Subclass 482 VisaSkills in Demand

The salary must meet at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), which is updated annually and currently sits at AUD $76,515 per year. This will increase on July 1 each year. For the Core Skills stream the salary must also match the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), meaning the employer must pay what an Australian worker would genuinely receive for doing the same job. For the Specialist Skills stream, the salary must exceed the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT). The AMSR requirement is frequently the source of complications and needs careful documentation.

Processing times vary significantly depending on the stream, the complexity of the application, and current Home Affairs workloads. Sponsorship and nomination approvals are typically faster than the visa stage. As a general guide, straightforward Core Skills stream applications have been processed in as little as four to eight weeks, but complex cases or high-demand periods can take considerably longer. We provide realistic estimates based on current processing times at the time of your application.

The Core Skills Occupation List is managed by the Department of Employment and is periodically reviewed. Employers and industry bodies can make submissions to have occupations added. However, this is a policy process, not a legal one, and is not something that can be pursued on behalf of an individual applicant. If your occupation is not on the list and you do not meet the Specialist Skills income threshold, the Labour Agreement stream may be an alternative if your industry has an agreement in place.

Yes. Unlike skilled migration points-tested visas, a 482 visa cannot be applied for without a sponsoring employer and a nominated position. The nomination must be for a genuine, full-time position that genuinely requires the nominated ANZSCO occupation. Home Affairs scrutinises whether the position actually exists in the form described and whether the tasks match the occupation classification. Fabricated or inflated position descriptions are a serious compliance risk for both the employer and the worker.

Yes. The most direct permanent residency pathway for 482 holders is the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 visa via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. In most cases you need to have been employed by your nominating employer in the same occupation for at least three years, earning a salary at or above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold. Some occupation-specific streams and pathways have different requirements. Planning for this transition should begin before you even lodge your 482 application.

The Core Skills stream requires Competent English, which is typically demonstrated by an IELTS score of at least 6.0 in each band, or equivalent scores on recognised tests such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or OET. Some exemptions apply based on passport nationality or prior study in English. The Specialist Skills stream still requires English, though the threshold for the highest-earning applicants may differ. Secondary applicants do not need to meet the English requirement.

Labour Market Testing (LMT) is the requirement for employers to demonstrate they genuinely tried to recruit an Australian citizen or permanent resident before turning to overseas labour. It generally involves advertising the position on specified platforms for a minimum period. LMT does not apply to the Specialist Skills stream, or in limited circumstances where an international trade obligation exempts it. The rules around LMT evidence are technical and must be satisfied carefully to avoid nomination refusal.

In most straightforward cases, meeting the legislative criteria results in a grant. However, Home Affairs retains character and health discretionary powers that can result in refusal even where the technical skill and employment requirements are satisfied. Adverse information in the applicant's background, a health condition that exceeds Australia's health burden threshold, or prior visa history issues can all affect the outcome. We identify potential character and health concerns before lodgement wherever possible.

Your 482 visa is tied to your sponsoring employer and the nominated occupation. If you change employers, you cannot simply transfer the visa. Your new employer must be an approved sponsor and must lodge a new nomination for you. You would then lodge a new visa application. There are limited circumstances where you may remain in Australia briefly while arrangements are made, but you should seek legal advice before ceasing employment with your sponsor to understand the implications for your visa status.

Sponsors must maintain records that demonstrate they are meeting all sponsorship obligations. This includes payroll records showing the worker is being paid in accordance with the nominated salary, records of any change to the employment relationship, and evidence supporting their training benchmark compliance. Home Affairs can conduct compliance audits without advance notice, and the failure to produce records when asked is itself a breach of sponsorship obligations. We recommend sponsors maintain a sponsorship compliance file from the first day of employment.

Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included in your 482 application as secondary applicants. They will be granted a visa of the same duration as yours and can live, work and study in Australia for the duration of the visa. Secondary applicants can also be added after the primary visa is granted if their circumstances change later.

If your sponsoring employer ceases trading or enters administration, your visa is not immediately cancelled. However, the employment relationship that underpins your visa status no longer exists. You should seek legal advice promptly. In most cases you will have a limited period to find a new sponsor and lodge a new nomination and visa application. Acting quickly is critical, as continuing to work without a valid nomination and employment arrangement can jeopardise your visa and future applications.

A 482 visa is granted in relation to a specific employer and a specific nominated occupation. Working for a different employer as your primary employment is not permitted.

Yes. You can apply for a 482 visa while you are in Australia, provided you hold a substantive visa that permits you to apply onshore. The most important thing is that you hold a valid bridging visa or substantive visa throughout the application process. You do not need to leave Australia to obtain the 482. If you are uncertain about your current visa status and whether you are eligible to apply onshore, this is something we can advise on in a consultation.

The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is a charge paid by the sponsoring employer at the nomination stage. It is not a fee charged by Home Affairs for visa processing. The levy amount depends on the size of the business and the length of the visa granted. Small businesses with a turnover below a threshold pay a lower rate per year of visa duration. Larger businesses pay a higher rate. The SAF levy cannot be recovered from the sponsored worker and must be paid in full by the employer.

A formal skills assessment is required for some occupations in the Core Skills stream, particularly trade occupations assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA). For other occupations, skills and qualifications are assessed by Home Affairs as part of the nomination and visa process rather than through a separate assessing authority. Whether a formal assessment is needed depends entirely on the ANZSCO occupation code being nominated. We confirm this early in the process so there are no surprises.

If your visa application or nomination is refused, you may have the right to seek merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), formerly the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Review rights depend on which decision was refused and whether it was made inside or outside Australia. Sponsorship refusals have a separate review pathway. In some cases, re-applying with a stronger and properly documented application is a better outcome than pursuing review. We assess both options honestly after reading the refusal notice and identifying the reasons for the decision.

Accredited sponsors are businesses that have met a higher standard of compliance and volume of sponsorship use. They receive certain processing benefits including priority processing for their nominations and visa applications. Standard business sponsors make up the majority of 482 sponsors and do not have accreditation. For most small to medium businesses sponsoring one or a small number of workers, standard sponsorship approval is the right pathway and accredited status is not necessary or easily achievable.

Applicants and their dependants must complete a medical examination conducted by a panel physician approved by Home Affairs. The examination includes a general health check and chest X-ray. Additional tests may be required depending on the applicant's country of origin, occupation, or age. Secondary applicants must also pass health checks even if they are not travelling to Australia with the primary applicant. If a health condition is identified, Home Affairs assesses whether it would result in significant costs or service demand on the Australian community.