Overseas Recruitment: How Visa Solutions Can Help

Overseas Recruitment: Most of Australia is currently experiencing labour shortages but there are certain regions throughout the country that are struggling more than others. Some of the towns in Far North Queensland in particular are struggling more than most to find workers.

“When Cassandra Winzar talks to businesses, Australia’s labour shortage is the top issue — more pressing than energy prices, supply chains or a rise in the minimum wage.”
– Cassandra Winzar, Senior Economist at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA).

With little to no backpackers and international student numbers not yet at pre-Covid levels, businesses in these areas have no one to fill vacant positions.

So, what’s the solution to this problem? Overseas recruitment.

What is overseas recruitment?

Overseas recruitment enables businesses to recruit overseas employees. This may be to access talent or to fill skills shortages where there are no Australian employees to fill positions. The type of business will determine whether business owners may be able to recruit under labour agreements, a designated area migration agreement or employer sponsored visas.

How can Visa Solutions help with overseas recruitment?

While applying for a visa may seem simple enough, it can be quite complex. There are many visas available with varying conditions and requirements.

Visa Solutions has been assisting employers with overseas recruitment workers for over 20 years. The VSA team can assist employers in recruiting personnel from overseas by providing expert advice and support throughout the entire process, including:

1. Assessing the eligibility of the employer and the job position for sponsoring foreign workers.
2. Identifying the most suitable visa type for the foreign worker based on their skills, qualifications and experience.
3. Preparing and lodging visa applications and ensuring that all required documentation is complete and accurate.
4. Advising the employer on their obligations and responsibilities as a sponsor, including ensuring that the foreign worker is paid fair wages and working conditions.
5. Representing the employer in any communications with the Department of Home Affairs regarding the visa application.
6. Monitoring the progress of the visa application and advising the employer on any changes to immigration laws and regulations that may affect their sponsorship.
7. Providing support and advice throughout the entire recruitment process, from advertising the position to making a job offer to the foreign worker.

Visa Agents are regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and must comply with the Migration Agents Code of Conduct. Hiring a migration agent can ensure a smooth and successful recruitment process and can help reduce the risk of visa applications being refused or delayed.

Often when an employer needs overseas employees there is some urgency to the matter. The Visa Solutions team will take the employer’s timeline into consideration and aim to get workers here and working as quickly as possible.

In general, the timeline for the overseas recruitment process for Australia, including obtaining a visa for the foreign worker, relies on a number of factors, including the visa type, the complexity of the case, processing times of the Department of Home Affairs, and any changes to immigration laws and regulations.

Typically, the overseas recruitment process can take anywhere from several months to over a year, with the following steps involved:

1. Employer assessment and job evaluation: This can take several weeks to complete and involves the employer determining their eligibility to sponsor a foreign worker and evaluating the job position to ensure it meets the visa criteria.
2. Advertising the position: This can take up to four months and involves advertising the job position and attracting suitable candidates.
3. Visa application: This can take several months to complete and involves preparing and lodging the visa application with the Department of Home Affairs, including submitting supporting documentation and paying the visa application fee.
4. Processing of the visa application: This can take several months and involves the Department of Home Affairs assessing the visa application, conducting background checks and making a decision on the visa.
5. Grant of the visa: If the visa is granted, the foreign worker can enter Australia and commence work.

A visa agent can provide a more accurate estimate of the processing time for a specific visa application based on the individual circumstances of the case.

 “We’ve just placed 20 staff from Sweden, Spain, Scotland, UK and Canada on a mango farm on the Savannah highway, and then we’ve got another 20 going down and starting on the 20th [November 2022] on another mango farm.”
– Erryn Wells, Job Agent, Cairns Queensland.

Visa Solutions Australia has many years of experience helping Australian businesses obtain visas for overseas workers. With their contacts in the area of overseas recruitment, the team at Visa Solutions is well-equipped to help businesses find a solution to their labour shortages.

For overseas recruitment to Australia, the most common visa types are:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482)
• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186)
• Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa (subclass 187)
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)

These visas allow foreign workers to work and live in Australia temporarily or permanently, depending on the visa type and the specific visa conditions. Eligibility criteria, application process and visa conditions for each of these visas can vary significantly, so it’s important to get professional advice and to carefully consider which visa type is most appropriate for your specific situation. 

Ready to speak to a member of the Visa Solutions team about recruiting skilled workers from overseas or any other aspect of migration? Book a consultation today.