If you’re thinking about sponsoring an overseas employee, you’re probably wondering how long it will take. That’s a reasonable concern, especially when you’re trying to sort out a start date, manage a short-staffed team or coordinate onboarding without knowing exactly when your new hire can start.
There are multiple stages involved in sponsoring an overseas worker in Australia and each one has its own processing period. Some stages run at the same time and others can’t start until you get approvals from Home Affairs. The total timeline varies, depending on whether your business is already an approved sponsor or you’re starting from scratch.
At Matilda Migration, we manage employer sponsorship applications end to end, so we see firsthand what affects processing speed and where businesses lose time unnecessarily. For a broader overview of the sponsorship lifecycle from planning to permanent residency, see our strategic guide for employers.
This guide breaks down each stage of the company sponsorship visa process with realistic timeframes.
You’ll learn what can affect processing speed and we’ll give you some practical strategies to help minimise delays and get your new hire on board as quickly as possible.
The Employer Sponsorship Process at a Glance
Before getting into the details, here’s a summary of what the end-to-end sponsorship timeline looks like for the most common pathway, the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482).
| Stage |
Typical Timeframe |
Who's Responsible |
| Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval |
2 weeks – 4 months |
Employer (with migration agent) |
| Labour Market Testing (LMT) |
4 weeks minimum (can run concurrently with SBS) |
Employer (with migration agent) |
| Nomination application |
1 – 4 weeks |
Employer (with migration agent) |
| Visa application and processing |
1 – 4 months (median 63 days) |
Employee (with migration agent) |
| Estimated total (end to end) |
2 – 6 months |
These timeframes are based on current processing data and reports from migration professionals. Your own timeline will depend on the complexity of your case, how complete your applications are and whether your business is already an approved sponsor.
Stage 1: Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) Approval
Before you can nominate an overseas worker for a sponsorship visa, you must be recognised by the Australian Government as an approved Standard Business Sponsor. This only needs to happen once, as SBS approval lasts for five years and covers your entire organisation, not just one role.
To be approved, you have to show that your business is legally established and actively operating in Australia, there’s a genuine need for overseas workers and you’ve got a solid record of employing workers locally.
It’s also important that you provide documents, including your ABN registration, ASIC company extract, financial statements and evidence of your business operations.
Current processing times for new SBS applications range from two weeks to four months, depending on your circumstances.
According to migration professionals, new SBS applications lodged in late 2025 took around four months, while applications lodged in early 2026 with thorough documentation were approved within one month. SBS renewals are processed much more quickly, often within weeks.
If your business is already an approved sponsor, you can skip this stage completely and move straight to nominating your candidate. It saves weeks or months from the company sponsorship visa timeline.
Matilda Tip: Don’t wait until you’ve found your ideal candidate to apply for SBS approval. If you know your business is likely to need overseas talent in the next few years, getting approved early means the sponsorship process can start immediately when the right person comes along.
Stage 2: Labour Market Testing
Labour Market Testing (LMT) is required for most sponsorship visa nominations under the 482 visa programme (although there are some exemptions). LMT involves demonstrating to the Department of Home Affairs that you’ve made genuine efforts to fill the position with an Australian worker before looking overseas.
In practice, LMT means advertising the role for at least four consecutive weeks. For full details on what you need to include in advertisements and how to document the process correctly, see our step-by-step guide to sponsoring an employee.
Fortunately, LMT can happen concurrently with your SBS application. If you start advertising the position when you lodge for SBS approval, you won’t lose any extra time on this step. Many migration agents recommend starting LMT as early as possible, since it’s valid for four months after completion.
Matilda Tip: Getting LMT wrong is one of the most common reasons for nominations being refused, and you can lose government fees that aren’t refundable. A migration agent can make sure your advertisements meet all the requirements and that you’ve compiled the evidence correctly.
Stage 3: Nomination Application
Once your business is an approved sponsor and LMT is complete, the next step is the nomination application. This is where you formally nominate a specific overseas worker for a particular position within your business.
When you apply, you have to provide detailed information about the role, including the duties, location and salary. You’ll also need to submit a Genuine Position Statement explaining why the role is necessary and how it aligns with your business needs.
The nomination application charge is currently AUD$330 and you’ll also have to pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, which is $1,200 per year for businesses with annual turnover under $10 million and $1,800 per year for larger businesses. For a full walkthrough of what's required at each stage, see our step-by-step guide to sponsoring an employee.
