Last reviewed: October 2026.

When a Singapore, Malaysian or Indonesian group expands into Australia, the first hires are usually its own people: a trusted executive to run the subsidiary, an engineer who knows the product, a finance manager who knows the group’s systems. Australia has no separate intra-company transfer visa. Instead, these moves run through the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa — with concessions that come from Australia’s trade agreements with Singapore (SAFTA), Malaysia (MAFTA) and Indonesia (IA-CEPA).

Step 1: Set up the Australian entity correctly

• Subsidiary or branch. Most groups incorporate an Australian proprietary company. A foreign company can instead register as a branch, which needs a local agent. A subsidiary is usually simpler for sponsorship, contracting and liability.

• Resident director. An Australian proprietary company must have at least one director who ordinarily lives in Australia. This is often the first practical hurdle; plan for it before the executive arrives.

• Foreign investment approval. Acquiring an existing Australian business, or land for the operation, may require approval depending on value, sector and the investor’s country.

• Employment law. Australian employment law, minimum pay standards and superannuation apply to transferred staff from their first day.

Step 2: Become an approved sponsor

The Australian company applies to become a standard business sponsor. A newly established business can be approved, but must show it is genuinely operating or about to operate. In some cases, an overseas business without an Australian operation yet can sponsor staff to establish one.

Step 3: Nominate the role and the person

The executive then needs a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. Key requirements:

• Salary. The role must pay at least the relevant income threshold — from 1 July 2026, A$79,499 for the Core Skills stream and A$146,717 for the Specialist Skills stream — and the market rate an Australian would receive for the same role.

• Skills and experience matching the nominated occupation.

• Labour market testing. Normally the employer must advertise the role in Australia first. Australia’s trade agreements, including SAFTA, MAFTA and IA-CEPA, contain commitments for intra-corporate transferees — typically executives, senior managers and specialists who have worked for the group overseas. Where those commitments apply, labour market testing is not required.

• Training levy and visa charges, paid by the employer.

The assignment letter and evidence of the relationship between the overseas parent and the Australian entity are central to an intra-corporate transfer application. Gaps in either are a common reason for delay.

Step 4: Plan for permanent residence

Many transferred executives later want to stay. After a period of sponsored employment, the employer can nominate them for permanent residence under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Planning this from the outset, including the role’s salary and duties, avoids problems later. Families are included as secondary applicants.

Why use lawyers for this

These transfers combine company law, foreign investment, employment law and migration law. Our firm’s Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law handle the sponsorship and visa work, while our commercial team advises on the company set-up and agreements. We work with group legal and HR teams in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an intra-company transfer visa in Australia? No separate visa. Intra-corporate transfers use the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, with trade agreement concessions.

Does SAFTA exempt our Singapore executive from labour market testing? It can, if the executive qualifies as an intra-corporate transferee under the agreement’s commitments. We confirm this against the current Home Affairs rules before lodging.

Can a new Australian subsidiary sponsor staff? Yes, if it can show it is lawfully operating or about to start operating.

Does our Australian company need a local director? Yes. At least one director of an Australian proprietary company must ordinarily reside in Australia.

Contact us. If your group is planning an Australian expansion, book an initial consultation to map the corporate and visa steps together.

Related reading: Investor and business visas after the 188 closure (read the guide); International commercial mediation (read the guide).

This article is general information only and is not legal or immigration advice. Thresholds are indexed each 1 July; information is as at October 2026.

Sources: Visa Plan — Specialist Skills income threshold from 1 July 2026 · Ternrise — Skills in Demand thresholds 2026 · Migration Republic — intra-corporate transfers under the 482 · Parliament of Australia — trade agreement LMT waivers

Justin Chua (蔡智勋), lawyer and mediator, Chua Tan Associates, Melbourne. General information only, not legal advice.