482 Visa Australia (Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482)

Last updated: February 2026

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The 482 visa Australia, officially known as the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482), is an employer-sponsored temporary work visa that allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia for an approved sponsor.

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Introduced on 7 December 2024, the Skills in Demand visa replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. It forms part of Australia’s employer-sponsored migration framework under the Migration Act and is administered by the Department of Home Affairs.

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The 482 visa forms part of Australia’s broader employer sponsorship framework. You can explore the full range of employer-sponsored pathways under Employer Sponsored Visa

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What Is the 482 Visa Used For?

The 482 visa is designed to:

• Address genuine skill shortages in Australia

• Allow approved businesses to sponsor overseas workers

• Provide temporary work rights for up to four years

• Offer a structured pathway to permanent residency

It is one of the most commonly used employer-sponsored visas in Australia.

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Streams Under the 482 Visa

The 482 visa Australia operates under three streams.

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Specialist Skills Stream

Designed for highly skilled professionals earning above the high-income threshold.

• Guaranteed annual earnings of AUD 141,210 or above (indexed)

• Generally excludes trades, machinery operators, drivers and labour roles

• Priority processing applies

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Core Skills Stream

The most common 482 visa stream.

• Occupation must be listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)

• Must meet the Core Skills Threshold (currently AUD 76,515, indexed annually)

• Applicants must satisfy skill and qualification requirements

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Labour Agreement Stream

• Employer must operate under an approved Labour Agreement

• Occupations and salary settings defined by agreement terms

• May include sectors with workforce shortages not covered by standard lists

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482 Visa Requirements

To qualify for a 482 visa Australia, applicants must meet legislative criteria.

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1. Employer Sponsorship

• Employer must be an approved business sponsor

• A nomination must be lodged

• Labour market testing may be required

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2. Salary Conditions

Applicants must:

• Be paid at least the Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR)

• Meet the applicable stream salary threshold​​​

3. Work Experience

Some occupations require a formal skills assessment before nomination approval. Review the full requirements at https://www.racc.net.au/migration-mandatory-skills-assessment-subclass-482-visa

• Minimum 12 months of relevant work experience

• Must be closely related to the nominated occupation

• May include full-time, part-time or casual employment (subject to policy interpretation)

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4. English Requirements

The 482 visa English requirements depend on when the test was taken.

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Tests Taken On or After 13 September 2025

• IELTS: Minimum 5.0 in each band

• PTE Academic: Listening 33, Reading 36, Writing 29, Speaking 24

• TOEFL iBT: Listening 8, Reading 8, Writing 9, Speaking 14

• OET, CELPIP, LANGUAGECERT, MET accepted at equivalent levels

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Tests Taken On or Before 13 September 2025

• IELTS: Minimum 5.0 overall and each band

• PTE Academic: Minimum 36 overall and each component

• TOEFL iBT: Minimum 35 total, 4 per component

• OET: Minimum B in each component

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Exemptions may apply depending on nationality or salary level.

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5. Character & Health

Applicants must:

• Undertake required health examinations

• Provide police clearance certificates for countries lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years

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482 Visa Processing Time

Processing times vary depending on stream, occupation and application complexity.

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General Processing Overview

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