Visa Sponsorship Opportunities
Did you know Sodexo supports visa sponsorship opportunities for employees working in a skilled occupation?
Sodexo is an accredited sponsor and has helped many employees and their families successfully gain visas.
Select a menu option below to further explore the exciting possibilities and discover where visa sponsorship can take you. It’s crucial to start the conversation with your manager first.
Temporary Visa Sponsorship
Basic eligibility:
Sodexo sponsors temporary visas to help address labour shortages for skilled workers who are crucial to our operations, as described below:
(1) Temporary Skills Shortage Visa (subclass 482 visa) for Short term stream up to 2 years and for Medium term stream up to 4 years or
(2) Workplace Occupational Training Visa (subclass 407 visa) to improve your skills up to 2 years.
- Your occupation must be listed on the Immigration’s skill shortages list
- You must be able to demonstrate a minimum of 12 months (full-time equivalent) experience that is relevant to the nominated occupation. Written employment references are required. Casual employment history is not considered.
- You must meet English language testing requirements for the visa, unless you hold a UK, USA, Canada, Republic of Ireland or New Zealand passport.
- You must meet Immigration health & character checks. Police clearances are mandatory from all countries you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
Labour Market Testing:
- Labour Market Testing is a mandatory step for sponsoring subclass 482 visas only.
- Your manager must consult the HR Recruitment Team to establish labour market testing conditions.
- This requires the job to be set up as a vacant position and advertised on two job forums (Sodexo careers page and Seek) for a minimum period of 28 days
- This must be done before a 482 visa can be lodged. Note: This is already in place for chef/cook occupations.
Financial considerations:
- Visa fees must be approved by management.
- Sodexo pays visa sponsorship fees for the employee’s application only.
- The employee agrees to pay all other incidental expenses and visa application fees to include any family members.
- Financial Support (visa loan) is optional and may be available to help pay for family members, if needed.
- Your manager is responsible for coordinating approvals from management for a visa loan.
- Loan arrangements will be set out in writing (“Visa Application Costs Loan”) and subject to a cost recovery clause in the event employment is terminated.
- Loan repayments are calculated over a one (1) year period in equal repayments based on your pay cycle and will include additional costs related to Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).
- Reach out to the HR Rewards Team to request a loan quotation.
How to Get Started
We will generally consider visa sponsorship opportunities when there is 3 months remaining on your current visa.
This timeframe allows sufficient time to assess eligible visa pathways and time to prepare the visa application.
It also ensures Sodexo can manage visa costs by not funding another visa too soon.
- Check your basic eligibility
- Start the conversation with your manager to gain approvals from management
- Complete Labour Market Testing
- Then reach out to the HR Rewards Team to initiate your visa sponsorship application
- The HR Rewards Team will require a cost centre, email approval and a PDF of job postings
- Each application is assessed individually by the Sodexo’s migration agent.
Next Steps
Sodexo migration agent will prepare your visa application for lodgement and will inform Sodexo and you of the visa outcome.
Processing timeframes for visa can vary from application to application.
Sodexo holds a priority business accreditation so this may be faster than the visa timeframes published on the Department of Home Affairs (Immigration and Citizenship) website.
Permanent Visa Sponsorship
Basic eligibility:
To qualify for Permanent Residency Visa (subclass 186 PR Visa) under an Employer Nomination Scheme, you must be (i) under 45 years of age, (ii) have competent English language skills, (iii) meet health & character checks and (iv) demonstrate you meet either one of the two pathways described below.
- Temporary Transition Stream
This pathway is Sodexo’s preferred stream – you must have spent at least 2 of their 3 years work experience, working for Sodexo whilst holding a 482 visa (*see note). - Direct Entry Stream
This pathway requires you to have (i) successfully gained a positive skills assessment (in the nominated occupation) AND (ii) provide employment references totaling at least 3 years employment experience in the nominated occupation (overseas and/or in Australia).
*Note: if you currently hold a 485 Graduate visa the preferred visa pathway is to apply for a 482 visa (min 2 years), then 186 PR Visa under temporary transition stream.
Financial considerations:
- The decision to apply for Permanent Residency (PR) is personal in nature; therefore, Sodexo expects you to fund the visa costs.
- Sodexo will only pay the mandatory nomination fee, as this fee cannot be passed onto you.
- Financial Support (visa loan) is optional and may be available to help with visa costs.
- Your manager is responsible for coordinating approvals from management for a visa loan.
- Loan arrangements will be set out in writing (“Visa Application Costs Loan”) and subject to a cost recovery clause in the event employment is terminated.
- Loan repayments are calculated over a three (3) year period in equal repayments based on your pay cycle and will include additional costs related to Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).
- Reach out to HR Rewards team to request a loan quotation.
How to Get Started
We will generally consider visa sponsorship opportunities when there is 3 months remaining on your current visa.
This timeframe allows sufficient time to assess eligible visa pathways and time to prepare the visa application.
It also ensures Sodexo can manage visa costs by not funding another visa too soon.
- Check your basic eligibility
- Start the conversation with your manager to gain approvals from management
- Complete PR request form and email this form and management approvals to HR Rewards team
- Each application is assessed individually by the Sodexo’s migration agent.
Next Steps
Sodexo migration agent will prepare your visa application for lodgement and will inform Sodexo and you of the visa outcome.
Processing timeframes for visa can vary from application to application.
Sodexo holds a priority business accreditation so this may be faster than the visa timeframes published on the Department of Home Affairs (Immigration and Citizenship) website.
