Australia's primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa. The Skills in Demand (SID) framework replaced the previous Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) framework.
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa allows Australian employers to sponsor overseas workers when they cannot find suitably qualified Australian workers to fill positions. It is the cornerstone of Australia's employer-sponsored migration program for temporary skilled work.
The Skills in Demand framework (in force from 7 December 2024) replaced the previous Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) arrangements. The subclass number remains 482, but the streams, occupation list and income thresholds were redesigned. Earlier guidance, blog posts and forms referring to "TSS", "Short-term stream", "Medium-term stream", "TSMIT", "STSOL", "MLTSSL" or "ROL" reflect the previous framework and should not be relied on for new applications.
The 482 visa remains a two-stage process: the employer must first be an approved sponsor (Standard Business Sponsor), and then nominates a specific position. Once the nomination is approved, the worker lodges the visa application.
Visa type: Temporary work visa • Streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, Labour Agreement • Duration: Up to 4 years in every stream (up to 5 years for Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders) • Work rights: Skilled work for the sponsoring employer • Family: Eligible family members may be included • PR pathway: Available via the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
Under the Skills in Demand framework, the Subclass 482 visa has the following streams (each has its own page on the Department of Home Affairs website):
The Core Skills stream covers occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) (— 458 occupations as at August 2026). It requires the nominated position to be paid at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT). Visa duration: up to 4 years. PR pathway: Core Skills holders can apply for the 186 TRT stream after 2 years of full-time work in the nominated occupation for approved sponsors within the 3 years before nomination.
The Specialist Skills stream is for high-skill specialist roles where the nominated position is paid at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) (earnings must be at or above the SSIT, and the occupation must be on ANZSCO and outside major groups 3, 7 and 8 — trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers are excluded regardless of salary). Visa duration: up to 4 years. Processing target: 50% of Specialist Skills visas decided within 8 days and 90% within 43 days (Department of Home Affairs, 4 August 2026).
The Labour Agreement stream is available when an employer has a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government. These agreements are negotiated when standard arrangements do not adequately address an employer's labour needs — for example, where the required occupation is not on the standard list or where concessions are needed. Labour agreements can be company-specific, industry-wide, or Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs). The terms of sponsorship, including visa duration and conditions, are set out in the individual agreement.
The previous Short-term and Medium-term streams have been replaced. If you are looking at older guidance, blog posts or templates that refer to "Short-term", "Medium-term", "STSOL", "MLTSSL" or "ROL", that content reflects the pre-Skills in Demand framework and does not apply to current applications.
| Feature | Core Skills | Specialist Skills | Labour Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Duration | Up to 4 years | Up to 4 years | As per agreement |
| Occupation list | Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) | Any ANZSCO occupation except major groups 3, 7 and 8 (trades, machinery operators/drivers, labourers) | Per agreement |
| Income threshold | CSIT A$79,423 | SSIT A$146,576 | Per agreement |
| PR pathway (186 TRT) | After 2 years with approved sponsors (within 3 years before nomination) | After 2 years with approved sponsors (within 3 years before nomination) | Per agreement |
| Skills Assessment | Required for occupations and passport countries listed in the skills-assessment instrument (notably trades assessed by TRA); otherwise met through work experience | Required only where the instrument specifies it for the occupation and passport country | Per agreement |
Before an employer can sponsor a worker on a 482 visa, they must meet several requirements. The Department of Home Affairs assesses whether the business is lawfully operating, financially viable, and has a genuine need for the overseas worker.
The employer must first become an approved Standard Business Sponsor. This involves demonstrating that the business is actively and lawfully operating in Australia, has a strong record of compliance with Australian immigration and workplace laws, and can meet its sponsorship obligations.
Once approved as a sponsor, the employer must nominate a position. Key requirements include:
Labour market testing requirements are strictly enforced. Advertisements must be genuine, appropriately targeted, and placed on platforms likely to attract Australian applicants. The Department may refuse a nomination if LMT is found to be inadequate or not genuinely aimed at recruiting Australians.
The overseas worker (visa applicant) must also meet specific requirements to be granted a 482 visa:
Under the Skills in Demand framework, the Core Skills stream draws on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) (— 458 occupations as at August 2026). This replaced the previous STSOL, MLTSSL and ROL arrangements used under the TSS framework.
The Specialist Skills stream operates on income threshold + occupation rules rather than the same CSOL framework — any ANZSCO occupation qualifies except major groups 3, 7 and 8 (trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers), which are excluded regardless of salary.
Labour Agreement nominations rely on the occupation scope set out in the relevant labour agreement.
Skilled occupation list contents change. Confirm your specific occupation against the live list on the Department of Home Affairs Skilled occupation list page before relying on eligibility.
Under the Skills in Demand framework, the previous Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) used for the 482 visa was replaced by stream-specific income thresholds:
In addition to meeting the applicable threshold, the salary offered must be at or above the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the occupation in the relevant location — what an equivalent Australian worker would be paid in the same role, at the same location, with the same skills and experience.
The salary must be paid in monetary terms. Non-monetary benefits (e.g. accommodation, vehicle) generally cannot be counted toward the income threshold. Treatment of guaranteed annual bonuses, allowances and superannuation: only guaranteed cash earnings for full-time hours count — base salary plus guaranteed allowances or bonuses written into the contract; superannuation, non-guaranteed overtime, discretionary bonuses and non-monetary benefits sit on top of the threshold, not inside it.
