What documents are required for a Standard Business Sponsorship application?

The documents required for a Standard Business Sponsorship application vary depending on the size and nature of the business, but the core financial and legal documents are consistent across most applications.  Typically required are the ABN Registration Certificate, an ASIC Company Extract, business tax returns for the most recently completed financial year, profit and loss statements and balance sheets, Business Activity Statements (BAS) for the last three quarters, and recent business bank statements showing active trading.  Where the business operates under a trust structure or franchise arrangement, relevant pages of the Trust Deed or Franchise Agreement will also be required.  For start-ups and businesses without a full year of trading history, a detailed business plan, service contracts already in place, and a letter of support from an accountant can help fill the gap where historical financial data is limited.  In our experience preparing SBS applications, the quality of the supporting documentation makes a material difference to how the application is assessed. We have seen cases where a well-documented start-up application was approved quickly, and established businesses with poorly presented financials faced unnecessary requests for further information that added weeks to the process.  The Department’s document checklist is available at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/becoming-a-sponsor/standard-business-sponsor/apply