Nomination processing times vary, but if you’re an accredited sponsor with a well-prepared application, you could be approved in as little as one to two weeks. For standard sponsors, up to four weeks is a more realistic timeframe.
The Department of Home Affairs encourages simultaneous lodgement of nomination and visa applications, which means your candidate can submit their visa application at the same time as you lodge the nomination.
Stage 4: Visa Application and Processing
Visa application and processing is the stage most people think of when they ask how long the process takes.
The candidate submits their visa application (ideally at the same time as you lodge your nomination) with supporting documents including proof of qualifications, work experience, English language test results and health and character checks.
As of March 2026, the Department of Home Affairs reports a median processing time of 63 days for Skilled (Temporary) visas. But since this is a median figure, there’s a lot of individual variation, with some applications decided within days and others taking several months. Applications from candidates nominated by accredited sponsors or working in priority occupations (like healthcare, teaching and regional positions) are processed more quickly under Ministerial Direction 105.
For the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa, the median processing time is longer — currently around 10 months for Skilled (Permanent) visas — because annual planning levels and government policy priorities are taken into account.
The biggest factor that you can control at this point is making sure your application is complete. Otherwise, you’ll get requests for further information, which tend to add weeks or months to processing.
Getting health checks, police clearances and skills assessments done before lodging your application gives you the best chance of moving through the queue as quickly as possible.
Realistic End-to-End Timelines
Given the variability at each stage, here’s what the overall timeline normally looks like in three common scenarios.
| Scenario |
Estimated Timeline |
Key Factors |
| Best case |
6 – 10 weeks |
Already an approved (ideally accredited) sponsor, LMT already completed, simultaneous nomination and visa lodgement, complete application, priority occupation |
| Typical case |
3 – 5 months |
New SBS application with good documentation, LMT run concurrently, straightforward nomination and visa application |
| Complex case |
5 – 9 months |
New SBS with delays, complex occupation or qualification assessment, health check delays, requests for further information from Home Affairs |
These are general estimates. Every case is different and processing times can shift as Home Affairs manages its workload and priorities throughout the year.
What Can Speed Up or Slow Down the Process
Understanding what affects the timeline helps you plan proactively and avoid preventable delays.
What Speeds Things Up
- Having accredited sponsor status — if you’re already an accredited sponsor, you’ll get priority processing on all nominations and visa applications. For businesses that sponsor regularly, applying for accreditation is highly recommended.
- Simultaneous lodgement — lodging the nomination and visa application at the same time can shave weeks off the timeline.
- Complete, decision-ready applications — if your application includes all the necessary evidence and documentation from day one, you shouldn’t have to deal with requests for more information and be able to move through the queue more quickly.
- Priority occupations — candidates in healthcare, teaching or regional positions get higher processing priority under current Ministerial Directions.
What Slows Things Down
- Incomplete applications — preventable delays are usually caused by missing documents, unsigned forms or inconsistencies between the nomination and visa application.
- Skills assessment delays — some occupations need a skills assessment from a relevant assessing authority before the visa can be lodged. These assessments have their own processing times and should be started as early as possible.
- Health and character check delays — medical appointments can take time to schedule, and police clearances from some countries can take weeks. Starting these before lodgement means they’ll be less likely to hold up the application.
- Requests for further information — if Home Affairs needs additional evidence or clarification, the application is effectively paused until the response is received.
How Matilda Supports Employers Through the Sponsorship Timeline
At Matilda Migration, we manage the entire employer sponsorship process for you so you can focus on running your business.
Our registered migration agents handle everything from the SBS application to visa grant, including preparing the Genuine Position Statement, coordinating labour market testing and lodging all applications.
We work with both the employer and the candidate as separate clients to make sure the sponsorship, nomination and visa applications all align. Inconsistencies between these three applications are a common source of delays and refusals.
For a full breakdown of sponsorship costs, see our guide to sponsoring an employee.
As one client puts it: “The Matilda team did an incredible job guiding us through this sponsorship, nomination and visa application process. All three applications were granted within 2 weeks of submission.” — Tom, Sicut Enterprises, Employer sponsored subclass 186
We also provide ongoing compliance support after the visa is granted, helping you meet your obligations as an approved sponsor so your business stays protected throughout the sponsorship period.
In the "How Matilda Supports Employers" section, the line "helping you meet your obligations as an approved sponsor" currently links to the learn page. This would be a natural spot to link to the obligations blog instead: "helping you meet your obligations as an approved sponsor."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start the sponsorship process before I’ve found a candidate?
