How to Get a Certificate of Sponsorship to Work in Australia
If you want to work in Australia, you may need to apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This document shows that you have a job offer from an Australian employer and that the employer is willing to sponsor your stay in the country. To apply for a CoS, you must first have a job offer from an Australian employer and meet specific immigration requirements.
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship?
A Certificate of Sponsorship is a document that an Australian employer issues to a foreign national who wants to work in Australia. It is part of the application process for a skilled worker visa, which allows skilled workers to come to Australia to work. Several types of skilled worker visas are available, each with its eligibility requirements and conditions. The CoS is a unique reference number assigned to the applicant and the job they have been offered. It is used to show that the applicant has been offered a job in Australia and that the employer is willing to sponsor their stay in the country.
Who Needs a Certificate of Sponsorship?
If you are a foreign national and you want to work in Australia, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship if:
- You have been offered a job in Australia that an Australian citizen or a permanent resident cannot fill. This is known as the labor market testing requirement.
- You are applying for a skilled worker visa to work in Australia.
Note that if you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident, you do not need a CoS to work in Australia. You also do not need a CoS if you apply for a temporary work visa, such as a working holiday visa or a temporary skilled visa. If unsure whether you need a CoS, you should check the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ immigration rules or speak to a solicitor or immigration advisor.
Types of Skilled Worker Visas
Several types of skilled worker visas are available for foreign nationals who want to work in Australia. The most common types of visas are:
- Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa (Subclass 482): This temporary visa allows skilled workers to fill a skills shortage in the Australian labor market. It is also known as the TSS Visa. Three streams are available under the TSS Visa: the Short-term Stream, the Medium-term Stream, and the Labour Agreement Stream. The Short-term Stream is for skilled workers who want to work in Australia for up to 2 years, while the Medium-term Stream is for skilled workers who want to work in Australia for up to 4 years. The Labour Agreement Stream is for skilled workers who have been offered a job under a labor agreement between the Australian government and an overseas country or an employer. To apply for a TSS Visa, you must have a job offer from an Australian employer and meet specific eligibility criteria, including the minimum salary requirement, the English language requirement, and the work experience requirement.
- Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186): This permanent visa allows skilled workers to work in Australia permanently. It is also known as the ENS Visa. Three streams are available under the ENS Visa: the Temporary Residence Transition Stream, the Direct Entry Stream, and the Agreement Stream. The Temporary Residence Transition Stream is for skilled workers working in Australia on a TSS Visa for at least three years who have been nominated by their employer for a permanent position. The Direct Entry Stream is for skilled workers who have not worked in Australia before and have been nominated by their employer for a permanent position. The Agreement Stream is for skilled workers who have been offered a job under a labor agreement between the Australian government and an overseas country or an employer. To apply for an ENS Visa, you must have a job offer from an Australian employer and meet specific eligibility criteria, including the minimum salary requirement, the English language requirement, and the work experience requirement.
There are also other types of skilled worker visas available, such as the Global Talent Independent Program (GTI) Visa, which is for highly skilled workers who are endorsed by a government agency or a university, and the Skilled Recognition Graduate Visa (Subclass 476), which is for international students who have graduated from an Australian university with a degree in a skilled occupation. You should check the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ immigration rules to learn more about these and other skilled worker visas.
Requirements for a Certificate of Sponsorship
To apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship, you must:
- Have a job offer from an Australian employer. The job offer must be for a skilled position that an Australian citizen or a permanent resident cannot fill. This is known as the labor market testing requirement. You should also check the Australian and New South Wales (NSW) skilled occupation lists to ensure your occupation is eligible for sponsorship.
- Meet the minimum salary requirement. The minimum salary requirement depends on the type of visa you are applying for and the job you have been offered. For a TSS Visa, the minimum salary requirement is currently $53,900 per year for most occupations or $77,400 per year for certain high-paying occupations. For an ENS Visa, the minimum salary requirement is currently $53,900 per year for most occupations or $64,000 per year for certain high-paying occupations. You should check the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ immigration rules to determine the minimum salary requirement for your occupation.
