From a Student Visa to a Sponsored Job: How 500 Holders Get a 482

Reviewed 28 August 2026 — fees and thresholds from the Department of Home Affairs price list and salary page

A student visa (subclass 500) holder can be nominated for a subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa by an approved sponsor, and can lodge the 482 onshore, if they meet the same requirements as any other applicant. The one that matters most is the experience rule: at least one year of relevant work experience in the last five years, and part-time or casual work counts if it adds up to the equivalent of twelve months full-time. You also need an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, a salary of at least A$79,423, and IELTS 5.0 in each band unless your passport is exempt. Most students go via the 485 first; some are sponsored directly.

Two routes: study to 485 to 482, or direct

Both routes end at the same visa with the same fees. The choice comes down to whether you can evidence the year of experience now or need the 485 to earn it.

What the employer does

1. Holds or applies for Standard Business Sponsorship (A$420; processing 12 days to 4 months).
2. Lodges a nomination for a genuine position in your occupation (A$330, plus the Skilling Australians Fund levy of A$1,200 or A$1,800 per year of the visa depending on business size; processing 5 days to 9 months).
3. Pays at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of A$79,423 and the market rate for the role.

Then you lodge the 482: A$4,015 for you, A$4,015 per adult dependant and A$1,005 per child, plus a possible A$700 subsequent temporary application charge if you lodge onshore holding certain visas. Current processing for 482 Core Skills is 69 days for half of applications and 10 months for 90 per cent.

English

The 482 requires IELTS 5.0 in each band or the equivalent in an approved test taken from 13 September 2025. Holders of UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand or Irish passports are exempt. The test you took for your student visa may be outside the validity window by the time you apply, so plan to sit again if needed. For the permanent 186 visa later, the requirement rises to competent English: IELTS 6.0 in each band.

Occupations on the CSOL

The nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List for the 482 Core Skills stream. Examples from the current list that match common courses: Accountant (General), Software Engineer, Civil Engineer, Registered Nurse (Aged Care), Enrolled Nurse, Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher, Child Care Worker, Chef, Cook, Carpenter, Electrician (General) and Motor Mechanic (General). Some carry caveats. Accountant (General) excludes businesses with turnover under A$1,000,000 or fewer than five employees, and Chef and Cook exclude limited-service restaurants such as fast food and takeaway. A skills assessment is only required where the instrument requires it for your occupation and passport; nursing (ANMAC), teaching and child care (ACECQA) and some trades (TRA) are the usual cases.

The permanent step

The 482 runs for up to four years. After two years of full-time work with approved sponsors, within the three years before nomination, you may be eligible for the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream, if you are under 45 with competent English. The 186 charge is A$6,140 and the employer pays a one-off SAF levy of A$3,000 or A$5,000. In regional areas the 494 (three years of experience, five-year visa, 191 after three years) is the alternative.

Being found by a sponsor

Employers who sponsor rarely find students by chance. Register a free profile on SponsorTalent with your course, occupation, hours worked and visa expiry date; approved sponsors search the pool. Look at the sponsored jobs board for current openings, and point an interested employer to the employer guide if they have never sponsored before.

If you want an opinion on your own case, WIDEN offers a paid consultation with a registered migration agent (A$200 + GST, credited toward any later engagement; you pay by card when booking) or a free assessment form for a first look.