Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa — Overview

What Is the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa?

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 Streams

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):

Core Skills stream

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.

Specialist Skills stream

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).

Labour Agreement stream

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.

Employer Eligibility

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.

Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS)

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.

Nomination Requirements

Once approved as a sponsor, the employer must nominate a position. Key requirements include:

• Genuine position: The role must be a real, full-time position within the business that matches the occupation nominated.
• Labour Market Testing (LMT): Where applicable, the employer must demonstrate they have tested the local labour market by advertising the position in Australia before sponsoring an overseas worker. LMT timing and advertising requirements: the position must be advertised in Australia for at least 28 days, within the period before nomination set by the current legislative instrument, on platforms with national reach; exemptions are limited (for example where an international trade obligation applies).
• Market salary rate: The salary offered must meet the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the occupation in the location where the work will be performed, and must be at or above the applicable income threshold (CSIT or SSIT).
• Terms and conditions: Employment conditions must be no less favourable than those provided to Australian workers performing equivalent work.
• Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: Payable by the employer at nomination. Amounts: A$1,200 per year of nomination for businesses with annual turnover under A$10 million, A$1,800 per year for larger businesses.

Worker Eligibility

The overseas worker (visa applicant) must also meet specific requirements to be granted a 482 visa:

• Skills and qualifications: The worker must have the skills, qualifications, and experience required for the nominated occupation. This typically means holding relevant tertiary qualifications or having significant industry experience.
• Work experience: Relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a closely related field is required. Exact period and recency window: at least 1 year (12 months full-time, or the part-time/casual equivalent) in the nominated occupation or a closely related field, gained within the 5 years before application — the same setting applies to the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams (reduced from 2 years when Skills in Demand began on 7 December 2024).
• Skills assessment: Skills assessment requirements depend on stream and occupation: 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); for other occupations skills are demonstrated through qualifications and work experience.
• English language: Minimum English standard: for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025, IELTS 5.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking, or the Department’s equivalent in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge, CELPIP, LANGUAGECERT or MET; holders of UK, US, Canadian, NZ or Irish passports are generally exempt. Higher standards may apply for certain occupations and for certain licensing bodies.
• Health and character: Standard health examinations and police clearances are required for the visa applicant and all family members included in the application.
• Health insurance: The applicant must maintain adequate health insurance arrangements for the duration of their stay in Australia.

Occupation List

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.

Income Thresholds (CSIT & SSIT)

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:

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) — applies to the Core Skills stream. Current figure, for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027: A$79,423 (A$76,515 applied in 2025–26).
• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) — applies to the Specialist Skills stream. Current figure, for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027: A$146,576 (A$141,210 applied in 2025–26).

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.

Step-by-Step Application Process

The 482 visa application is a three-stage process. Each stage must be approved before the next can proceed.

Stage 1: Standard Business Sponsorship Application

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.

Stage 2: Nomination Application

Once approved as a sponsor, the employer nominates the specific position. This requires:

1. Identifying the correct ANZSCO occupation code for the position
2. Providing evidence of labour market testing
3. Demonstrating the position is genuine and matches the nominated occupation
4. Providing the employment contract or offer showing salary and conditions
5. Paying the nomination application fee and the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy

Stage 3: Visa Application

After the nomination is lodged (or approved), the worker can lodge their visa application. This requires:

1. Completing the online visa application form
2. Providing identity documents (passport, birth certificate)
3. Evidence of qualifications and work experience
4. Skills assessment results (if required)
5. English language test results
6. Health examination results
7. Police clearances from each country lived in for the relevant period: every country in which the applicant has spent a total of 12 months or more in the 10 years since turning 16, including Australia
8. Evidence of health insurance
9. Paying the visa application charge

Processing Times

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).

Costs and Government Fees

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).

• Standard Business Sponsorship application fee — payable by the employer.
• Nomination application fee — payable by the employer.
• Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy — payable by the employer at nomination, calculated per year of nomination. Small-business and large-business amounts: A$1,200 per year (small business) or A$1,800 per year (other employers). Small-business threshold: annual turnover under A$10 million.
• Visa application charge (VAC) — payable by the primary applicant, with reduced amounts for included partner and dependants.

Confirm all current amounts on the DHA Skills in Demand 482 page — fees and levies are subject to change.

Visa Conditions & Sponsor-Change Period

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.

Period to find a new sponsor (cessation of employment)

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.

Pathway to Permanent Residency

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.

• Visa-holding period in the relevant 482 stream: 2 years within the 3 years before nomination
• Period of full-time work with the sponsoring employer in the nominated (or closely related) occupation: 2 years of full-time work (time with any approved sponsor counts)
• Continuing to meet skills, English and character requirements
• Willingness of the employer to nominate the worker for permanent residency

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change employers on a 482 visa?

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.

Can my family come with me?

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.

Do I need a skills assessment?

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.

What happens if I lose my job?

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.

Can I apply for the 482 visa from outside Australia?

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.

Is part-time work allowed on a 482 visa?

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.