How Do I Get A Skills Assessment For A 482 Visa?

At a glance: Not every 482 applicant needs one. A 482 visa skills assessment is only mandatory when your nominated occupation and passport country appear together on the Department of Home Affairs' mandatory assessment list — otherwise you may be exempt. If it's required, you'll apply through VETASSESS (professional occupations) or TRA (trade occupations), and the result must stay valid until your visa is lodged.

Do I Need A Skills Assessment For A 482 Visa?

Since the Temporary Skill Shortage visa became the Skills in Demand (SID) visa on 7 December 2024, the subclass number (482) stayed the same, but the rules around it didn't. For the Core Skills stream, a subclass 482 skills assessment isn't automatically required for everyone — it kicks in only when your specific occupation is paired with your passport country on the legislated mandatory list. For the Specialist Skills stream, eligibility runs mainly on the income threshold rather than the occupation list, so a Skills in Demand visa skills assessment is less commonly triggered there.

Which Occupations Need A Skills Assessment For The 482 Visa?

This most often affects trade and technical roles — think 482 visa skills assessment for chefs, electricians, and mechanics — along with select project and program administration roles regardless of nationality. If your occupation carries an Australian licensing or registration requirement (electrician, plumber, refrigeration mechanic), that adds another layer to check.

Is There A 482 Visa Skills Assessment Exemption?

Yes — a 482 visa skills assessment exemption commonly applies if you hold an Australian qualification (or one from a country not flagged for your occupation), already hold the relevant Australian licence/registration, or meet a high-income threshold with an accredited sponsor. Always confirm your exact scenario before assuming you're exempt.

TRA vs VETASSESS: Who Assesses What?

• VETASSESS skills assessment (482 visa): covers most professional occupations. The standard Full Skills Assessment currently sits around AUD 1,096 (rising to AUD 1,146 from 9 September 2026, plus GST), with standard processing around 7 weeks and priority processing available for an extra fee.
• TRA skills assessment (482 visa): covers trade occupations through TRA's Migration Skills Assessment pathway, with a total program cost around AUD 795.
• A quick myth-buster: the Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) is often confused with the 482 pathway — but OSAP is actually built for permanent skilled visas (189, 190, 491, 186, 494), not the 482. Trade applicants on a 482 use TRA's separate Migration/TSS Skills Assessment stream instead.