Yes, and it’s one of the smartest things you can do for your timeline. You can apply for Standard Business Sponsorship approval before you’ve identified a specific candidate.
SBS approval lasts five years, so getting approved early means you’re ready to move straight to nomination when the right person comes along, potentially saving months.
Does it matter when in the year I lodge my application?
It can. The Department of Home Affairs manages a finite caseload, and processing times tend to fluctuate throughout the year. If you lodge your application around the start of a new financial year or after major policy changes, you could experience longer queues.
Your migration agent can advise you on current processing conditions and whether timing your application strategically could make a difference.
Can I sponsor multiple employees at once?
Yes. Your Standard Business Sponsorship covers your entire organisation, not a single role. Once it’s approved, you can nominate as many overseas workers as you need across different positions. Each nomination and visa application is processed independently.
Businesses that sponsor regularly often benefit from accredited sponsor status, which gives all applications priority processing.
What is accredited sponsor status and is it worth applying for?
Accredited sponsor status is a recognition from Home Affairs that your business has a strong track record of sponsoring overseas workers in a compliant way. The main benefit is priority processing on all nominations and visa applications, which can significantly reduce your timelines.
It’s worth considering if your business sponsors regularly or plans to increase its use of overseas talent.
How can I check the status of a pending application?
You can check the status of visa applications through the Department of Home Affairs VEVO system. If you’re working with a migration agent, they can monitor all applications on your behalf and flag any requests for more information as soon as they come through, which helps avoid delays in responding.
Start Planning Your Sponsorship Timeline Today
Planning ahead helps to make sure your sponsorship timeline runs smoothly and quickly. You can get rid of the most common causes of delay by setting your SBS approval in place before you need it, starting LMT early, preparing complete applications and working with a migration agent who coordinates all three stages.
And once the visa is granted, you can help make sure your investment pays off by supporting your new hire through settling in and onboarding.
Book a free employer consultation with Matilda Migration and we’ll give you a timeline estimate based on your specific situation.
If you’re thinking about sponsoring an overseas employee, you’re probably wondering how long it will take. That’s a reasonable concern, especially when you’re trying to sort out a start date, manage a short-staffed team or coordinate onboarding without knowing exactly when your new hire can start.
There are multiple stages involved in sponsoring an overseas worker in Australia and each one has its own processing period. Some stages run at the same time and others can’t start until you get approvals from Home Affairs. The total timeline varies, depending on whether your business is already an approved sponsor or you’re starting from scratch.
At Matilda Migration, we manage employer sponsorship applications end to end, so we see firsthand what affects processing speed and where businesses lose time unnecessarily. For a broader overview of the sponsorship lifecycle from planning to permanent residency, see our strategic guide for employers.
This guide breaks down each stage of the company sponsorship visa process with realistic timeframes.
You’ll learn what can affect processing speed and we’ll give you some practical strategies to help minimise delays and get your new hire on board as quickly as possible.
The Employer Sponsorship Process at a Glance
Before getting into the details, here’s a summary of what the end-to-end sponsorship timeline looks like for the most common pathway, the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482).
| Stage |
Typical Timeframe |
Who's Responsible |
| Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval |
2 weeks – 4 months |
Employer (with migration agent) |
| Labour Market Testing (LMT) |
4 weeks minimum (can run concurrently with SBS) |
Employer (with migration agent) |
| Nomination application |
1 – 4 weeks |
Employer (with migration agent) |
| Visa application and processing |
1 – 4 months (median 63 days) |
Employee (with migration agent) |
| Estimated total (end to end) |
2 – 6 months |
These timeframes are based on current processing data and reports from migration professionals. Your own timeline will depend on the complexity of your case, how complete your applications are and whether your business is already an approved sponsor.
Stage 1: Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) Approval
Before you can nominate an overseas worker for a sponsorship visa, you must be recognised by the Australian Government as an approved Standard Business Sponsor. This only needs to happen once, as SBS approval lasts for five years and covers your entire organisation, not just one role.
To be approved, you have to show that your business is legally established and actively operating in Australia, there’s a genuine need for overseas workers and you’ve got a solid record of employing workers locally.
It’s also important that you provide documents, including your ABN registration, ASIC company extract, financial statements and evidence of your business operations.
Current processing times for new SBS applications range from two weeks to four months, depending on your circumstances.
According to migration professionals, new SBS applications lodged in late 2025 took around four months, while applications lodged in early 2026 with thorough documentation were approved within one month. SBS renewals are processed much more quickly, often within weeks.
