The Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026, which received assent in late April 2026, amends the Migration Act 1958 by granting the Department of Home Affairs the ability to publish a public register of approved work sponsors.
What will be published
Under regulation 2.58 of the Migration Regulations 1994, an “approved work sponsor” can be a:
- Standard business sponsor
- Temporary activities sponsor
- Entity subject to a labour agreement
The legislation is expected to begin with standard business sponsors, which are required for subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) and subclass 494 (Skilled Employer‑Sponsored Regional – Provisional) visas. The register may later expand to include the other sponsor types.
The information that may appear on the register includes:
- Sponsor’s name (including sole‑trader names)
- Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Type of sponsorship approved
- Postcode linked to the ABN (if any)
- Number of nominations the sponsor has made
- Occupations for which the sponsor has nominated workers
Personal identifiers and biometric data are expressly excluded. Further regulations will detail the exact format and any additional fields.
Expected timeline
- The register is slated to launch within six months of the Act’s assent, i.e., by late 2026.
Practical consequences
For overseas workers
- Ability to verify a sponsor’s legitimacy before accepting a job offer.
- Potential to locate sponsors by filtering the register for specific occupations, aiding job‑search strategies.
For Australian businesses and HR teams
- Increased visibility may generate unsolicited inquiries from prospective employees, which could be beneficial or burdensome.
- Public exposure of nomination numbers and occupations could influence competitive dynamics among sponsors.
Comparison with existing public data
Current public information is limited to separate registers for:
- Approved work sponsors (general list)
- Approved training providers
- Approved occupation lists
The new register will consolidate and expand these details, offering a more comprehensive view of sponsor activity.
Caveats and considerations
- It is not yet confirmed whether temporary activities sponsors or labour‑agreement entities will be included.
- The register’s usefulness depends on how searchable it is—particularly whether users can filter by occupation.
- Businesses should prepare for possible spikes in direct contact from job seekers and consider policies for handling such inquiries.
Overall, the new sponsor register aims to increase transparency in Australia’s migration program, helping both workers and employers navigate the sponsorship landscape more confidently.
Source article: www.peakmigration.com.au
