Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS)

Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS)

Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) is the foundation of employer-sponsored visa programs in Australia. It is the approval that allows businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers for temporary work visas (such as the 482) and certain pathways to permanent residency (186).

What is Standard Business Sponsorship?

SBS is not a visa - it is an approval status for your business that demonstrates to the Department of Home Affairs that you are:

• A legitimate, lawfully operating business in Australia
• Capable of meeting sponsorship obligations
• Committed to training Australian workers
• Able to pay market salary rates
• Willing to provide fair working conditions

Once approved, your SBS lasts for 5 years and allows you to nominate multiple overseas workers during that period.

Who Needs Standard Business Sponsorship?

You need SBS if you want to sponsor workers for:

• Skill in Demand visa (482): Temporary skilled workers
• Training visa (407): Workplace-based training programs
• ENS 186 (some streams): Permanent residency pathways
• Regional 494: Regional skilled workers

Eligibility Requirements

Your Business Must:

• Be lawfully operating in Australia - registered with ASIC or relevant authority
• Have a genuine need for skilled overseas workers
• Be financially viable - able to pay the nominated employee
• Have no adverse information - no history of non-compliance with immigration or workplace laws
• Meet training requirements - either meet training benchmarks OR pay the SAF levy when nominating

You Must Commit To:

• Pay market salary rates (minimum $70,000 for most positions)
• Provide terms and conditions no less favorable than Australian workers
• Cooperate with inspectors and monitoring activities
• Keep accurate records for at least 2 years after sponsorship ends
• Not recover costs from the sponsored worker
• Notify the Department of certain changes (e.g., worker no longer employed)

Application Process

Documents Required:

• Business registration documents (ABN, ASIC registration)
• Evidence of lawful operation (tax returns, BAS statements)
• Organizational structure chart
• Evidence of training commitment
• Statutory declaration of compliance

Processing Time:

Typically 3-5 business days from lodgement to decision.

Cost:

$420 application fee

Training Benchmarks

As a sponsor, you must demonstrate commitment to training Australian workers. You can meet this by:

Option 1: Training Benchmarks

Small businesses (<$10M turnover): Spend equivalent to 1% of annual payroll on training Australian employees

Large businesses: Spend equivalent to 2% of annual payroll on training

Option 2: Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy

Pay the SAF levy when you nominate a worker (discussed in nomination stage)

Ongoing Obligations

Once approved as a sponsor, you must:

• Pay Market Salary Rate: At least $70,000 or the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), whichever is higher
• Provide Equal Terms: Same terms and conditions as equivalent Australian workers
• Maintain Records: Keep payroll, employment records for 2+ years
• Notify Changes: Tell the Department within 28 days if sponsored worker stops working
• Allow Monitoring: Cooperate with inspectors if visited
• No Cost Recovery: Cannot require worker to pay visa costs, airfares, or other migration expenses

Common Reasons for Refusal

• Business not lawfully operating or financially viable
• Adverse immigration or workplace compliance history
• Unable to demonstrate commitment to training
• Insufficient evidence of business operations
• Previous sponsorship breaches

After Approval

Once your SBS is approved:

1. Approval is valid for 5 years
2. You can nominate multiple workers (no limit on numbers)
3. Each nomination requires separate approval
4. You can check your sponsorship status in ImmiAccount
5. Keep your ImmiAccount details secure

Cancellation or Suspension

Your sponsorship can be cancelled or suspended if:

• You breach sponsorship obligations
• You provide false or misleading information
• You fail to cooperate with monitoring
• You have adverse workplace or immigration compliance issues

Next Steps

After obtaining SBS approval:

1. Nominate a Position: Lodge a nomination for the specific role and worker
2. Worker Applies: After nomination approval, the worker applies for their visa
3. Maintain Compliance: Meet all ongoing obligations throughout sponsorship period