482 Visa Australia
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) allows Australian employers to sponsor overseas workers when they can’t find suitable local talent.
This visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in December 2024 and is now the main employer-sponsored pathway for skilled workers looking to work in Australia.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
What is the 482 Visa?
The Skills in Demand (SID) Visa allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers from overseas when they are unable to find suitable local talent.
This visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in December 2024 and is now the main employer-sponsored visa pathway for businesses looking to fill critical skill gaps in Australia.
Under this visa, approved employers can nominate overseas workers for specific roles, allowing them to work in Australia for a temporary period, with potential pathways to permanent residency depending on eligibility.
Occupations Eligible for the 482 Visa
The 482 visa has three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement. The Core Skills stream uses the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which replaced the previous TSS occupation lists.
Eligibility will depend on whether your occupation is on the relevant list, the visa stream you are applying under, and the requirements set by your sponsoring employer.
Application Process for 482 Visa
Here are the 5 steps employers and employees go through during the application process.
Standard Business Sponsorship
Employer applies to be a sponsor.
Labour Market Testing
The Employer must complete at least 4 weeks of labour market testing.
Nomination
The Employer nominates employee
Apply for Visa
The Employee applies for Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482
Employer Eligibility
An employer is typically eligible to nominate an employee if it:
- Is an approved Standard Business Sponsor
- Has a genuine position that aligns with the business’s needs
- Has completed Labour Market Testing (LMT) to show no suitable Australian worker is available
- Offers a salary that meets both the market salary rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which is AUD 79,423 a year for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026
Labour Market Testing must have been undertaken:
- For at least 28 days
- Within 4 months before lodging the nomination
Employee Eligibility
In general, you may be eligible for the 482 visa if you:
- Are nominated by an approved Australian employer for a relevant occupation
- Have at least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a closely related field, completed within the last 5 years
- Have the skills and qualifications required to perform the role
- Meet the English language requirements
- Hold adequate health insurance
- Meet standard health and character requirements
Depending on your occupation, you may also need to complete a skills assessment as part of your application.
Occupation Eligibility
For the Core Skills stream, your nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The Specialist Skills stream does not use the CSOL. It is open to most occupations except trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers, provided the salary meets the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
This list replaced the previous occupation lists used under the TSS visa and is now the main reference for employer-sponsored visa eligibility in Australia.
The CSOL is regularly updated based on Australia’s workforce needs and includes a wide range of occupations across industries such as healthcare, construction, IT, and trades.
Download 482 Visa Guide
Subclass 482 Visa Guide
If you're interested in the application process, associated fees, and eligibility requirements for the 482 Visa, simply click the download button and fill in your contact details below. Once completed, you'll be able to download a detailed guide directly from the website.
Request 482 Visa Guide
Please fill out your details, and we will send you an email with a detailed overview of the 482 Visa process.
482 Visa Streams
To be eligible for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), you must be nominated for a role that meets the requirements of one of the three streams below. Note that visa requirements and eligibility may change over time. This information is general in nature and does not guarantee visa outcomes. Each application is assessed based on individual circumstances.
Core Skills Stream
Eligibility:
- Your occupation must be listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
- You must have at least 1 year of relevant work experience
- You must be nominated by an approved sponsoring employer
- You must meet English, health, and character requirements
Visa Duration:
Up to 4 years, depending on the nomination.
Costs:
- Visa application fee (applicant): from approximately $4,015 AUD
- Employer costs may include:
- $420 AUD Sponsorship Application; and
- $330 AUD Nomination fee; and
- Skilling Australians Fund Levy
Employer Requirements:
- Must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor
- Must have a genuine full-time position
- Must complete Labour Market Testing (LMT)
- Must offer a salary that meets both:
- Market salary rate (AMSR)
- Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): AUD 79,423 a year for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026
Pathway to Permanent Residency:
- May be available through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186), depending on eligibility.
- Eligibility for permanent residency is assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account:
Occupation
Length of employment
Employer sponsorship
Legislative requirements at the time of application - It is important to structure the initial 482 application with long-term outcomes in mind.
Family Members:
- Applicants may include members of their family unit in the visa application, including:
Spouse or de facto partner
Dependent children - Each applicant must meet relevant health and character requirements.
Processing times:
- Processing times vary depending on:
The visa stream
Completeness of the application
Departmental priorities - The Department of Home Affairs publishes indicative processing times, which may change
periodically. - A well-prepared application can assist in avoiding unnecessary delays.
Specialist Skills Stream
Eligibility:
- Salary must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) of AUD 146,717 a year for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026
- Occupation must not be a trades, machinery operator, driver or labourer role
- At least 1 year of relevant work experience
- Must be nominated by an approved employer
- Must meet standard visa requirements (skills, English, health, character)
The duration of the visa is:
Up to four years
Key Benefit:
Designed to attract top global talent in specialised industries
You may be able to apply for Permanent Residence if:
Your employer may be able to sponsor you for the
You may be able to include family members if:
- Applicants may include members of their family unit in the visa application, including:
Spouse or de facto partner
Dependent children - Each applicant must meet relevant health and character requirements.
Labour Agreement Stream
Eligibility:
- Must be nominated under an approved Labour Agreement
- Requirements may vary depending on the agreement
Common Industries:
- Aged care
- Hospitality
- Construction
- Agriculture
Benefits:
May offer more flexible requirements for occupations, salary, or experience,
You may be able to apply for Permanent Residence if:
Your employer may be able to sponsor you for the
You may be able to include family members if:
- Applicants may include members of their family unit in the visa application, including:
Spouse or de facto partner
Dependent children - Each applicant must meet relevant health and character requirements.
