482 Visa Australia: Skills in Demand Requirements, Cost & Work Rights
VEM Visa | Employer-Sponsored Skilled Migration
A current guide to the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): streams, employer nomination, salary settings, costs, work conditions, processing checks and possible PR planning.
Checked 2 July 2026: Home Affairs now lists the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) charge from AUD 4,015 for the main applicant. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, the current Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD 146,576. Confirm all figures before lodgement.
The 482 visa Australia pathway is now called the Skills in Demand (SID) visa. It is a temporary employer-sponsored visa for a suitably skilled worker nominated for a genuine role by an eligible Australian employer.
This guide answers the most common questions behind searches for 482 visa, visa 482 Australia, Skills in Demand visa, 482 visa requirements, 482 visa fee, 482 salary requirements, 482 visa processing time, 482 visa work rights and 482 visa to PR. It is general information, not a personal eligibility assessment or a substitute for the legal criteria in force on the day you lodge.
Stay period
Up to 4 years
Up to 5 years for eligible Hong Kong passport holders.
The 482 is employer-sponsored. The nominated role, stream and salary settings need to align before the visa application is lodged.
What is the 482 visa Australia?
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa for new applications on 7 December 2024. It allows an eligible employer to sponsor a suitably skilled worker for a temporary skilled position that the business cannot fill with an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
The 482 visa is not one identical route for every applicant. It has a Core Skills stream, a Specialist Skills stream and a Labour Agreement stream. The role, relevant occupation setting, salary, applicant experience and the employer’s arrangement determine which stream is realistic.
Not the old TSS visa: legacy TSS content is often still indexed online. For a new 482 application, use the current Skills in Demand rules, current stream settings and current income thresholds, not a 2024 screenshot wearing a convincing tie.
482 visa requirements for the primary applicant
The exact criteria depend on the stream and occupation. The following is a practical starting checklist for the usual Core Skills or Specialist Skills application.
Employer and nominated role
You need an approved sponsor or employer with a relevant labour agreement, plus a genuine nomination for a skilled, full-time role.
Skills and experience
Generally at least 12 months of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field, plus the skills or registration needed for the position.
English evidence
Core and Specialist primary applicants need the required English evidence unless an exemption applies. For standard evidence, IELTS is at least 5.0 overall and 5.0 in each component; PTE Academic is at least 36 overall and 36 in each component.
Health, character and insurance
Meet health and character requirements, arrange documents when requested and consider health-insurance needs for the applicant and family members.
A skills assessment is required where Home Affairs requires it for the particular occupation. It is not correct to state that every 482 applicant automatically needs one, or that no applicant does. Profession-specific registration, licensing and qualification rules can also apply.
There is no general age limit for the 482 visa, and there is no points test. Age can still matter later when assessing a different pathway, such as a permanent employer-sponsored or points-tested visa.
Start by testing the job, employer, stream, salary and applicant profile together. One strong factor does not replace the others.
Skills in Demand visa streams: Core, Specialist and Labour Agreement
The stream should be selected based on the role and employer arrangement, not on whichever label sounds most glamorous on a recruitment post.
Employer has an approved labour agreement that covers the nominated role.
May use agreement-specific occupation, salary, English, age or experience settings.
The exact agreement, relevant concessions, location and whether the employer can nominate in the occupation now.
A DAMA can be relevant under a labour-agreement arrangement. It is not a standalone visa that an individual simply selects from a menu; the employer, location, Designated Area Representative and applicable agreement matter.
Specialist Skills is a salary- and role-classification pathway, not a general “senior applicant” category.Labour Agreement settings are agreement-specific and should never be copied from a different employer or region.
482 visa salary requirements in 2026
The relevant income threshold is part of the employer’s nomination assessment. It is not the visa fee, not the worker’s take-home pay and not a number to solve with creative arithmetic. For Core Skills and Specialist Skills applications lodged from 1 July 2026, the nominated remuneration must meet the applicable threshold and the Annual Market Salary Rate requirement.
Core Skills income threshold
AUD 79,423
For eligible Core Skills nominations lodged from 1 July 2026.
Specialist Skills income threshold
AUD 146,576
For eligible Specialist Skills nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. The role must also sit in an eligible ANZSCO major group.
The salary settings are indexed. Check the official salary requirements page at the point of nomination, including how the Department treats earnings and the market salary comparison. Labour Agreement cases may have a different approved setting.
