Visas For Employing Overseas Workers in the Agriculture Sector

Agriculture plays a major role in Australia’s economy. As a global producer and exporter, Australia’s agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector is diverse – producing a wide range of crop and livestock products.

A Snapshot of Australia’s Agriculture Sector

Australia’s major products and sectors include:

• Grains: Wheat is the largest commodity followed by barley and canola. Other crops include oats, sorghum and pulses.
• Livestock: Beef, lamb and animal products including wool.
• Horticulture: Cotton, sugarcane, fruit, nuts, and grapes for wine production.
• Dairy: Milk, cheese etc.
• Forestry: Woodchips, paper, softwood pulp logs suitable for woodchip production.
• Fisheries: Abalone, tuna, rock lobster, finfish, crustaceans and molluscs.

Australian agriculture accounts for:

• 55% of Australian land use (excludes timber production)
• 74% of water consumption
• 8% of goods and services exports
• 9% of rural employment
• 2% of national employment

As the agriculture sector continues to grow, labour is a key component to ensure continued strong growth in this sector. The agriculture industry relies heavily on temporary overseas workers to fulfil labour shortages. Short-term and longer-term visas are available to foreign workers wishing to work in Australia’s agriculture sector.

Visas for the Agriculture Sector

There are several visa options available to foreign workers wishing to find employment in the agriculture sector.

The following visa options are available to employers needing to hire overseas workers to fill labour shortages.

Skills in Demand Visa – Subclass 482

Employers can sponsor suitably skilled foreign workers to fill positions where local talent isn’t available.

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa – Subclass 494

Employers in Australia’s regions can sponsor skilled foreign workers that have been nominated to work in an occupation on the relevant skilled occupation list.

Employer Nomination Scheme – Subclass 186

Employers can nominate skilled overseas workers to live and work in Australia permanently.

Labour Agreements

A labour agreement is a formal contract between Australian employers and the Australian Government. The agreement allows businesses to sponsor skilled foreign workers where standard temporary or permanent visa programs are not available.

In addition, the Working Holiday Maker Program and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme are also options to consider.

More information about the visas available for employing workers in the agriculture sector can be found on the Visa Solutions website.

As employer and individual circumstances differ, it is recommended that employers and visa applicants seek professional advice to determine the most appropriate visa pathway.

Visa Solutions Australia has helped many clients employ overseas workers to fill labour shortages. The VSA team will ensure visa applicants have met all the eligibility requirements for the selected pathway and the visa application is complete prior to lodgement, ensuring a greater chance of success.

To learn more about employing overseas workers in agriculture or any other aspect of migration, contact the experienced team of registered migration agents at Visa Solutions Australia.