Quick Answer
You can change employers on a Skills in Demand (SID) visa but need a new nomination from an approved sponsor approved before starting work with the new employer. The two-year qualifying period for permanent residency via the ENS 186 TRT stream resets with each new employer. Working for an unapproved employer is a visa breach.
Changing employers on an employer sponsored visa comes up constantly. It might be a better job offer, a restructure, an employer closing — whatever the reason, the consequences for your visa and your permanent residence pathway are significant. Here is exactly what happens.
I’m Umar Ashraf, MARA-registered migration agent at Magpie Consultants in Epping, Melbourne.
How Does Changing Employers Work on the SID Visa?
The Skills in Demand visa is tied to a specific nomination from a specific approved sponsor. When you want to move to a new employer, the steps are:
- The new employer applies to become an approved standard business sponsor (if not already approved)
- The new employer lodges a new nomination for your position, specifying your salary and satisfying Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirements
- You wait for the nomination to be approved before commencing any work with the new employer
- In most cases the approved nomination is enough — you do not need a new visa grant provided your current SID visa remains valid and the new role is within the same visa stream
The critical point is step 3. You cannot resign and start work at the new employer before the nomination is approved. Working for an employer without an approved nomination breaches Visa Condition 8607 and can lead to visa cancellation.
What Happens to Your Permanent Residency Pathway?
This is where the practical impact of changing employers is felt most. The main PR pathway from the SID visa is the ENS Subclass 186 via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream, which requires two years of full-time employment with the employer who nominates you for the 186.
When you change employers, that two-year clock resets. Time with your previous employer does not count toward the TRT requirement with your new employer. You start the countdown from the date the new nomination is approved.
Changing employers two years into a three-year SID visa grant, for example, means you would need to remain with the new employer for a further two years before the 186 TRT stream is available — extending your overall timeline to PR by roughly two years.
That said, changing employers during a SID visa does not permanently disqualify you from reaching PR. It simply means more time before you qualify.
What if Your Employer’s Sponsorship Lapses?
A sponsorship lapse is different from a voluntary employer change and carries more immediate risk. If your current employer’s standard business sponsorship approval lapses, your visa becomes subject to cancellation under section 116(1)(g) of the Migration Act.
From 29 November 2025, the rules tightened further for those approaching PR. Qualifying employment toward the ENS 186 TRT stream must now be with an employer who holds current sponsorship approval at the time the 186 nomination is lodged. If your employer’s approval lapses at any point during your employment, that period of employment may not count toward your TRT qualifying period.
If you learn your employer’s sponsorship approval has lapsed or is at risk, act promptly:
- Determine whether the lapse was administrative (missed renewal) or intentional (employer no longer wishes to sponsor)
- If administrative: the employer should apply urgently to renew sponsorship approval before it expires or as soon as possible after lapse
- Seek advice about whether you need a new nomination from a new employer and what that means for your current visa conditions
How Long Does the Employer Change Process Take?
The timeline depends on whether the new employer already holds sponsorship approval:
- New employer is already an approved sponsor: nomination-only process, typically 4 to 8 weeks
- New employer needs sponsorship approval first: sponsorship application takes 4 to 6 weeks, then nomination, totalling around 2 to 3 months
Until the nomination is approved, you remain bound to your current employer under your current visa conditions. Resigning and starting before approval — even with near-certain approval expected — is a visa breach. There is no grace period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new visa when I change employers on a SID visa?
Usually not. An approved nomination from the new employer is generally sufficient — your existing SID visa continues in force. A new visa application may be needed if your visa has very little time remaining, if the new role is in a different stream (e.g., Specialist Skills vs Core Skills), or if any changes to your personal circumstances require a fresh application.
Does time with my previous employer count toward PR?
Not for the TRT stream. The two-year requirement must be completed with the employer who nominates you for the ENS 186. Employment with a previous employer builds your Australian work history, which can support other parts of your migration case, but it does not count toward the TRT qualifying period with the new employer.
What happens to my visa if my employer goes out of business?
If your employer ceases trading, their sponsorship approval effectively lapses. You need to find a new approved sponsor and obtain a new nomination urgently. There is no formal grace period for working without an approved nomination. Depending on time remaining on your visa and how close you are to the TRT threshold, this may significantly affect your PR timeline. Seek advice as soon as you know the employer is closing.
Can I apply for permanent residence while in the middle of an employer change?
Only if you have already completed two years with the employer who will nominate you for the ENS 186. If you are mid-change with a new employer, you need two years from the new nomination approval before TRT stream eligibility is available. There is no provision to combine time across multiple employers for the TRT calculation.
If you are considering changing employers on a Skills in Demand visa, get advice before you resign. Book a consultation at Magpie Consultants, Epping, Melbourne. Call 0424 260 655. Consultations in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.
For background on the SID visa framework, see our Skills in Demand visa overview and the SID employer sponsorship service page. For employer obligations including LMT, see Migration Services.
Official Sources
- Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand Visa
- Migration Act 1958 — Section 116 Visa Cancellation
Umar Ashraf
MARA Registered Migration Agent & Education Consultant | MARA #2619222 | Epping, Melbourne VIC
Umar Ashraf is a MARA-registered migration agent specialising in complex cases, visa cancellations, ART tribunal appeals, and employer sponsorship. He provides consultations in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi.
