with a turnover of less than $10M: $1,200 per nomination per year
  
  
• Businesses with a turnover of more than $10M: $1,800 per nominee per year.

The total calculated SAF is payable in full at this time. 

   3.  Visa application

The final step is the applicant applying for the visa. You must demonstrate you meet the required skill level for their occupation, meet the eligibility requirements for the visa and undergo health and character checks.