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Subclass 482

Skills in Demand Visa

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is one of Australia’s key temporary work visa pathways for skilled professionals sponsored by an approved employer. This employer-sponsored visa allows applicants to live and work in Australia while filling positions where local workers are not readily available. Unlike points-tested visas such as Subclass 189 or 190, the 482 visa requires a valid job offer and nomination from an Australian employer. Depending on the stream and occupation, it may also provide a pathway to permanent residency, making it a suitable option for skilled professionals looking to build their career in Australia.

Key Facts

General Info

Fees $4,015
Location Onshore / Offshore
Age Limit No Age Limit

Visa Status

Visa Type Temporary Visa
Core (LIN 24/089) Labour Stream

Eligibility & Requirements

✓ Further Requirements: Nominated proposed occupation and approved under 140GB.
✓ Skill Assessment: Must demonstrate skills, qualifications, and employment background to perform the job.
✓ Work Experience: Full-time work required for at least 12 months in the last 5 years.

Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

In Australia's evolving migration landscape, the Skills in Demand Visa (formerly TSS 482) stands as a cornerstone for employers seeking top global talent. Launched on December 7, 2024, under the new Migration Strategy, this visa introduces a flexible three-tier system to address critical labor shortages.

Whether you're an employer or a skilled professional, this visa offers streamlined pathways with prioritized processing for high-demand roles.

36,825 Places Allocated
(12% Increase)
21 Days Avg. Processing Time
(7 Days for Tier 1)
180 Days Grace Period to
Switch Sponsors

The Three-Tier System

The visa operates via three pathways designed to target varying income levels and skill shortages:

Pathway Min. Annual Earnings
(July 2025–June 2026)		 Requirements Features
Specialist Skills
(Tier 1) 		$141,210
(Indexed annually)		 No occupation list.
Excludes trades, drivers, laborers. 		• 7-day priority processing
• 3,000 annual places
• Ideal for Executives/Tech Leads
Core Skills
(Tier 2) 		$76,515
(CSIT)		 Must be on CSOL
(456+ occupations) 		• Majority of grants (70%)
• Flexible sponsor changes
• PR Eligibility after 2 years
Essential Skills
(Tier 3) 		Under $76,515 Sector-specific
(e.g., Aged Care, Disability) 		• Currently under review
• Stronger compliance
• Targets low-wage shortages
Source: Department of Home Affairs, updated September 2025. Data includes new CSOL additions like Data Analysts and Child Care Workers.

Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) Visa: The Complete Applicant & Employer Guide

Eligibility, employer sponsorship, nomination, salary rules, application steps, visa conditions, fees, and your rights — explained in plain English.

What's inside this guide
Who can apply & the 3 visa streams
Sponsorship → Nomination → Visa
Salary & AMSR rules
Labour Market Testing & SAF levy
Fees & visa conditions
Changing employers & appeal rights
Download the Complete Guide

Who can Nominate?

  • A person who is (or has applied to be) an approved work sponsor (like an approved Standard Business Sponsor)
  • A party to negotiations for a work agreement

Nomination Streams

The occupation must be nominated in one of these three streams:

Specialist Skills

For jobs in Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 (ANZSCO) earning at least the specialist income threshold.

Core Skills

For jobs on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) that don't qualify for Specialist stream.

Labour Agreement

If the occupation is covered by a specific Work/Labour Agreement.

Required Information

Click the sections below to see what you need to provide:

1. Nominee's Details

You must identify the person you want to nominate by providing:

  • Their full name (as shown in their passport), date of birth, and gender.
  • Departmental identifier (Transaction Reference Number or Application ID) if they have applied for an Australian visa before.

Note: The system will automatically add the details. Decision makers will check the link and fix duplicates.

2. Occupation Details
  • Core Skills Stream: Occupation name and 6-digit code.
  • Specialist Skills Stream: Occupation name, 6-digit code, and ANZSCO Major Group.
  • Labour Agreement Stream: Occupation name and 6-digit code from the agreement.
3. Location

You must identify where the job will be performed. A postcode is sufficient.

