Q&A: “We have registered our new restaurant as a business. Can we sponsor a chef on a work visa so that they can start working once the restaurant opens?”
The short answer is yes, provided you meet a number of requirements. Many new businesses and startups commence advertising and filling positions before their doors open for trading. If the business is a restaurant, it is crucial for them to be fully staffed and ready to service customers immediately on its opening day. There are several key steps involved for a new business to sponsor an employee on a temporary work visa (TSS subclass 482 visa).
Applying to become an approved sponsor
A new business will need to be an approved sponsor with the Department of Home Affairs, in order to sponsor employees on work visas. This involves providing evidence that the business is legally registered and operating in Australia. Examples of the type of evidence needed include:
Company registration documents
Financial or bank statements
Business plans
Contracts with suppliers or clients
Lease agreements
A third party letter of support such as from an accountant
Nominating a person to fill the vacant position
The next step after being approved as a sponsor is to nominate the overseas candidate to fill the position. This is the most important part of the process. Here are some of the things that businesses must demonstrate:
They have attempted to recruit local staff and were unsuccessful in their attempts
The candidate is offered the market salary rate for the occupation
The business can financially support the position
The candidate will be genuinely working in the role
The position is one that you’d expect to find in the business
Candidate to apply for the work visa that is linked to the nomination
The third step in the process is for the candidate to apply for the temporary work visa. This visa is linked to the approved nomination in the second step, and allows the candidate to either enter or remain in Australia and commence working for the business. As part of the visa application, the candidate (visa applicant) would need to:
Provide their identity documents such as passport, national ID card
Prove that they have the necessary skills and experience
Have minimum English language skills
Provide relevant police clearances and recent travel history
Purchase the appropriate health insurance
Organising and preparing the sponsorship for an overseas worker can be a challenging and time consuming process, especially for new businesses. If you’re a new or existing business looking to sponsor an overseas employee, Titan Migration can manage the entire visa sponsorship process for you. That way, you can spend less time on all the sponsorship paperwork and more of your time running the business!
Contact us today or book an appointment online with a registered migration agent.
About Peter Chang
Peter Chang is a registered migration agent based in the Western Sydney hub of Parramatta, Australia. He is the co-founder of Titan Migration, a consultancy specialising in providing Australian immigration advice and visa assistance services.