482 employer requirements and sponsorship obligations
A viable applicant is only half of a 482 case. The sponsor and nominated role must also meet the applicable requirements.
Be an approved Standard Business Sponsor or hold the relevant labour agreement.
Operate lawfully and demonstrate a genuine need for the nominated full-time position.
Meet labour market testing requirements where they apply, with evidence of the advertising used.
Offer terms and conditions that meet the relevant market salary and income-threshold rules.
Pay the sponsorship, nomination and Skilling Australians Fund costs that apply to the employer.
Meet ongoing sponsorship obligations and do not transfer prohibited sponsorship costs to the worker.
Labour market testing has its own timing, advertising and evidence rules. Treat it as an upfront nomination task, not a document to improvise after an application is already lodged. [Official labour market testing guidance]
The sponsor needs to establish the position, salary, recruitment evidence and compliance capacity. The worker should not bear employer-only charges.
How to apply for a 482 visa Australia: step by step
1. Identify the employment route
Match the position to Core Skills, Specialist Skills or Labour Agreement requirements. Confirm the occupation classification, role duties, salary and likely evidence before an offer is finalised.
2. Check sponsor status and employer readiness
Confirm whether the employer is already an approved sponsor or needs to apply. Prepare business, position, salary and labour market testing evidence where required.
3. Lodge the nomination
The employer nominates the worker for the role. The nomination needs to stand on its own evidence, including the stream, duties, salary and recruitment information.
4. Prepare the visa application
The applicant prepares identity, qualifications, employment evidence, English evidence, registration/licensing evidence if relevant, health and character documents, and family documents where relevant.
5. Lodge and respond to requests
Lodge through ImmiAccount and respond accurately to any Department request. Avoid claiming employment, experience or qualifications that cannot be evidenced.
6. Follow the grant conditions
After grant, work in the nominated occupation for the sponsor or associated entity unless an exemption applies. Check the individual grant letter and VEVO.
A clear route map helps, but the nomination and visa evidence must reflect the actual employer, role and applicant history.
482 visa work rights and conditions after grant
The usual 482 rule is that the holder works only for the sponsor or an associated entity and only in the nominated occupation, unless an exemption applies. This makes a 482 different from an open work-right visa.
If employment ends, the current rules give eligible temporary sponsored visa holders up to 180 days at a time, and a maximum of 365 days in total across the visa period, to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or make arrangements to leave Australia. Home Affairs notes that holders may work for other employers during this permitted period. The exact conditions on the grant letter and in VEVO still control.
Before changing role or employer: a new role with different duties may require a new nomination. Do not assume an existing 482 approval follows you to the next job. Verify your status in VEVO and obtain current advice for the proposed change.
482 visa fee, applicant cost and employer sponsorship cost
A 482 budget has two sides: the applicant’s visa charge and document costs, and the employer’s sponsorship, nomination and Skilling Australians Fund costs. Mixing them together is a reliable way to create an expensive argument.
Cost group
Current guide
Who should check it
Visa application charge
From AUD 4,015 for the main applicant, checked 2 July 2026.
Applicant: current estimator result, additional applicants, lodgement date and any payment surcharge.
Sponsorship application
AUD 420 where an employer needs sponsor approval.
Employer: whether approval already exists and which entity will sponsor.
Nomination application
AUD 330.
Employer: correct stream, labour market testing, salary evidence and position evidence.
Skilling Australians Fund levy
AUD 1,200 per year for turnover under AUD 10m; AUD 1,800 per year for turnover of AUD 10m or more.
Employer: visa period, turnover, applicable exemptions and the rule against recovering prohibited costs from the worker.
Other applicant costs
Variable.
Skills assessment, English test, health exams, police certificates, biometrics, translations, health insurance and professional services if used.
For a four-year standard case, the employer’s government charges can be estimated from the sponsorship fee, nomination fee and four years of SAF levy. That guide is AUD 5,550 for a business under AUD 10m turnover, or AUD 7,950 for a business at or above AUD 10m turnover, before recruitment, compliance, professional and worker-document costs. Check the exact rules and exemptions before relying on either total.
Use the official Visa Pricing Estimator close to lodgement. It is the correct final check for visa application charges, not a static fee table cached in a blog post.
