482 visa: what to check before asking your employer to sponsor you

Start with the job you actually do

Write a short account of your everyday duties, who supervises you and the level of responsibility you carry. An impressive job title cannot turn administrative work into a professional occupation. Compare the duties with the appropriate occupation classification before discussing a pathway.

Separate the current job from any genuinely proposed promotion. If the business wants you in a different role, identify when the role will exist, what work supports it and whether you have the skills to perform it. A nomination should describe a real position rather than a position created only on paper.

Make your visa timeline visible

Give your adviser your current visa grant, expiry date, work conditions and relevant application history. Include previous refusals, cancellations and any pending review. These details can affect where and when an application can be made.

Do not assume an employer nomination extends your stay or changes your work rights. Sponsorship approval, nomination and the visa application are distinct decisions. A proposed start date needs to work with the immigration position as well as the employment contract.

Bring a practical proposal to the meeting

Ask who makes sponsorship decisions, whether the employer already holds approval and which budget owner needs to be involved. Explain that the business and worker have different evidence responsibilities. A manager may support the idea while HR still needs to assess the legal entity, recruitment and remuneration.

A useful first meeting ends with agreed next steps: a role assessment, a document contact and a realistic preparation timetable. It should not end with an assurance that a visa will be granted. Emigrate Lawyers can assess the proposed arrangement and identify the questions that need answers before either side commits.

Common questions