You can find farm work in Australia, but getting visa sponsorship depends on the job, your experience and the employer. Before paying immigration lawyers, visa consultants, recruitment agencies or relocation services, check which employer sponsored work visa you could qualify for. Jobs range from harvesting in regional Queensland to dairy work in New South Wales and Victoria. Some need little experience; sponsored skilled roles usually need more. Here is what to check, what the jobs pay and where to apply.
Yes, although many farm jobs are advertised for people who already have permission to work in Australia. This is common with picking, packing and general farm labour. If you need an employer to sponsor you, skilled dairy work, horticulture and farm management are worth looking at more closely.
The Department of Home Affairs industry labour agreement guidance confirms that the horticulture agreement covers 31 specified occupations and can support subclasses 482, 494 and 186. The employer needs the appropriate agreement and must nominate a position that qualifies. You cannot buy a labour agreement for yourself.
Australian farm worker salary and employment conditions
All figures below are Australian dollars, before tax. Fair Work’s horticulture pay guidance lists these adult Level 1 minimum rates from 1 July 2026:
Employment
Minimum hourly pay
Full-time or part-time horticulture
A$25.74
Casual horticulture
A$32.18
These figures are for that horticulture classification. Dairy and livestock jobs can come under different awards, which set minimum pay and working conditions. Your duties, experience, overtime and any workplace agreement can change what you should receive.
If you are paid by the bucket or bin under the Horticulture Award, you still have a daily minimum wage guarantee. Keep a record of your hours and how much you pick so you can check your pay.
The Chesworth Dairy Partnership advert linked from Little Big Dairy’s careers page gives an example of pay for experienced workers:
Position
Advertised annual salary
Dairy cattle farm operator
A$70,000 to A$85,000
Senior dairy cattle farm worker
A$75,000 to A$100,000
Dairy farmer
A$100,000 to A$120,000+
The advert lists superannuation on top of these salaries. For sponsorship, the salary must also meet the rules for the visa or an approved concession.
Visa types for agricultural employment
Employer sponsored visas
Skills in Demand visa, subclass 482: This lets an employer sponsor an eligible worker temporarily. The stream you apply under sets the occupation, experience, English and salary requirements.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, subclass 494: This is for eligible jobs in designated regional areas. It can lead to permanent residence later if you meet the requirements.
Employer Nomination Scheme, subclass 186: This is a permanent visa. You need an eligible employer to nominate you, and you must meet the requirements of the stream you use.
Labour agreements allow sponsorship for certain agricultural occupations under agreed terms. A Designated Area Migration Agreement, usually called a DAMA, lets approved employers in a particular region recruit for listed jobs and use any concessions available under that agreement.
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme recruits eligible workers through participating countries’ labour sending units. It is not a worldwide recruitment program.
Working Holiday and Work and Holiday visas, subclasses 417 and 462, depend on passport and other eligibility conditions. You do not need ordinary employer sponsorship to get work rights under these visas. Consult the official Working Holiday Maker overview.
Employers and recruitment agencies: where to apply
Chesworth Dairy Partnership through Little Big Dairy
Location: Near Dubbo, New South Wales.
The official Little Big Dairy careers page lists dairy cattle farm operator, senior dairy cattle farm worker and dairy farmer vacancies, linking directly to the employer’s advertisement.
The linked advert says sponsorship may be available for suitable applicants. That means the employer may consider it, but you still need to qualify. The advert does not name the visa subclass, so ask which visa they would use for your position.
Qualifications: Requirements depend on the position. The dairy farmer role asks for an agriculture-related degree or substantial experience on a commercial dairy farm.
Costa recruits for harvesting, packing and other agricultural positions through its official website. A current sponsored farm worker vacancy was not confirmed during this research. Read the conditions on the job you want before applying.
Agri Labour Australia
Address: G01N, 527 Gregory Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Queensland 4006.
Its official recruitment website covers regional agricultural employment. Its guidance says applicants need Australian work rights. Registering with the agency does not mean it will sponsor you from overseas.
Rural Enterprises
Postal address: PO Box 84, Vasse, Western Australia 6280.
Contact: +61 8 9477 6600.
Use its official contact page to enquire about agricultural placements. Sponsorship has not been confirmed here. Ask whether the job you are interested in accepts applicants outside Australia and whether the employer will nominate a worker for a visa.
Eligibility requirements and documents
Get your paperwork ready so an employer can check what you have done:
Valid passport and identification.
CV showing employers, dates, machinery and livestock or crop experience.
Employment references, supported by contracts or payslips where available.
Agricultural certificates, transcripts and relevant licences.
English test results and skills assessment if required.
Police certificates, health examinations and family documents when requested.
