# Criteria for approval as a standard business sponsor

> reg-2.59 — as in force on 2026-06-01 — F2026C00497 · Compilation No. 287 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026C00497/latest/text

2.59 Criteria for approval as a standard business sponsor
               For subsection 140E(1) of the Act, the criterion that must be satisfied for the
               Minister to approve an application by a person (the applicant) for approval as a
               standard business sponsor is that the Minister is satisfied that:
                 (a) the applicant has applied for approval as a standard business sponsor in
                      accordance with the process set out in regulation 2.61; and
                 (c) the applicant is lawfully operating a business (whether in or outside
                      Australia); and
                  (f) if the applicant is lawfully operating a business in Australia:
                        (i) the applicant has attested, in writing, that the applicant has a strong
                            record of, or a demonstrated commitment to, employing local labour;
                            and
                       (ii) the applicant has declared, in writing, that the applicant will not
                            engage in discriminatory recruitment practices; and
                 (g) either:
                        (i) there is no adverse information known to Immigration about the
                            applicant or a person associated with the applicant; or
                       (ii) it is reasonable to disregard any adverse information known to
                            Immigration about the applicant or a person associated with the
                            applicant; and
                 (h) if the applicant is lawfully operating a business outside Australia and does
                      not lawfully operate a business in Australia—the applicant is seeking to be
                      approved as a standard business sponsor in relation to a holder of a
                      Subclass 457 (Temporary Work (Skilled)) visa, a Subclass 482 (Skills in
                      Demand) visa or a Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa, or an
                      applicant or a proposed applicant (the visa applicant) for a Subclass 482
                      (Skills in Demand) visa, and the applicant intends for the visa holder or
                      visa applicant to:
                        (i) establish, or assist in establishing, on behalf of the applicant, a
                            business operation in Australia with overseas connections; or
                       (ii) fulfil, or assist in fulfilling, a contractual obligation of the applicant.