Purpose of the obligations
To protect overseas workers from exploitation and stop visa programs undercutting local wages and conditions.
Source: Home Affairs: Existing sponsor (retrieved 4 October 2026)
For employers hiring overseas
Sponsor obligations for employers: records, notifications and worker protection
Sponsorship obligations are duties that apply to every approved sponsor from the day approval is granted. Home Affairs says they exist to protect overseas workers from exploitation and to stop visa programs undercutting local wages and conditions. They include keeping records and telling Home Affairs about changes, for example within 28 calendar days of a new director.
By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 4 October 2026.
Official data
Key facts from official sources
Start date
Obligations start on the day the sponsorship is approved or the work agreement commences.
Source: Home Affairs: Sponsorship obligations for standard business sponsors (retrieved 4 October 2026)
Notification example
Tell Home Affairs within 28 calendar days if a new director is appointed.
Source: Home Affairs: Sponsorship obligations (standard business, employer subsite) (retrieved 4 October 2026)
How to notify
Changes can be reported through the sponsor changes form in ImmiAccount or by email to the department's sponsor notifications address.
Source: Home Affairs: Sponsor responsibilities (retrieved 4 October 2026)
Employer guide
What you need to know
Why do sponsor obligations exist?
Home Affairs says the obligations are there to ensure overseas skilled workers are protected from exploitation, that the visa programs meet genuine skills shortages, and that they are not used to undercut local labour wages and conditions. That framing is useful for an employer because it explains how the rules are applied. If you are ever unsure whether something is permitted, ask whether it would treat the sponsored worker worse than a local employee or cut local wages and conditions. If the answer is yes, stop and get advice from your registered migration agent before going ahead.
When do they start?
Home Affairs states that the obligations start on the day the standard business sponsorship is approved or the work agreement commences, not on the day the first worker arrives. That means a business can be subject to record-keeping and notification duties before it has a single sponsored employee. Build the processes first: a named owner for sponsorship compliance, a folder structure for records and a calendar for notification deadlines.
Records and notifications
Record-keeping is a core sponsor duty, and the obligations page sets out what to keep. Sponsors also have to tell Home Affairs about certain changes. One example on the standard business page is letting the department know within 28 calendar days when a new director is appointed. Changes can be reported through the sponsor changes form in ImmiAccount or by email to the address the department publishes. Read the current obligations page for the full list and the exact deadlines, because the periods differ by type of change.
Where a recruiter helps and where it does not
Clean recruitment records support good compliance: position descriptions, the advertisements you ran, candidate assessments and the offer. CrossNation can supply shortlisting notes for the candidates we present. It cannot keep your sponsor records, make your notifications or confirm that you are compliant. If your circumstances change, such as a restructure, a new director or a change in a worker's duties, contact your registered migration agent and check the Home Affairs page for the deadline that applies.
Tell us the role, location and start date
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do obligations apply if I have not hired anyone yet?
Yes. Home Affairs says they start when the sponsorship is approved or the work agreement commences.
Who keeps the sponsor records, CrossNation or the employer?
The employer. CrossNation can give you recruitment records for candidates it presented, but the sponsor is responsible for its own compliance records.
Is 28 days the deadline for every change?
No. It is the example given for a new director. Periods differ by type of change, so check the current obligations page.
Can I pass visa-related costs to the worker?
Do not assume you can. Sponsor rules on costs are set by Home Affairs, so ask your registered migration agent before agreeing anything in an employment contract.
Where do I report a change?
Home Affairs says you can use the sponsor changes form in ImmiAccount or email the sponsor notifications address it publishes on the sponsor responsibilities page.