Work visa guides for Australia & New Zealand

How employer sponsorship works

Kabayan, if you are a Filipino worker thinking about Australia or New Zealand, employer sponsorship is one of the clearest legal routes: a real employer offers you a job and supports your work visa. This page explains how it works and where to start.

Employer sponsorship means the job comes first. An employer in Australia or New Zealand who cannot find a local worker for a skilled role offers you the job, gets the government's approval to sponsor or hire you, and then you apply for a work visa linked to that job. Every job on PinoyAbroad is with an employer prepared to sponsor a visa for the right candidate.

• Australia: the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). Your employer must be an approved sponsor and nominate your position; you then apply for the visa. Some 482 holders can later apply for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
• New Zealand: the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). Your employer must be accredited and pass a job check; they then send you a link to apply. Some roles lead to residence, for example through the Green List.

Australia vs New Zealand at a glance

A quick comparison of the two visas, as of October 2026. Each figure links to the official page; always check it before you apply.

Start with the job

Neither visa starts without a job offer, so the first step is finding the right role. Browse sponsored jobs in Australia, sponsored jobs in New Zealand or all jobs. Popular searches on PinoyAbroad: Welder, Chef, Aged care, Electrician, Truck driver, Carpenter.

Read each job's requirements carefully. If you do not yet have the experience, qualifications or English level a role needs, it is better to build them first than to apply for a role you cannot be sponsored for.

Applying from the Philippines

You can apply for both visas from the Philippines. What you need to prepare is broadly similar for both countries:

• A valid passport with enough validity left (New Zealand needs it valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave).
• Police certificates from the Philippines and other countries you have lived in. The rules on which countries and how recent differ between Australia and New Zealand; each guide explains them, and both governments publish how to get a certificate from each country.
• Qualifications, trade certificates and licences, plus a skills assessment if your Australian occupation needs one.
• Proof of work experience from your employers (reference letters, employment certificates, payslips), not just a CV.
• English test results from an accepted test, taken in person, if your visa needs them.
• English translations of any documents not in English.

Details for each country: Australia and New Zealand. Also check any rules your own government has for citizens working overseas, using official government sources.

Common mistakes and how to avoid scams

Many Filipino families know someone who paid a "placement fee" for a job that never existed. The official rules are clear, and knowing them protects you.

• Never pay for a job offer. In New Zealand, employers and agents cannot charge you fees for a job, and paying for a job offer can get your visa declined. In Australia, sponsors must not pass sponsorship or recruitment costs on to you, and paying for sponsorship can stop you getting the visa.
• No one can guarantee a visa. Only the Australian or New Zealand government decides.
• Use only licensed help. In Australia, only registered migration agents and lawyers can charge for immigration assistance. In New Zealand, immigration advice must come from a licensed immigration adviser or an exempt person. You can also apply yourself.
• Pay government fees only through the official online systems (ImmiAccount in Australia, Immigration New Zealand's online application).
• Be honest and consistent. False or misleading documents or claims can get your application refused.

Official guidance: Home Affairs visa scams and INZ: protecting yourself from immigration scams.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer before applying for a work visa?

Yes, for both the Australian Skills in Demand (482) visa and the New Zealand AEWV. In Australia your employer nominates your position first; in New Zealand an accredited employer completes a job check and sends you a link to apply.

Which is faster, Australia or New Zealand?

It varies. As of October 2026, Immigration New Zealand says 80% of AEWV applications are decided within 5.5 weeks, while Home Affairs shows 50% of 482 Core Skills stream applications processed in 4 months and 90% in 9 months. Check the official processing-time pages for the latest figures.

Can I bring my family?

Usually, yes. In Australia you can include your partner and dependent children in your 482 application. In New Zealand your family apply for their own visas, and what they can get depends on your pay and job.

Does employer sponsorship lead to permanent residence?

It can. In Australia, many 482 holders later apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) after 2 years with their sponsor. In New Zealand, some roles lead to residence through the Green List or the Skilled Migrant Category. Eligibility depends on the rules when you apply.

Do I have to pay anyone to get a sponsored job?

No. Do not pay for a job offer. New Zealand employers and agents cannot charge you job fees, and Australian sponsors must not pass sponsorship or recruitment costs on to you. You only pay the government charges and your own costs such as tests, medicals and police certificates.

Can I apply from the Philippines?

Yes. Both visas can be applied for from outside Australia and New Zealand. See the "Applying from the Philippines" section above for the documents to prepare.