482 and 494 Visa Sponsor Reporting Obligations (Employer Guide 2026)


If you sponsor a worker on a Subclass 482 or 494 visa, you must comply with sponsor reporting obligations by notifying the Department of Home Affairs when certain changes occur, usually within 28 days. Below is a list of the types of changes that must be reported and when these obligations apply.

  1. Employment Related Changes
    You must notify the Department if:
    • The sponsored worker’s employment ends or is expected to end
      • You can notify the Department before employment ends
      • If employment does not end, or ends on a different date, you must notify the Department
    • The sponsored worker does not start work as agreed
    • The sponsored worker’s job duties change

  2. Changes to your business details
    You must notify the Department if:
    • Your business address or contact details change
    • Your business ceases to exist

  3. Changes to business structure or key people
    You must notify the Department if:
    • A new director is appointed (company)
    • A new partner joins the business (partnership)
    • A new committee member is appointed (unincorporated association)

  4. Financial and insolvency events
    You must notify the Department if:
    • You pay return travel costs for the sponsored worker (or their family), as required
    • The business becomes insolvent
    • An administrator, liquidator, receiver, or restructuring practitioner is appointed
    • The business enters bankruptcy, liquidation, winding-up, or deregistration processes

      Note: Individual sponsors (natural persons)
      You must notify the Department if you personally become bankrupt or enter into any formal insolvency or debt arrangement.

  5. Timeframes for reporting
    • Most events must be reported within 28 days of the change happening
    • Employment cessation must be reported within 28 days of the worker finishing employment (or earlier if known)

  6. When these obligations apply
    These reporting obligations:
    • Start when you are approved as a sponsor
    • Continue until
      • You are no longer an approved sponsor and
      • You have no sponsored workers (or their family members) linked to you

* Please note that the information provided herein is of a general nature only and is not individual legal advice. Contact Us to assess your circumstances.