Written employment offer and employer nomination information.
Being qualified for the job does not necessarily mean you qualify for the visa. Check the age, experience and English rules for the exact stream, including any exemptions that apply.
How to apply for sponsorship
Look for jobs that fit your experience. Use official employer careers pages, Workforce Australia and established recruitment platforms to find leads.
Check who can apply. “Existing Australian work rights required” usually makes an advertisement unsuitable for an applicant seeking initial sponsorship.
Confirm sponsorship in writing. Ask for the legal employer, occupation, visa subclass, location, salary, hours and any labour agreement involved.
Write your application for that job. Describe the work you have done, the equipment you can use, your qualifications and your current visa status. Include references.
Read the offer carefully. Ask about accommodation, transport, deductions and who is responsible for each cost.
Apply through ImmiAccount. Follow the selected visa’s instructions and complete biometrics or medical checks when directed.
If professional help is needed, check the registered migration agent directory. If you use an Australian lawyer for immigration advice, check their registration with the relevant legal regulator.
Permanent residence pathways and settlement
Express Entry and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, RCIP, belong to Canada. They are not Australian application routes.
Australia’s relevant options include subclass 186 employer nomination and, for eligible regional provisional visa holders, subclass 191. Home Affairs’ subclass 191 eligibility guidance requires an eligible 491 or 494 visa held for at least three years, compliance with visa conditions and specified tax assessment evidence.
The 190 and 491 skilled migration routes may suit applicants with eligible skilled agricultural occupations, subject to assessment, nomination or sponsorship and invitation requirements. Having worked as a fruit picker does not, by itself, mean you qualify.
Permanent residence gives you ongoing rights to live and work in Australia. Access to Medicare, family arrangements and other services depends on your status and the relevant rules. Check accommodation and relocation costs with the employer.
Embassy contacts and work visa verification
You will generally apply for an Australian work visa online. Going to the embassy does not take the place of an employer nomination or an application.
Postal address: PMB 5152, Wuse, Abuja 900288, Nigeria.
Telephone: +234 (0)20 9460 6960.
Website: nigeria.highcommission.gov.au.
The High Commission states that it does not process visa applications. Use its visas and citizenship guidance for the correct channels. Once your visa is granted, check its conditions through VEVO, instead of relying on a screenshot sent by a recruiter.
Walk away from promises of guaranteed approval or a guaranteed nomination in exchange for money. Do not invent experience or accept a job that expects you to work on a visitor visa.
Conclusion
If you are looking for farm work in Australia, start with a simple question: do you already have permission to work there, or do you need an employer to sponsor you? That answer changes which jobs are worth applying for. Many harvest vacancies are real, but they are aimed at people who already hold work rights. Sending applications to those employers without checking the conditions can take up weeks. Read that part of the advert before spending time on a CV or paying anyone for help.
If you need sponsorship, think about the experience you can prove. Someone who has worked with dairy cattle, operated farm machinery or managed irrigation may be able to apply for positions that need those skills. Someone with no farm experience will have fewer options and should check their visa eligibility before making travel plans. Working Holiday visas and the PALM scheme have their own entry rules. They are not available to everyone, and an agency cannot change those rules because it has a job to fill.
Your application should help the farmer understand what you can do on an ordinary working day. Have you milked cows, cared for calves, repaired equipment, driven tractors or supervised a team? Say so clearly, with dates and references. There is no need to make the work sound more impressive than it was. Useful details are better than broad claims about being hardworking. They also give the employer something to check when deciding whether you have enough experience for the job and any proposed sponsorship.
Before accepting an offer, work out what you would actually earn and spend. Ask about the roster, expected hours, overtime, superannuation and deductions. If housing is provided, find out what it costs, who you would share with and how you would get to work. Seasonal earnings can change when rain or other conditions interrupt the work. A good hourly rate tells you only part of the story. You need enough information to judge whether the job will cover your living costs and leave you with money to save.
If settling permanently is your goal, ask about that separately. An employer offering a job today is not necessarily offering a permanent residence pathway. Find out which visa is proposed, whether there is a possible next step and what you would need to qualify. Keep your contracts, payslips, tax assessments and visa letters from the beginning. If the employer refers to a DAMA or labour agreement, ask how it applies to your particular role. General comments about regional labour shortages do not answer that question.
The employers and agencies in this guide give you places to start. The Chesworth dairy advert mentions possible sponsorship for suitable applicants; the other contacts need further checks for the job you want. Use their published websites and contact details, ask direct questions and get the terms in writing. If you cannot work out whether the proposed visa fits your circumstances, speak to an authorised migration adviser or lawyer before committing money. You should be able to explain the job, the pay and the visa in plain language before you agree to move.