- Meet the English language requirement. The English language requirement depends on the type of visa you are applying for and the job you have been offered. For a TSS Visa, you must have at least a competent level of English, as defined by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For an ENS Visa, you must have at least a proficient level of English, as the IELTS defines. You should check the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ immigration rules to find the English language requirement for your occupation.
- Meet the work experience requirement. The work experience required depends on the type of visa you are applying for and the job you have been offered. For a TSS Visa, you must have at least two years of work experience in your nominated or closely related occupation. For an ENS Visa, you must have at least three years of work experience in your nominated or closely related occupation. You should check the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ immigration rules to find out the work experience requirement for your occupation.
You should also note that there are annual limits on the number of CoS that can be issued to foreign nationals. This is known as the annual quota or the visa cap. If the annual quota has been reached, you may not be able to apply for a CoS even if you meet all of the other requirements. The quota is usually reset on July 1st of each year.
How to Apply for a Certificate of Sponsorship
If you have been offered a job in Australia and meet the requirements for a Certificate of Sponsorship, you can apply for a CoS through your employer. Your employer must request a CoS by logging in to the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ online system. They will need to provide information about the job offer and your details, qualifications, and experience. They will also need to pay a fee for the CoS. The fee depends on the job type and the sponsorship period’s length. It is currently $420 for a standard sponsorship and $1,050 for a premium sponsorship.
Once the request has been submitted, the Australian Department of Home Affairs will review it and decide whether to grant or refuse the CoS. If the CoS is granted, you will receive a grant confirmation and a CoS reference number. You must provide this reference number as part of your visa application. If the CoS is refused, you will receive a letter explaining why and your review rights. You can contact the Australian Department of Home Affairs or a solicitor or immigration advisor if you have questions about the CoS application process or the decision.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Certificate of Sponsorship?
The processing time for a Certificate of Sponsorship varies depending on the workload of the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the complexity of your application. Generally, you should allow at least eight weeks for your employer to request a CoS and for the Australian Department of Home Affairs to process your application. However, it may take longer if your application is incomplete, if you need to provide additional documents, or if your employer needs to obtain a sponsorship license. You should also be aware that annual limits on the number of CoS can be issued to foreign nationals. If the annual quota has been reached, you may have to wait until the quota is reset before you can apply for a CoS. The quota is usually reset on July 1st of each year.
What Happens After You Get a Certificate of Sponsorship?
Once you have received a Certificate of Sponsorship, you can use it to apply for a skilled worker visa. You will need to complete the online visa application form, pay the visa fee, and make an appointment at an Australian embassy, consulate, or mission to provide your biometric information (such as your fingerprints and a digital photograph). You will also need to provide the following documents as part of your visa application:
- Your passport or national identity card.
- A copy of your Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Evidence of your qualifications, skills, and experience.
- Evidence of your English language proficiency, if required.
- Any other documents that the Australian Department of Home Affairs may request.
It would be best if you also were prepared to attend an interview with the Australian Department of Home Affairs as part of your visa application. The interview will be conducted in English, and you may be asked questions about your job offer, qualifications, and plans while in Australia. If you are successful, your skilled worker visa will be granted for a maximum of 5 years or the length of your employment contract (whichever is shorter). You can then use your skilled worker visa to travel to Australia and start work in your sponsored job.
Conclusion
A Certificate of Sponsorship is a document that an Australian employer issues to a foreign national who wants to work in Australia. It is part of the application process for a skilled worker visa, which allows skilled workers to come to Australia to work. To apply for a CoS, you must have a job offer from an Australian employer and meet specific immigration requirements, including the labor market testing requirement, the minimum salary requirement, the English language requirement, and the work experience requirement. You can apply for a CoS through your employer, who will need to request it on your behalf and pay a fee. Once you have received a CoS, you can apply for a skilled worker visa, which will allow you to travel to Australia and start work in your sponsored job. The processing time for a CoS and a skilled worker visa can vary, and you may need to wait until the annual quota is reset if it has been reached. It would be best if you were prepared to provide certain documents and attend an interview as part of your visa application. If your visa is granted, you can work in Australia for a maximum of 5 years or the length of your employment contract (whichever is shorter).