Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482)
A temporary visa for eligible skilled workers nominated by an employer. Assess the occupation, worker’s evidence and business requirements together before planning sponsorship or a later permanent pathway.
Advice from Amir Adhikari, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1803796), based in Melbourne.Consultations by phone, Zoom or at our Melbourne office.
- Outcome
- Temporary
- Duration
- Generally up to 4 years; exceptions apply
- Age
- No general maximum age limit; future permanent pathways have separate rules
- Regional
- No general regional requirement
Important limitations
- This is not permanent residence. Two years of employment alone does not establish eligibility for subclass 186.
- Changing employers or occupations requires a review of the applicable visa conditions, nomination and sponsorship requirements; do not assume the visa permits unrestricted work.
- Stream-specific occupation and salary rules apply. Labour agreement criteria and concessions must be assessed separately.
- Where a mandatory skills assessment applies, it must be undertaken or commenced within the required period before visa lodgement. Check the exact timing and evidence rules before applying.
Streams
Core Skills
For eligible occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List, with the applicable Core Skills Income Threshold and market salary requirements.
Specialist Skills
For eligible occupations in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 meeting the higher Specialist Skills Income Threshold and other criteria. A high salary alone is not enough.
Labour Agreement
For workers nominated under an applicable labour agreement. Occupations, concessions and other criteria depend on the agreement and relevant rules.
Worker requirements
- Be nominated for an eligible position and demonstrate the skills and qualifications needed to perform it.
- Core and Specialist Skills applicants generally need at least 12 months of relevant work experience in the occupation or a related field, with evidence of the required skill level and full-time equivalent experience within the relevant five-year period.
- Meet the stream’s English requirements, unless exempt, and any applicable skills assessment requirements.
- Hold the relevant occupational registration or licensing where required.
- Meet health, character and other applicable visa requirements; eligible accompanying family members are assessed separately.
Employer requirements
- Hold the appropriate sponsorship approval or operate under the relevant labour agreement.
- Nominate a genuine eligible position and provide evidence of the occupation and employment arrangements.
- Meet the relevant annual market salary rate and applicable income threshold requirements. Meeting a minimum threshold alone is not sufficient.
- Meet labour market testing requirements where applicable, subject to relevant exemptions and international trade obligations.
- Meet sponsorship obligations and Australian workplace requirements.
- Employers cannot transfer or recover certain sponsorship and nomination costs from workers. Check which costs the employer must bear before making any payment arrangement.
Income thresholds change. Check the current official threshold information (opens in a new tab).
What this visa allows
- Work in Australia in accordance with the approved nomination and visa conditions.
- Generally stay for up to four years. Eligible Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to five years in the Core or Specialist Skills stream.
- Include eligible family members and travel while the visa is valid.
- Consider a separate subclass 186 application if the qualifying employment, nomination and other criteria are met.
How the process works
- Assess the business, proposed role, occupation and worker’s background.
- Determine the appropriate stream and arrange sponsorship approval or assess the applicable labour agreement.
- Prepare the position nomination, market salary evidence and labour market testing where required.
- Confirm application timing and prepare the worker’s visa evidence, including assessment and English requirements.
- After grant, maintain sponsorship and visa compliance; reassess any later permanent residence pathway separately.
How we actually help
- Assess the occupation and worker evidence against the proposed stream.
- Prepare sponsorship and nomination applications, including relevant salary and recruitment evidence.
- Prepare the visa application and explain obligations and potential future pathways.
Related pathway
Eligible holders may later qualify for subclass 186 through the Temporary Residence Transition stream. That stream generally requires two years of eligible full-time sponsored employment in the three years before applying, plus employer nomination and the other criteria. Permanent residence is not automatic.
General information, not an individual eligibility assessment. Requirements, charges and processing change. Check the current position on the Department of Home Affairs page for subclass 482 (opens in a new tab).
About the 482
No. It is temporary. A later subclass 186 application requires its own eligible nomination, qualifying employment and other criteria.
There is no general maximum age limit for the Skills in Demand visa. Future permanent residence pathways can have age requirements or limited exemptions.
Core and Specialist Skills applicants generally need at least 12 months of relevant experience. Evidence must satisfy the applicable recency, skill level and full-time equivalent rules. Labour agreement criteria may differ.
Potentially, but your visa conditions and the new sponsorship and nomination requirements must be checked. Do not assume existing sponsorship transfers automatically.
The applicable market salary and stream-specific income threshold requirements must be satisfied. Thresholds are indexed, so check the official requirements for the relevant nomination date.
Your matter:
Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482).
Selected service · Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482)
A consultation assesses your circumstances, discusses realistic options and outlines possible next steps. It is not a visa or review application and not a representation agreement. Any further work, its scope and fees are agreed separately.
- 01Book your appointment
Choose an available appointment time and check the details before confirming.
Book appointment (opens booking page in a new tab) - 02Complete the visitor registration form
After booking, add your details and circumstances for your skills in demand visa (subclass 482) consultation.
Complete registration form (opens in a new tab) - 03Attend your consultation
Appointments are normally by phone, via Zoom, or in person at our Melbourne office. Follow your appointment confirmation for the arrangements.
Urgent matter or approaching deadline? Call our office on 03 9620 3195 or mobile +61 415 997 528.Message (SMS)WhatsAppA booking does not lodge anything, preserve rights or extend a deadline.