Temporary Visas
For lawfully operating Australian and overseas employers to employ approved, skilled workers for temporary vacancies in particular occupations required in Australia. Temporary visas can offer a pathway to a permanent visa. There are a number of different options under this category, including:

Temporary Business Long Stay - Standard Business Sponsorship (subclass 457)
A visa for employers to sponsor approved skilled workers to work in Australia for up to 4 years.  Please see attached http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/occupations.pdf 457 Skilled Occupation list for the type of occupations that may apply. This visa category has a minimum salary level for employees. The employee also can only work for the Sponsored company.

Service Sellers
For representatives of overseas suppliers of services who are negotiating, or entering into, agreements to supply their services in Australia under the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).

Medical Practitioner visa (subclass 422)
Doctors may also apply for a Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457) but this visa is an alternative for doctors registered to work in Australia. A sponsorship is required for the position.

Educational visa (subclass 418)
For educational workers to be employed in Australia on a temporary basis by an Australian tertiary education or research institution, school or technical college.

Labour Agreements
Formal arrangements for an Australian industry group or employer to recruit a specified number of skilled workers on a temporary or permanent basis over a number of years.

Invest Australia Supported Skills Program
This program provides for entry of key personnel of overseas based international firms making a significant investment in Australia.

Permanent Visas
For lawfully operating Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers in particular occupations required in Australia. There are a number of different options under this category, including:

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121/856) (no longer available post 1 July 2012)
For lawfully operating Australian employers to recruit workers on permanent visas, to fill full-time highly skilled positions which cannot be filled from the Australian labour market. Recent changes in this category mean that many 457 Visa holders transfer to this category after having worked for their sponsoring employer for a period of time.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 119/857) (no longer available post 1 July 2012)
For employers in regional Australia to employ skilled people in positions unable to be filled from the local labour market.

Labour Agreements
Formal arrangements for an Australian industry group or employer to recruit a specified number of skilled workers on a temporary or permanent basis over a number of years.

Invest Australia Supported Skills Program
This program provides for entry of key personnel of overseas based international firms making a significant investment in Australia.