Strategic Immigration Advice for Australian Businesses
From sponsoring your first overseas employee to managing complex nominations and ongoing workforce requirements, Southern Stone provides practical, commercially informed immigration advice to Australian employers. We act for employers of every size, from sole traders to multinationals and publicly listed companies.
What we do
Our corporate immigration expertise
Integrated immigration support for your business, at every stage of your workforce requirements.
Employer Sponsorship & Nominations
Standard business sponsorship, Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) nominations, 482 nomination transfers, occupation assessments and permanent residency pathways.
Corporate Immigration Advisory
Workforce planning, sponsorship strategy, employee retention and ongoing immigration support for businesses and HR teams.
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Labour Agreements & Specialist Visas
Labour agreements, regional employer sponsorship, short-term specialist assignments and workplace training visas.
Compliance & Complex Matters
Sponsorship obligations, sponsor monitoring and sanction issues, nomination refusals, Administrative Review Tribunal proceedings and complex employer-sponsored applications.
Why Southern Stone
Why businesses work with Southern Stone
Experience beyond straightforward visa applications
Employer-sponsored migration is rarely just about meeting visa criteria. It requires an understanding of the business, the position being nominated, the employee’s circumstances and the employer’s obligations under Australian migration law.
At Southern Stone, we approach employer sponsorship with this broader perspective. We work closely with business owners, HR professionals and management teams to navigate sponsorship requirements, manage immigration risks and develop solutions aligned with their operational needs.
We combine the technical expertise required for complex corporate migration matters with the responsiveness and continuity of a dedicated advisory team.
Complex nominations and occupation assessments
We assist employers with positions that require careful occupational classification, detailed supporting evidence and a considered approach to nomination requirements.
Practical, commercially informed advice
We recognise that immigration decisions affect recruitment, staffing costs, business operations and workforce continuity. Our advice considers these practical implications alongside the legal requirements.
Direct access to experienced advisers
We value long-term relationships with our corporate clients. Our approach emphasises continuity, responsiveness and an understanding of each employer’s business.
Support beyond visa lodgement
Our services extend to sponsorship renewals, ongoing compliance, employee transitions to permanent residency and assistance when unexpected immigration issues arise.
Complex employer matters
Not every sponsorship matter is straightforward
Businesses sometimes encounter circumstances that require more than a standard visa application. We assist with complex occupation classifications, nomination challenges, requests for further information, sponsorship compliance concerns and refusals.
Facing a complex nomination issue?
Discuss your matterAreas we assist with
- Genuine-position requirements and supporting evidence
- Complex ANZSCO occupation classifications
- Labour market testing issues
- Nomination refusals and ART reviews
- Sponsor monitoring and sanction issues
- Sponsorship changes and renewals
- Urgent specialist assignments
How it works
- 01Initial consultation to understand your business and roles
- 02Pathway and risk assessment, with a clear recommendation
- 03Sponsorship, nomination and visa applications prepared and lodged
- 04Ongoing support as your team and the rules change
How we help
- Workforce planning: mapping each position to the right temporary or permanent pathway, so timing and cost are known before you commit.
- Sponsorship strategy: when to become a sponsor, which positions to nominate first, and how each role connects to permanent residence.
- Employee retention: planning the move from a temporary visa to permanent residence early, so the people you have trained can stay.
- Ongoing support for HR teams: visa expiries, changes of role and new hires handled as one plan, rather than a series of separate applications.
Related articles
Employer Sponsored Visa482 Nomination Transfer: Changing Employers on a 482 VisaMoving to a new employer on a 482 visa? How a nomination transfer works, when a new visa is needed, the condition 8607 time limits and the costs.Read the article
Employer Sponsored VisaMinisterial Directions 121 and 122: New Processing Priorities for 482 and 186 VisasFrom 19 September 2026, Directions 121 and 122 set new processing priorities for 482 and 186 visas. What changed, and what it means onshore and offshore.Read the article
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to be an approved sponsor first?
For most employer-sponsored visas, yes. We assess whether your business is eligible, prepare the sponsorship application, and explain what approval will mean for your day-to-day obligations as an employer.
Can you help if we already sponsor staff?
Yes. We review your existing arrangements, upcoming visa expiries and compliance obligations, so you can see where things stand and plan renewals or changes of role before deadlines become urgent.
Do you work with overseas candidates and onshore visa holders?
Both. Many employers recruit offshore while also supporting people already in Australia. We have a particular focus on employer-sponsored pathways, and we advise on whichever route suits each candidate and role.
Can you advise before we make a job offer?
Yes, and we encourage it. Checking whether a role and candidate can realistically be sponsored before you commit to an offer helps avoid delays, wasted recruitment effort and awkward conversations later.
Let’s discuss your workforce requirements
Whether you are considering sponsoring your first employee, managing multiple sponsored workers or facing a complex nomination issue, our team can help you assess the options and plan your next steps.