If your business is already an approved sponsor, you can skip this stage completely and move straight to nominating your candidate. It saves weeks or months from the company sponsorship visa timeline.
Matilda Tip: Don’t wait until you’ve found your ideal candidate to apply for SBS approval. If you know your business is likely to need overseas talent in the next few years, getting approved early means the sponsorship process can start immediately when the right person comes along.
Stage 2: Labour Market Testing
Labour Market Testing (LMT) is required for most sponsorship visa nominations under the 482 visa programme (although there are some exemptions). LMT involves demonstrating to the Department of Home Affairs that you’ve made genuine efforts to fill the position with an Australian worker before looking overseas.
In practice, LMT means advertising the role for at least four consecutive weeks. For full details on what you need to include in advertisements and how to document the process correctly, see our step-by-step guide to sponsoring an employee.
Fortunately, LMT can happen concurrently with your SBS application. If you start advertising the position when you lodge for SBS approval, you won’t lose any extra time on this step. Many migration agents recommend starting LMT as early as possible, since it’s valid for four months after completion.
Matilda Tip: Getting LMT wrong is one of the most common reasons for nominations being refused, and you can lose government fees that aren’t refundable. A migration agent can make sure your advertisements meet all the requirements and that you’ve compiled the evidence correctly.
Stage 3: Nomination Application
Once your business is an approved sponsor and LMT is complete, the next step is the nomination application. This is where you formally nominate a specific overseas worker for a particular position within your business.
When you apply, you have to provide detailed information about the role, including the duties, location and salary. You’ll also need to submit a Genuine Position Statement explaining why the role is necessary and how it aligns with your business needs.
The nomination application charge is currently AUD$330 and you’ll also have to pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, which is $1,200 per year for businesses with annual turnover under $10 million and $1,800 per year for larger businesses. For a full walkthrough of what's required at each stage, see our step-by-step guide to sponsoring an employee.
Nomination processing times vary, but if you’re an accredited sponsor with a well-prepared application, you could be approved in as little as one to two weeks. For standard sponsors, up to four weeks is a more realistic timeframe.
The Department of Home Affairs encourages simultaneous lodgement of nomination and visa applications, which means your candidate can submit their visa application at the same time as you lodge the nomination.
Stage 4: Visa Application and Processing
Visa application and processing is the stage most people think of when they ask how long the process takes.
The candidate submits their visa application (ideally at the same time as you lodge your nomination) with supporting documents including proof of qualifications, work experience, English language test results and health and character checks.
As of March 2026, the Department of Home Affairs reports a median processing time of 63 days for Skilled (Temporary) visas. But since this is a median figure, there’s a lot of individual variation, with some applications decided within days and others taking several months. Applications from candidates nominated by accredited sponsors or working in priority occupations (like healthcare, teaching and regional positions) are processed more quickly under Ministerial Direction 105.
For the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa, the median processing time is longer — currently around 10 months for Skilled (Permanent) visas — because annual planning levels and government policy priorities are taken into account.
The biggest factor that you can control at this point is making sure your application is complete. Otherwise, you’ll get requests for further information, which tend to add weeks or months to processing.
Getting health checks, police clearances and skills assessments done before lodging your application gives you the best chance of moving through the queue as quickly as possible.
Realistic End-to-End Timelines
Given the variability at each stage, here’s what the overall timeline normally looks like in three common scenarios.
| Scenario |
Estimated Timeline |
Key Factors |
| Best case |
6 – 10 weeks |
Already an approved (ideally accredited) sponsor, LMT already completed, simultaneous nomination and visa lodgement, complete application, priority occupation |
| Typical case |
3 – 5 months |
New SBS application with good documentation, LMT run concurrently, straightforward nomination and visa application |
| Complex case |
5 – 9 months |
New SBS with delays, complex occupation or qualification assessment, health check delays, requests for further information from Home Affairs |
These are general estimates. Every case is different and processing times can shift as Home Affairs manages its workload and priorities throughout the year.
What Can Speed Up or Slow Down the Process
Understanding what affects the timeline helps you plan proactively and avoid preventable delays.
What Speeds Things Up
- Having accredited sponsor status — if you’re already an accredited sponsor, you’ll get priority processing on all nominations and visa applications. For businesses that sponsor regularly, applying for accreditation is highly recommended.
- Simultaneous lodgement — lodging the nomination and visa application at the same time can shave weeks off the timeline.
- Complete, decision-ready applications — if your application includes all the necessary evidence and documentation from day one, you shouldn’t have to deal with requests for more information and be able to move through the queue more quickly.
