482 vs 494 Nomination: A Migration Agent's Comparison

At a glance

Sponsorship and nomination

Both streams require an approved employer sponsor and a nomination for the specific position. The key structural difference is regional certification:

• 482 — a Standard Business Sponsor nominates the position directly. See becoming an approved sponsor.
• 494 — in addition to sponsorship, the position must be certified by a Regional Certifying Body (RCB) for the relevant region, which assesses that the role is genuine and the terms are consistent with the regional labour market.

Labour Market Testing applies to both streams unless a specific exemption is available, and must be evidenced at nomination.

Salary requirements

For both visas, the position must meet the applicable income threshold and the market salary rate for the occupation — whichever is higher. These thresholds are indexed and change periodically, so quote the current figure from the Department rather than relying on a number you saw last year. Some regional arrangements and labour agreements provide concessions; confirm what applies to the specific case.

Which one fits the client?

Lean 482 when

• The role is in a metropolitan area or the employer isn't regional
• The occupation sits on the applicable Skills in Demand list
• The client wants the most direct route to 186 permanent residency

Lean 494 when

• The employer is in a designated regional area
• The occupation is on the regional list but may not suit the 482 stream
• The client is comfortable committing to regional work toward the 191 PR pathway

Once you've settled the pathway, the 482 nomination checklist covers the documents the sponsor, nomination and visa stages each need.