You are here: / Accredited Sponsorship

Accredited Sponsorship

Accredited Sponsorship is designed to ensure that the lower risk sponsors have access to priority allocation and streamlined processing for their overseas workers through the Skills in Demand (482) visa.

“certain nomination provisions are able to be satisfied on the basis of a certification on the nomination form, in conjunction with additional documentation and information collected “upfront” as part of the sponsorship application/accreditation approval process.”

STREAMLINED & PRIORITY PROCESSING

Sponsors who qualify for accredited status will receive priority processing of all 482 nomination and visa applications.

Streamlined processing arrangements are in place for certain low-risk nominations lodged by accredited sponsors. Nominations can be satisfied on the basis of a certification on the nomination form, in conjunction with additional documentation and information collected “upfront” as part of the sponsorship accreditation approval process.

STREAMLINED REQUIREMENTS

The occupation is ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2;

AND

The nominee’s annual earnings are equal to or greater than:

  • $180,001; OR
  • $90,000 and the occupation is not one of the occupations on the right:

BENEFITS:

  • Reduced documents
  • May receive auto approval of nomination

Note: these streamlined nomination settings were introduced under the TSS program. Check with us that they still apply to your nomination under the Skills in Demand visa before relying on them.

Accredited Sponsorship Eligibility
  • Accountant (General) (ANZSCO 221111)
  • Café or Restaurant Manager (ANZSCO 141111)
  • Chef (ANZSCO 351311)
  • CEO or Managing Director (ANZSCO 111111)
  • Conference and Event Organiser (ANZSCO 149311)
  • Corporate General Manager (ANZSCO 111211)
  • Corporate Services Manager (ANZSCO 132111)
  • Customer Service Manager (ANZSCO 149212)
  • Facilities Manager (ANZSCO 149913)
  • Management Accountant (ANZSCO 221112)
  • Management Consultant (ANZSCO 224711)
  • Marketing Specialist (ANZSCO 225113)
  • Sales and Marketing Manager (ANZSCO 131112)
  • Recruitment Consultant (ANZSCO 223112)
  • Supply and Distribution Manager (ANZSCO 133611)
  • Taxation Accountant (ANZSCO 221113)
  • Transport Company Manager (ANZSCO 149413)

The benefits of accreditation are:

    • Sponsorship is valid for six years
    • Priority allocation and processing of all 482 applications
    • Additional streamlined processing of certain low-risk nominations
    • Concessions for nomination documentation
    • Concessions for advertising relating to labour market testing
    • Concessions for character requirements

New accreditation categories

  • Category 1: Commonwealth, State & Territory government agencies
  • Category 2: Australian Trusted Traders (businesses accredited under the Australian Border Force Trusted Trader program)
  • Category 3: Low volume usage and high percentage of Australian workers (at least 85%)
  • Category 4: High volume usage and medium percentage of Australian workers (at least 75%)

Related guides

Processing times

Accredited sponsors receive priority processing for their nominations and visa applications. See our employer sponsored visa processing times page for current estimates.

What accreditation does not change

Accredited sponsors must still:

  • pay at least the Core Skills Income Threshold ($79,423 from 1 July 2026) or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher
  • pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy for each nomination
  • meet labour market testing requirements (with the concessions listed above)
  • meet all sponsorship obligations

ACCREDITATION CATEGORIES 1 & 2

Category Required Characteristics
Category 1

Commonwealth, state and territory government agencies

 Have Australian workers comprising at least 75% of their workforce in Australia
Category 2

Australian Trusted Traders

(available to businesses in the international supply chain industry)

 •Australian workers comprising at least 75% of workforce

•engage all employees under a written contract of employment in accordance with National Employment Standards (NES)

•Enterprise Agreement or internal salary table reflecting current market salary rates
Accredited Sponsorship Eligibility

ACCREDITATION CATEGORY 3

Category Required Characteristics
Category 3

Low volume usage and high percentage of Australian workers (at least 85%)

 •are not a sole trader or a partnership

•have an annual turnover of at least AUD4M for the last two years

•have been a standard business sponsor for at least one year

•have nominations approved for at least one primary 482 (including TSS or 457) visa holder in the last two years

•have a nomination non-approval rate of less than 3% for the last two years

•have no adverse monitoring outcomes

•have all employees paid in accordance with an Enterprise Agreement or an internal salary table that reflects the current market salary rates

•engage all employees under a written contract that meets NES

ACCREDITATION CATEGORY 4

Category Required Characteristics
Category 4

High volume usage and medium percentage of Australian workers (at least 75%)

 •are not a sole trader or a partnership

•have an annual turnover of at least AUD4M for the last two years

•have been a standard business sponsor for at least two years

•have nominations approved for at least 10 primary 482 (including TSS or 457) visa holder in the last two years

•have a nomination non-approval rate of less than 3% for the last two years

•have no adverse monitoring outcomes

•have all employees paid in accordance with an Enterprise Agreement or an internal salary table that reflects the current market salary rates

•engage all employees under a written contract that meets NES

CATEGORIES 3 & 4: DIFFERENCES

Requirement Category 3 Category 4
Australian workforce 85% 75%
Standard business sponsor 1 year 2 years
Nominations approved for at least 1 nomination 10 nominations

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION

New discretion for the Department to consider accreditation for sponsors that are:

  • Large partnerships in industries where this is a common business structure
  • ‘Start-up’ businesses where special circumstances apply

Undergoing a corporate re-structure which would impact on their eligibility

Accredited Sponsorship Eligibility

CHARACTER REFERENCES

Applicants who are sponsored by an accredited sponsor, are not required to obtain police certificates from countries other than Australia provided they attach a written reference from their accredited sponsor confirming that they are of good character and have not been convicted of any criminal offences.

Sponsors should take into consideration:

  • Previous character checks conducted for the employee
  • Internal policies and procedures
  • Employment and immigration risks, if the employee is found to fail the character test

RISKS & REVOCATION

Accreditation status can be revoked if:

  • The sponsor fails to maintain the accreditation characteristics.
  • The sponsor provides a reference that an employee is of good character, and they are subsequently found to fail the character test.

Revocation results in the cessation of streamlined and priority processing, however approval as a standard business sponsor will remain in place.

IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS

  • Robust internal control mechanisms (compliance). Consider for example:
    • Staff changes: exit/entry checklists
    • Staff training and awareness
    • Compliance obligations (*critical)
    • Internal policies/procedures regarding character references
    • Advance planning to avoid character references
  • Inclusion of staff outside of HR/Mobility (eg Talent Management) in visa processes.
  • Onus is on sponsors to ensure genuineness of occupation, AMSR and detailed compliant records are kept.

CURRENT CLIMATE

  • Accreditation is the future of the 482 program, ensuring that sponsors receive priority processing and concessions for various requirements.
  • There will be a heavy focus on compliance, including compliance with the accreditation characteristics.
  • Under the Skills in Demand visa, the Specialist Skills stream has a target median processing time of 7 days and the Core Skills stream a target of 21 days, so accreditation matters most for employers who sponsor regularly and want priority across all their nominations.

How long does it take to become an Accredited 482 Sponsor

  • accreditation applications have a 1 to 2 months processing time
Accredited Sponsorship Eligibility

VISAENVOY SERVICES

  • VisaEnvoy can assist with:
    • Accreditation sponsorship applications
    • Compliance audits
    • Education and guidance
    • Ad hoc support