The Department of Home Affairs indexes skilled visa income thresholds annually. Both the CSIT and SSIT are scheduled to change on 1 July 2026. Confirm the exact figures against the DHA salary requirements page and the indexation announcement before relying on any figure at or after 1 July 2026.
The 482 visa application is a three-stage process. Each stage must be approved before the next can proceed.
If the employer is not already an approved sponsor, they must first lodge a Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) application. This involves providing business registration documents, financial statements, evidence of lawful operation, and an outline of the business's training commitment. The SBS approval is valid for five years.
Once approved as a sponsor, the employer nominates the specific position. This requires:
After the nomination is lodged (or approved), the worker can lodge their visa application. This requires:
Processing times for 482 applications vary by stream, application completeness, and current Department workload. Specific stream targets (including any priority processing for Specialist Skills, and any UDPE-related changes): Core Skills — 50% of visas decided within 69 days, 90% within 10 months; Specialist Skills — 50% within 8 days, 90% within 43 days; Labour Agreement — 50% within 6 months, 90% within 9 months; nominations — 50% within 5 days, 90% within 9 months; sponsorship approval — 50% within 12 days, 90% within 4 months (Department of Home Affairs, 4 August 2026).
Processing-time targets are reviewed periodically. Confirm current figures on the DHA Visa processing times page before relying on them.
Several fees are involved in the 482 process, paid at different stages by different parties. Specific current amounts: Standard Business Sponsorship application A$420; nomination A$330; Skilling Australians Fund levy A$1,200 or A$1,800 per year of nomination depending on turnover; visa application charge A$4,015 for the primary applicant, A$4,015 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and A$1,005 for each child under 18 in every stream (up from A$3,210 / A$3,210 / A$805 before 1 July 2026), plus a A$700 subsequent temporary application charge for an applicant who lodges in Australia while holding certain temporary visas (Department of Home Affairs price list, checked 28 August 2026).
Confirm all current amounts on the DHA Skills in Demand 482 page — fees and levies are subject to change.
The 482 visa comes with mandatory visa conditions, including (but not limited to) condition 8607 (work only in the nominated occupation for the sponsoring employer, and the rules on changing sponsor), 8501 (maintain adequate health insurance for the whole stay) and 8303 (no involvement in activities disruptive to, or violent towards, the Australian community); further conditions may be imposed for Labour Agreement stream holders. Confirm the exact condition wording on the DHA Skills in Demand 482 page and the related conditions pages.
The rules on how long a 482 holder has to find a new sponsor (or leave Australia) after their employment ends have changed under the Skills in Demand framework. The current rule covers both a maximum consecutive period per cessation event and a cumulative cap over the life of the visa: a visa holder may be without a sponsoring employer for up to 180 consecutive days per cessation, and no more than 365 days in total across the life of the visa, and may work for other employers in that period to support themselves. Earlier guidance referring to "60 consecutive days" reflects the previous rule and does not apply.
The 60-consecutive-day rule that applied previously is no longer the current position. If you are advising a client, confirm the exact current consecutive and cumulative limits on the DHA Skills in Demand — change in situation page.
The Subclass 482 visa provides a pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme — specifically the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.
Current TRT eligibility (visa-holding period, employment-with-sponsor period, age, English, skills): 2 years of full-time work in the nominated occupation for approved sponsors within the 3 years before nomination (only employment with an employer that held sponsorship approval at the time counts, since 29 November 2025); under 45 at visa application unless an exemption applies (high income earners above A$190,100, certain academics and researchers, regional medical practitioners); Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each component or equivalent); no skills assessment is generally required for the TRT stream.
The TRT visa-holding period requirement has been the subject of recent change. Confirm the current period against the DHA 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream page before relying on it.
Yes, but your new employer must become an approved sponsor, nominate you for the position, and you must lodge a new 482 visa application. You cannot simply move to a new employer without going through the full sponsorship process again.
Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children under 18 can be included in your visa application. They will receive full work and study rights in Australia.
Skills-assessment requirements differ by stream and occupation under the Skills in Demand framework: a skills assessment is mandatory only where the legislative instrument lists the nominated occupation for the applicant’s passport country (chiefly trades occupations assessed by Trades Recognition Australia); in all other cases skills are demonstrated through qualifications and the 1-year work experience requirement. A registered migration agent can advise based on your specific circumstances.
The 482 visa allows the holder a period to find a new sponsor (or otherwise regularise their status) after employment ends. The current rule is structured as a maximum consecutive period per cessation event and a cumulative cap over the visa: up to 180 consecutive days per cessation of employment, and no more than 365 days in total without a sponsor across the life of the visa (condition 8607); the holder may work for other employers during that period. Earlier "60-day" advice is out of date.
The 482 visa can generally be lodged both onshore (while in Australia on another valid visa) and offshore (from outside Australia), subject to stream-specific rules: applicants may be in or outside Australia at lodgement and at grant in every stream; an onshore applicant generally needs to hold a substantive visa (or an eligible bridging visa) that does not carry a “no further stay” condition.
The 482 visa generally requires full-time employment with the sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation. Specific minimum hours and any exceptions (e.g. labour-agreement concessions): the nominated position must be full-time; part-time arrangements are only possible under a labour agreement that expressly provides for them.
Navigating the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand process can be complex. Book a consultation with our registered migration agent for advice tailored to your situation.
Book a Consultation