482 visa processing time in 2026
There is no universal, reliable fixed answer to “482 visa processing time”. Home Affairs publishes an indication based on recently decided applications, but it is not a grant deadline and it does not reflect every nomination, applicant location, occupation, health/character check or document issue.
For an employer-sponsored case, the total timeline can include sponsor approval if needed, labour market testing, nomination assessment, visa assessment and any request for further information. The Specialist Skills stream is designed for highly paid eligible roles, but an individual result still depends on the complete application.
For the current estimate: use the Home Affairs global visa processing-time guide, choose Skills in Demand (subclass 482) and your relevant stream. Treat the result as an indicator only.
Can a 482 visa lead to permanent residency?
The 482 visa does not grant permanent residency and it does not automatically turn into PR after a set number of months. It can, however, be relevant to a later Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) application under the Temporary Residence Transition stream, if the employer and worker satisfy the requirements at that later time.
Home Affairs currently states that SID visa holders in all occupations can access the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream, subject to the relevant eligibility criteria. The future employer nomination needs to be for employment of at least two years after grant. That is a potential route, not a guarantee.
A worker may also separately consider points-tested or regional options such as subclass 190, subclass 491 or an employer-sponsored subclass 494, but each has independent eligibility rules. Do not treat a 482 grant as an automatic ticket into any of them.
482 visa pros and constraints
Potential advantages
No points test and no general age cap for the 482 application.
At least 12 months of relevant experience can be enough for the standard experience setting.
Eligible family members may be included.
Current rules allow a defined window to arrange a new sponsor or visa if employment ends.
May support later PR planning if future criteria are met.
Important constraints
The role, sponsor and salary are central to eligibility and compliance.
You cannot freely switch jobs without considering visa conditions and nomination requirements.
Salary thresholds and occupation settings are subject to change.
Labour Agreement concessions are not universal.
PR is a separate decision with separate criteria.
Plan the role, sponsor and evidence before lodging
A robust 482 plan starts with the actual occupation, duties, salary, employer structure, evidence of experience and the right SID stream. Testing these matters early is cheaper than trying to repair a nomination after it has acquired a personality of its own.
No. The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa for new applications from 7 December 2024. Existing TSS holders may have different legacy settings, so do not apply SID guidance to an old grant without checking.
What salary is required for a 482 visa in 2026?
For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD 146,576. The role also needs to meet the annual market salary rate and stream-specific requirements.
What is the 482 visa fee?
As checked on 2 July 2026, the main applicant charge starts from AUD 4,015. The total can change with dependent applicants, payment method and related evidence costs. Employers also have sponsorship, nomination and SAF levy costs.
How long does a 482 visa take to process?
Processing times change. Use the current Home Affairs processing-time guide for the relevant SID stream and treat the result as an indication, not a guaranteed grant date.
Can I change employers on a 482 visa?
A job change may require a new nomination. If your employment ends, current rules provide a defined period to obtain a new sponsor, apply for another visa or make arrangements to depart. Check the grant letter, VEVO and current Department guidance before changing work.
Does the 482 visa have an age limit or points test?
No general age cap or points test applies to the standard 482 application. However, age can matter for some future visa options, and every stream still has its own skills, sponsorship, salary and English requirements.
Mr. Phong Cao is a licensed migration agent by MARA (MARN: 1577877). He is also a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA: 12648), one of the most reputable organizations in the field of immigration in Australia. In addition, Mr. Phong Cao holds a QEAC certification in study abroad consulting (QEAC: K580) and Australian real estate investment (RA85931). With over 12 years of experience in Australian immigration, he provides comprehensive solutions for studying and settling in Australia.
Chia sẻ bài viết
2 thoughts on “482 Visa Australia: Skills in Demand Requirements, Cost & Work Rights”
Noor Rahman says:
Hi Sir, how are you?
My name is Noor Rahman from Pakistan 🇵🇰 living in UAE 🇦🇪 I m professional auto Mechanic.
I would like Australia 🇦🇺 and I washing my life in one time I m going to Australia my dream cuntry but how I don’t?
VN
Người
đăng
Ngày
cập nhật:
Hi Sir, how are you?
My name is Noor Rahman from Pakistan 🇵🇰 living in UAE 🇦🇪 I m professional auto Mechanic.
I would like Australia 🇦🇺 and I washing my life in one time I m going to Australia my dream cuntry but how I don’t?
Thank you for contacting VEM. Our Customer Service team will contact you to assist you as soon as possible.