Lawfully operating business
Australian business lawfully operating. Registered with ASIC. ABN active. Tax compliant.
First Step to Sponsor · 5-Year Validity · Training Contribution
Before you can sponsor, you need SBS accreditation.
Standard Business Sponsorship approval is the Department framework that permits Australian businesses to nominate skilled migrants. Once approved, SBS lasts 5 years. Here is what approval takes. Our employer team Brian Park and Sourabh Aggarwal handles SBS end to end.
Core eligibility
Four requirements.
Most established Australian businesses meet SBS eligibility. Key checks matter.
Commitment to training
Training contribution obligations for each nomination. Amount varies by business size. Payable at nomination.
No adverse information
Business and principals must have no adverse migration, tax, employment, or legal findings that would disqualify.
Genuine need for overseas workers
Business demonstrates the role exists, is ongoing, and cannot easily be filled locally. Links to LMT requirements.
Evidence required
Four evidence categories.
SBS evidence demonstrates the business is legitimate, financially viable, and compliant.
Business structure and registrationASIC documents, ABN, business registrations, corporate structure documents. Confirms legitimate business.
Financial evidenceFinancial statements, tax returns, bank statements. Demonstrates financial capacity to meet sponsor obligations.
Operational evidenceBusiness plans, client lists, premises, staff. Confirms the business is genuinely operating.
Training commitmentEvidence of existing training for Australian staff or evidence of training contribution arrangement. Shows commitment to local workforce.
Approval timeline
4-12 weeks typical.
SBS processing varies by business complexity and Department workload.
Standard processing
4-8 weeks for straightforward applications. Established businesses with complete evidence.
Complex cases
Up to 12 weeks for more complex or newly-established businesses. Additional documentation may be requested.
Accreditation status
Once approved, SBS lasts 5 years. Renewal required. Track expiry to avoid gaps.
SBS and nomination can run in parallel.
You do not have to wait for SBS approval before starting the nomination process. Both can lodge together, with nomination processing pausing until SBS is approved. This saves weeks of total timeline for urgent hires.
Common questions
The questions we hear most.
For SBS applications, book with Brian Park or Sourabh Aggarwal.
Does my business need to have been operating for a minimum time?
No strict minimum. But newly-established businesses face more scrutiny. Operational track record strengthens applications.
Can I be refused SBS?
Yes. Refusal is uncommon for established compliant businesses but possible for new businesses, businesses with compliance issues, or applications with insufficient evidence.
What happens if SBS expires during employment?
The sponsored worker visa continues. But new nominations require fresh SBS. Renewal applied for well before expiry.
Is the training contribution per worker or per year?
Per nomination. Calculated as a levy amount per nomination, with different amounts for small and medium/large businesses.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.