The New Approved Work Sponsor Register 2026: What Employers & Visa Applicants Must Know
There is a big migration update in Australia for anyone involved in employer-sponsored visas.
On 8 April 2026, the Australian Government officially passed the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026. This new law brings a major change: it allows the government to publish a public list of businesses that are approved to sponsor skilled overseas workers.
Here is everything you need to know about the new Approved Work Sponsor Register, whether you are an Australian business or a migrant worker looking for a job.
What is the Approved Work Sponsor Register?
Under the new law, the Secretary can publish specific information about approved work sponsors on the Department of Home Affairs website.
According to the updated legislation, the public register may include the following details about a business:
- The type or kind of approved work sponsor.
- The name of the approved work sponsor.
- The sponsor's Australian Business Number (ABN).
- The postcode connected to the sponsor's ABN.
- The number of visa nominations the approved work sponsor has made.
- The types of jobs or occupations the sponsor has nominated.
The law also strictly protects individual privacy, stating that personal identifiers will not be published.
What Does This Mean for Employers?
If you are a business that sponsors overseas workers, this change will create both new opportunities and new pressures.
Because everyone will be able to see that your business sponsors workers, you may worry about getting flooded with sponsorship requests. Being on a public list could mean receiving more emails, phone calls, and overall pressure from job seekers asking for a 482, 186, or 494 visa.
Employers need to be ready to manage and organise this expected increase in sponsorship enquiries.
What Does This Mean for Visa Applicants?
If you are a visa applicant or skilled worker, the Approved Work Sponsor Register may help you make more informed job-search decisions.
Instead of guessing whether a business has sponsored workers before, you may be able to check whether an employer is already an approved sponsor and what types of occupations they have nominated in the past.
This does not mean you should contact every approved sponsor on the list. A better approach is to focus on genuine job vacancies that match your skills, qualifications and work experience. For example, when reviewing job advertisements, you may be able to check whether the company is already an approved sponsor before deciding whether to apply.
An approved sponsor may already understand the sponsorship process, which can make the process more familiar for both the employer and the applicant. However, this does not guarantee that they are hiring, that they will sponsor you, or that you will be eligible for a visa.
It is also important to remember that many businesses that are not yet approved sponsors may still be able to become approved sponsors and nominate a skilled worker if they have a genuine business need for that role. In some cases, an employer that needs your skills may be able to register as a sponsor and nominate you sooner than you may think.
While we wait for the government to officially publish the register, visa applicants should continue to focus on strong, targeted job applications and genuine roles that match their occupation and experience.
You can also get a head start by reading our comprehensive guide on how to find a sponsor for a 482 Visa.
Need Help with Employer-Sponsored Migration?
This is a massive change for employer-sponsored migration in Australia, and Work Visa Lawyers will share the official list as soon as the government publishes it.
If you are an employer wanting to understand how to manage your sponsor duties, or an applicant looking for guidance on your visa journey, we are here to help. Contact Work Visa Lawyers today to speak with one of our top migration lawyers.
References
Federal Register of Legislation: Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026 - View the official legislation here
