Australia will introduce an approved work sponsor register, a public database of employers sponsoring skilled migrant workers, following new legislation aimed at increasing transparency and reducing exploitation.
The Australian Government has enacted reforms under the Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026, authorising the Department of Home Affairs to publish the register of approved work sponsors on its website. The law received Royal Assent on 8 April 2026, with publication expected by early September.
The register will disclose key information about approved sponsors of skilled migrant workers, including:
- Sponsorship type
- Business name
- Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Postcode
- Number of nominations
- Occupations sponsored
The Department will use the approved work sponsor register to make sponsorship activity publicly visible. Officials say this will help skilled migrant workers confirm whether an employer is legitimate before changing jobs, reducing exposure to exploitation.
The reform expands existing transparency tools, including labour agreement lists and sanctioned sponsor registers. Unlike those, the register will provide structured, ongoing data on sponsorship activity across industries and regions.
The Australian Government says the approved work sponsor register forms part of a broader migration strategy to strengthen system integrity. The data is expected to reveal labour market trends, including sectors reliant on skilled migration and geographic demand patterns.
Under the legislation, the Department may publish sponsor information but must not disclose personal identifiers. Regulations will determine what data appears on the register and when publication may be restricted.
What This Means
Employers sponsoring skilled migrant workers will have their sponsorship patterns, such as frequency of nominations and roles filled, open to scrutiny by regulators, industry bodies and the public. This introduces a reputational dimension to sponsorship, where data may be interpreted as a signal of workforce strategy, reliance on migration or organisational growth.
For skilled migrant workers, the approved work sponsor register provides a practical tool to verify whether an employer is an approved sponsor. This visibility supports more informed job decisions, particularly for workers considering changing employers, and reduces the risk of engaging with non-compliant or unverified sponsors.
How Our Team Can Help
SALIA Lawyers & Associates provides tailored immigration and legal support to businesses and skilled workers navigating Australia’s employer-sponsored migration system. The firm specialises in employer-sponsored visas, skilled migration and complex immigration matters. We can assist by:
- Reviewing sponsorship strategies to ensure compliance and alignment with workforce needs
- Advising on nomination practices and risk management in light of increased transparency
- Preparing and managing employer-sponsored visa applications, including subclass 482, 186 and 494 visas
- Providing legal representation in complex cases, including refusals, cancellations and tribunal matters
With a personalised and strategic approach, SALIA Lawyers & Associates works with employers and skilled workers to ensure that sponsorship decisions remain compliant, defensible and aligned with long-term business objectives in an increasingly transparent migration system.
Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided is intended as a general guide and should not be relied upon as legal or migration advice. As migration laws and regulations can change, we recommend consulting an Australian Lawyer or Registered Migration Agent for advice tailored to your circumstances.
