Labour Agreement
Custom Visa Solutions When Standard Programs Don’t Fit
Most migration agents won’t touch Labour Agreements.
They’re complex, high-stakes, and require more than just visa knowledge — you need to understand industry, compliance, workforce gaps, and how to negotiate directly with the Department.
At Cornerstone HR & Migration, we’ve helped faith-based organisations, hospitality groups, aged care providers, manufacturers, and regional employers unlock skilled talent through Labour Agreements when the standard system didn’t work.
Whether you need trade-qualified chefs outside the Core Skills List, overseas clergy for a ministry, or skilled workers in roles that don’t fit any ANZSCO neatly — we’ve done it before, and we’ll structure it right for you.
What We Handle
Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa
- Allows employers to fill skilled positions for 2–4 years
- Must demonstrate labour market need
- Streams: Short-Term, Medium-Term, and Labour Agreement
Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
- Permanent residency visa
- For skilled workers who are nominated by an Australian employer
- Requires relevant skills, experience, and sometimes prior TSS visa
Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa
- 5-year provisional visa for regional areas
- Requires employer sponsorship and skills assessment
- Pathway to permanent residency via subclass 191
What is an Employer Sponsored Visa?
Employer sponsored visas allow Australian businesses to sponsor skilled foreign workers to fill critical positions that cannot be met through the local labour market. These visas provide a pathway to temporary work and, in many cases, permanent residency.
At Cornerstone Migration, we support both employers and employees in navigating the legal and practical steps required for sponsorship, nomination, and visa application.
Company-Specific Labour Agreements
- When your business needs occupations, concessions, or conditions outside the standard framework:
- Full business case development
- Submission strategy and negotiation with DHA
- Occupation mapping, salary benchmarking, and justification
We’ve secured agreements for roles that didn’t even exist in the standard ANZSCO — because we knew how to argue them.
Skills in Demand (SID) Visa – Subclass 482
When Australian workers can’t fill the role, we help you secure skilled overseas staff fast — and legally.
- Genuine position support
- Contract and salary compliance
- Medium- and short-term streams
- Transition to PR via 186 TRT
Note: Labour Market Testing (LMT) is a requirement for the employer. While we don’t conduct LMT ourselves, we guide you to ensure it’s fully compliant with DHA policy.
Restructuring Your Workforce
- We work with employers to convert casual agency hires and subcontractors into stable, in-house teams — with qualified overseas staff under structured visa pathways. This means less churn, lower cost, and better retention.
Regional Sponsorship – Subclass 494
Need to build in regional areas? We manage:
- RCB certification
- Skills assessment support
- Regional concessions
- Transition to PR via subclass 191
Employer Nomination Scheme – Subclass 186
We manage both Direct Entry and Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) streams:
- Genuine Position & Nomination packs
- Exemptions (age, English, skill)
- Overseas-to-PR and SID-to-PR transitions
Labour Agreements & DAMA Pathways
For roles outside standard occupation lists or industry-specific needs, we:
- Negotiate company-specific agreements
- Manage DAMA sponsorships
- Draft Minister of Religion labour agreements
- Provide ongoing compliance oversight
Short-Term Specialist Visas – Subclass 400
We assist with urgent, high-value, short-duration roles, including:
- Engineering and mining projects
- Oil and gas shutdowns
- Touring athletes, coaches, and teams
- Visiting entertainers, celebrities, and production staff
- Intra-company transfers and global mobility teams
Ready to Start Your Employer Sponsored Visa Journey?
Contact us today to check your eligibility and let us help you or your business take the next step toward skilled migration and workforce success in Australia.