Work Visas

Visa options that allow work in South Australia

1.    Work visas

There are two streams of visas, temporary and permanent, available for employers to bring overseas workers into their business. The type of work visa required depends upon a range of factors including the speed required to fill the vacancy. Employers can discuss their circumstances with Business SA to identify the preferred visa.

A. Temporary visa information
Members who urgently require a position to be filled may find that the Temporary Business (Long Stay) work visa (subclass 457) can provide a relatively quick response.

This visa allows someone from overseas to stay and work for a period from three months up to four years and an extension may also be sought.

While employers can choose between electronic or paper lodgement of applications, electronic lodgement is preferable as it enables prompt processing.

This visa can also be used for employers wanting to ensure the worker meets the position requirements before offering them access to a permanent visa.

Should an overseas person enter South Australia on a particular type of temporary visa, they may be able to apply for a permanent visa.

Note: To assist regional employers facing skilled shortages, DIAC has introduced a regional variation to the standard 457 (i.e. a Regional 457 visa).

More information about the temporary work visa (457), including the regional 457 visa, is available from the following websites:

The South Australian Government, through Immigration SA, also has information about the regional 457 visa and is available from their site at http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/sa/migrate_from_overseas/visa_options/employer_spons_migration.jsp


Employer obligations under the 457 visa program

It is important for employers and their sponsored employees to be fully aware of the obligations associated with sponsoring overseas workers under the Temporary Business visa, subclass 457.
More detailed information on this visa is available via http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/obligations.htm

The following links provide more information about employer's obligations as well as the Minimum Salary Level



B. Permanent visa information
South Australian employers seeking to offer overseas workers access to permanent Australian visas can nominate them under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS- subclass 119 [offshore] or 857 [onshore]).

Employers must show there is a shortage of skilled labour in the local market and the potential employee must meet the following criteria:

  • under 45 years of age
  • possess functional English, and
  • have qualifications suitable for the position.


Where the skilled worker does not meet the above criteria, it is possible for the employer to seek approval for the case as an exceptional appointment.

Employersare advised that the RSMS visa receives priority processing.

Visa applicants who enter Australia on a Temporary Work visa 457 may also be able to apply for a permanent visa through the Onshore RSMS (visa subclass 857) process.

More information is available from:


For more information on how to access the right visa to suit your business needs, phone John Haren on 8300 0084 or email johnh@business-sa.com