Last updated: 10 April 2026

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What is the 482 Visa?

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is Australia's primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa. It allows approved Australian employers to sponsor overseas skilled workers when suitably qualified Australian workers are not available.

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Introduced as the replacement for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, the subclass 482 visa provides a pathway for employers to address workforce shortages while giving eligible workers an opportunity to live and work in Australia.

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Depending on the stream and individual circumstances, some visa holders may later become eligible for permanent residency through employer-sponsored migration pathways.

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According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs, the Subclass 482 visa is designed to help approved employers address labour shortages where suitably skilled Australian workers are not available. Applicants must generally be sponsored by an approved sponsor and work in an eligible skilled occupation.

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482 Visa At a Glance

• Stay Period: Up to 4 years

• Government Fee: From AUD 3,210

• Processing Time: From a few days to 8 months+ depending on the visa stream, sponsorship, and nomination stage.

• Employer Sponsorship: Required

• Minimum Salary Requirement: From AUD 76,515 currently applies, increasing to AUD 79,499 from 1 July 2026.

• Work Experience: Usually at least 1 year of relevant work experience

• English Requirement: IELTS, PTE, or equivalent accepted

• Occupation Requirement: Must be on the eligible occupation list

• PR Pathway: Possible pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 186 visa

• Family Inclusion: Partner and dependent children can be included

• Work Rights: Full-time work rights with an approved sponsor

• Location: Can be used for jobs in metropolitan and regional Australia

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To qualify, you generally need:

• a job offer from an approved Australian employer

• an eligible occupation

• a salary that meets the government threshold​​​

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Depending on the occupation and employer arrangement, some applicants may also require:

• a skills assessment

• licensing or registration

• Labour Agreement sponsorship

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Many applicants also use the 482 visa as a pathway towards permanent residency in Australia, depending on their occupation, employer sponsorship, and long-term eligibility.

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Unlike points-tested visas, the 482 visa does not rely on invitation rounds. Instead, your pathway depends on employer sponsorship, occupation eligibility, and long-term planning for permanent residency. The 482 visa is one of four employer sponsored visa options in Australia. See all employer sponsored visa options.​​​​

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482 Visa Guidance From Registered Migration Agents

RACC’s Registered Migration Agents (MARN1572962, MARN1172003) assist with 482 visa eligibility, employer sponsorship requirements, PR pathways, and employer sponsored visa options in Australia.​​

482 Visa Requirements

If you want full explanation of 482 visa requirement, see our full guideline of 482 visa requirement.​

To apply for a 482 visa Australia, you must meet the following:

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1. Employer sponsorship

• Employer must be an approved sponsor

• A valid nomination must be lodged

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2. Work Experience

• 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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See full breakdown in our skills assessment for 482 visa guide

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3. 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. Read full explanation of 482 visa english requirement

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4. 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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​Requirements are defined under legislative instruments and policy settings issued by the Department of Home Affairs and may change over time.

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How to Apply for a 482 Visa

Applying for a 482 Skills in Demand visa usually involves three stages: sponsorship, nomination, and the visa application.

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Step 1 — Check Your Eligibility

Before applying, make sure you meet the main 482 visa requirements, including:

• An eligible occupation

• At least 1 year of relevant work experience

• Relevant skills and qualifications

• English language requirements

• Health and character requirements

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Depending on the occupation, you may also need:

• Skills assessment

• Occupational licensing or registration

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Step 2 — Find an Approved Sponsor

To apply for a 482 visa, you must be sponsored by an Australian employer.

The employer must:

• Be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS), or

• Apply to become an approved sponsor

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The sponsoring business must demonstrate that:

• The position is genuine

• They can pay the nominated salary

• The salary meets the current income threshold and market salary requirements

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Step 3 — Employer Lodges the Nomination

After sponsorship approval, the employer nominates the position for the 482 visa.

The nomination includes:

• Occupation details

• Salary information

• Employment conditions

• Business information

• Labour Market Testing (if required)

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Nomination approval is linked to:

• The sponsoring employer

• The specific occupation

• The nominated position

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Step 4 — Prepare Your Documents

You will need to gather supporting documents for your visa application.

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Common documents include:

• Passport

• Resume or CV

• Employment reference letters

• Payslips or employment evidence

• Educational qualifications

• English test results

• Skills assessment (if required)

• Police clearances

• Health examination results

Additional documents may be required depending on your occupation and personal circumstances.

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Step 5 — Lodge the 482 Visa Application

Once the nomination has been lodged or approved, you can submit your 482 visa application online through the Department of Home Affairs.

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You will need to:

• Complete the online application

• Upload supporting documents

• Pay the government visa fee

Family members such as your partner and dependent children can usually be included in the same application.

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Step 6 — Complete Health and Character Checks

After lodgement, you may receive requests for:

• Medical examinations

• Biometrics

• Additional documents

• Police certificates

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Processing times can vary depending on:

• Visa stream

• Occupation

• Application completeness

• Background checks

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Step 7 — Receive Your Visa Decision

If approved, you will receive:

• Your visa grant notification

• Visa conditions

• Work rights information

• Visa expiry details

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Once granted, you can:

• Work for your sponsoring employer in Australia

• Travel in and out of Australia while the visa remains valid

• Potentially become eligible for permanent residency pathways in the future

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Important Notes

• The 482 visa is employer-sponsored, meaning you can generally only work for your approved sponsor.

• Changing employers usually requires a new nomination.

• Incorrect or incomplete documents can delay processing.

• Some occupations may have additional requirements or restrictions.

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482 Visa Processing Time

There is no fixed processing time, it depends on your application and employer.

Processing times vary depending on:

• Application completeness

• Employer compliance

• Health and character checks

• Visa stream

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Processing Time by Stream

• Specialist Skills stream — from a few days to around 2 months

• Core Skills stream — around 1 to 4 months

• Labour Agreement stream — around 3 to 8 months

• Sponsorship approval — around 1 week to 4 months

• Nomination approval — from less than 1 day to several months

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Official processing times are published by the Department of Home Affairs and updated regularly. See full breakdown in our 482 visa processing time guide​​​