- Priority occupations — candidates in healthcare, teaching or regional positions get higher processing priority under current Ministerial Directions.
What Slows Things Down
- Incomplete applications — preventable delays are usually caused by missing documents, unsigned forms or inconsistencies between the nomination and visa application.
- Skills assessment delays — some occupations need a skills assessment from a relevant assessing authority before the visa can be lodged. These assessments have their own processing times and should be started as early as possible.
- Health and character check delays — medical appointments can take time to schedule, and police clearances from some countries can take weeks. Starting these before lodgement means they’ll be less likely to hold up the application.
- Requests for further information — if Home Affairs needs additional evidence or clarification, the application is effectively paused until the response is received.
How Matilda Supports Employers Through the Sponsorship Timeline
At Matilda Migration, we manage the entire employer sponsorship process for you so you can focus on running your business.
Our registered migration agents handle everything from the SBS application to visa grant, including preparing the Genuine Position Statement, coordinating labour market testing and lodging all applications.
We work with both the employer and the candidate as separate clients to make sure the sponsorship, nomination and visa applications all align. Inconsistencies between these three applications are a common source of delays and refusals.
For a full breakdown of sponsorship costs, see our guide to sponsoring an employee.
As one client puts it: “The Matilda team did an incredible job guiding us through this sponsorship, nomination and visa application process. All three applications were granted within 2 weeks of submission.” — Tom, Sicut Enterprises, Employer sponsored subclass 186
We also provide ongoing compliance support after the visa is granted, helping you meet your obligations as an approved sponsor so your business stays protected throughout the sponsorship period.
In the "How Matilda Supports Employers" section, the line "helping you meet your obligations as an approved sponsor" currently links to the learn page. This would be a natural spot to link to the obligations blog instead: "helping you meet your obligations as an approved sponsor."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start the sponsorship process before I’ve found a candidate?
Yes, and it’s one of the smartest things you can do for your timeline. You can apply for Standard Business Sponsorship approval before you’ve identified a specific candidate.
SBS approval lasts five years, so getting approved early means you’re ready to move straight to nomination when the right person comes along, potentially saving months.
Does it matter when in the year I lodge my application?
It can. The Department of Home Affairs manages a finite caseload, and processing times tend to fluctuate throughout the year. If you lodge your application around the start of a new financial year or after major policy changes, you could experience longer queues.
Your migration agent can advise you on current processing conditions and whether timing your application strategically could make a difference.
Can I sponsor multiple employees at once?
Yes. Your Standard Business Sponsorship covers your entire organisation, not a single role. Once it’s approved, you can nominate as many overseas workers as you need across different positions. Each nomination and visa application is processed independently.
Businesses that sponsor regularly often benefit from accredited sponsor status, which gives all applications priority processing.
What is accredited sponsor status and is it worth applying for?
Accredited sponsor status is a recognition from Home Affairs that your business has a strong track record of sponsoring overseas workers in a compliant way. The main benefit is priority processing on all nominations and visa applications, which can significantly reduce your timelines.
It’s worth considering if your business sponsors regularly or plans to increase its use of overseas talent.
How can I check the status of a pending application?
You can check the status of visa applications through the Department of Home Affairs VEVO system. If you’re working with a migration agent, they can monitor all applications on your behalf and flag any requests for more information as soon as they come through, which helps avoid delays in responding.
Start Planning Your Sponsorship Timeline Today
Planning ahead helps to make sure your sponsorship timeline runs smoothly and quickly. You can get rid of the most common causes of delay by setting your SBS approval in place before you need it, starting LMT early, preparing complete applications and working with a migration agent who coordinates all three stages.
And once the visa is granted, you can help make sure your investment pays off by supporting your new hire through settling in and onboarding.
Book a free employer consultation with Matilda Migration and we’ll give you a timeline estimate based on your specific situation.
Alice brings over 15 years of expertise to the table, with a background spanning international education, migration law, policy advisory and operation. She’s guided countless clients through employer-sponsored, skilled, family, partner, and student visas with smart, compliant strategies that actually work.
Employer sponsored visas
Which visas do you process?
Our team is able to support clients with a variety of visa applications including:
Partner visa: Subclass 820 and 801 (onshore) or 309 and 100 (offshore)
Student visa: Subclass 500
Temporary graduate visa: Subclass 485
Employer sponsored visa: Subclass TSS482
Skilled independent visa: Subclass 189
Business innovation and investment visa: Subclass 188
We’re also able to assist with applications for Australian Citizenship.
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