Risks, Key Considerations & How We Help
Find out what commonly goes wrong with employer sponsored subclass 482 applications, what the Skills in Demand visa rules mean for you, and how a Pathway to Aus registered migration agent can help you plan clear next steps.
Book a Consultation
Get the most up-to-date information from a registered migration agent.
Common Risks and Refusal Issues
Early identification and management of these risks is critical.
- Incorrect ANZSCO occupation selection
- Poor alignment between job duties and occupation
- Inadequate Labour Market Testing
- Salary not meeting the relevant income threshold or market rate
- Insufficient evidence of work experience
Key Considerations
A strategic approach to the application can significantly impact both approval and long-term migration outcomes.
- The SID visa has replaced the former TSS visa
- At least 1 year of relevant work experience is generally required
- Labour Market Testing must meet 28-day requirements
- Salary must meet both the relevant income threshold and the market rate
- Permanent residency pathways should be considered from the outset
Our Approach
We provide end-to-end support for SID subclass 482 applications, including:
Eligibility assessment for both employer and applicant
ANZSCO occupation alignment and advice
Labour Market Testing guidance
Preparation of SBS, nomination, and visa applications.
Ongoing strategy planning for permanent residency
Sponsored Visa Refusal?
Willem from Pathway to Aus flags sponsored refusals when nomination finances don’t reflect a healthy, genuine business need, and when the role doesn’t match the ANZSCO duties.
What are your
next steps?
If you are considering sponsorship or applying for a subclass 482 visa, it is important to obtain advice early.
A structured assessment will determine:
- Eligibility under the SID framework
- The most appropriate visa stream
- Risks and documentation requirements
- Long-term pathway options
Find Your Migration Agent
Get matched with the perfect expert for your journey
Getting the Rule Right Made the Difference
A Child Care Worker sponsored under the Skills in Demand 482 visa was told he needed two years of work experience. The actual legal requirement was one. Here's how that distinction turned a Request for Further Information into a visa grant.
The Client's Story
Our client was sponsored under the Skills in Demand 482 visa as a Child Care Worker when the Department of Home Affairs issued a Request for Further Information (RFI), stating that his Certificate III qualification meant he needed at least two years of relevant work experience. That threshold was based on indicative ANZSCO guidance rather than the actual legislative requirement. Pathway to Aus prepared a legal submission correcting the record, and the visa was granted.
The Challenge
- Department issued an RFI based on a higher experience threshold than the law requires
- Risk of refusal if the RFI wasn't addressed correctly and on time
- Needed to distinguish indicative ANZSCO guidance from the actual legislative test
The Strategy
- Argued the correct requirement under clause 482.231 was one year full-time relevant experience, not two
- Clarified that ANZSCO is a guide only, not a legislative instrument
- Showed that part-time work can be combined to meet the full-time equivalent requirement
- Confirmed an RPL-based Certificate III remains a valid qualification
- Provided a structured breakdown of employment history showing the threshold was exceeded
Case breakdown
- OccupationChild Care Worker (ANZSCO 421111)
- LocationGunnedah, NSW
- IssueRFI on work experience
Read the full case study
See how an expert Pathway to Aus Registered Migration Agent corrected an incorrect work experience assumption and secured a 482 visa grant.
Grow Early Childhood Education
Pathway to Aus has assisted numerous childcare centres to apply for all types of employer sponsored visas including Employer Sponsored (482 and 494), DAMA Labour Agreements and Training Visas (Subclass 407).
Nick and the team are always a pleasure to work with. Finding childcare staff is such a struggle, however being able to offer sponsorship to our employees has meant that we have been able to retain and attract staff, which has been crucial to our business, especially in regional areas.
Immigration sponsorship is so much more complex than I thought initially. From the very beginning, Pathway to Aus has broken down the steps needed to undertake and the documents required. They work directly with the applicant as well to ensure that they their documents are correct too. Only once the application is complete will they then look to lodge the applications and liaise with immigration throughout the process.
I would recommend Pathway to Aus to any business that needs assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
In case you don't find an answer to your question, feel free to consult with one of our agents.
Can 482 visa holder apply for permanent residency?
The 482 visa is a temporary visa and does not directly grant permanent residency. However, many visa holders may become eligible for permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186), depending on their occupation, employer, and work experience in Australia. In some cases, regional pathways such as the Subclass 494 visa may also be an option. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Can 482 visas be extended?
Yes. A 482 visa may be extended by lodging a new nomination and visa application. There is no set limit on extensions, provided you continue to meet the requirements and have an employer willing to sponsor you. Each application is assessed on its own circumstances.
Can 482 dependent visa holders work?
Yes. Dependants over 18 included in your 482 visa usually have full work rights.
How long can a 482 visa be granted for?
The 482 visa can be granted for up to 4 years, depending on the period your employer nominates.
Do I need an employer to sponsor me to apply for a 482 visa?
Yes. You need an approved employer to nominate you before you can apply for a 482 visa.
What is the Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482?
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in December 2024. It is the most common employer-sponsored work visa in Australia.
How do you apply for a 482 visa?
Your employer would first need to apply to become a standard business sponsor (SBS). Your employer would then need to nominate you for the position. You would then apply for the 482 Visa.
Can I include family members on the 482 visa?
Yes you can include your spouse/de facto partner and dependent children.