  • Location is where the work happens, not the head office.
  • If working at multiple sites, use the postcode where they spend most time.
  • If location varies/cannot be determined (e.g., electrician), use the base postcode.
4. Sponsor's Annual Turnover

Australian Business: Total ordinary income from the most recent income year before lodging.

  • Tax return lodged? Use "Total Income" (Company) or "Total business income" (Individual) reported to ATO.
  • Tax return NOT lodged? Provide an estimate of what you'll report.

Overseas businesses not required to lodge an AU tax return should check the ATO website for estimation guidance.

5. Proposed Period of Stay

You must include how long the visa holder will stay. The online form will automatically display the maximum period you can select.

Important Warning

You CANNOT change after submitting:

  • The nominee
  • The nominated occupation
  • Annual turnover
  • Period of stay
  • Location (postcode)

How to fix errors:

To change the items on the left, you must lodge a new application.

Other information (not listed on the left) can be corrected by uploading Form 1023 (Notification of incorrect answers) before a decision is made.

Understanding 482 Visa Requirements

Meeting 482 Visa requirements emphasizes genuine skill needs. For the Core Skills pathway, applicants must meet the following:

Occupation & Nomination Secure sponsorship from an approved employer for a CSOL-listed role. Labour Market Testing (LMT) is mandatory and valid for 6 months (extended from 4).
Skills & Experience Must hold matching qualifications plus 12 months full-time equivalent work in the last 5 years (reduced from 2 years). Part-time/casual counts.
Salary Threshold At least the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), no less than $76,515. Indexed at 4.2% AWOTE growth in 2025.
English Proficiency IELTS 5.0 overall (no band below 5.0) or equivalent. Note: Older PTE/PTE Core tests excluded as of Sep 2025.
Fun Fact: 85% of 2025 approvals were for IT, healthcare, and engineering roles, according to Home Affairs data.

482 Visa Fees: Expect in 2025

Budgeting involves visa application charges (VAC) and levies. Fees rose 5% on July 1, 2025. Total employer costs average $6,500 per visa (a 15% hike from 2024).

Applicant Type Base Fee (AUD) SAF Levy (Small Biz <$10M) Total Est. Cost
Main Applicant $4,015 $1,200 (1-yr) / $1,800 (2+ yrs) $5,215 – $5,815
Adult Dependent (18+) $4,015 N/A $4,015 + levy share
Child Dependent (<18) $805 N/A $805

Note: Additional costs include skills assessments (~$500-$1,000) and English tests (~$350).

482 Visa to PR: Pathways

Transitioning to PR is a major draw, with 65% of holders pursuing permanence within 3 years via the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).

TRT Stream

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE TRANSITION

  • Requirement: 2 years full-time work (reduced from 3).
  • Pros: No points test; CSOL flexibility.
  • Status: Any approved sponsor counts.

Direct Entry (DE)

IMMEDIATE PATHWAY

  • Requirement: 3 years experience + Skills Assessment.
  • Pros: Faster if you already have experience.
  • Restriction: Must be for CSOL roles.
2025 Updates: Reduced TRT work period and unlimited onshore applications have boosted success rates to 92%.

Key Facts & Figures (2025)

25k+ Visas Issued (Up 20%)
21 Days Median Processing Time
70+ Occupations Added
78% Retention Rate

Evidence of Employment Contract

Primary Requirement: You must provide a copy of the employment contract signed by both the employer and the employee.

  • Language: If the contract is not in English, provide a certified translation.
  • Contractors: A contract to provide services (e.g., ABN holders) will not satisfy this requirement.
  • Associated Entities: If employed by an associated entity of the sponsor, a contract with that entity is acceptable.

Intra-corporate Transferees

An Assignment Letter on company letterhead is acceptable if it includes:

  • Statement confirming engagement under employment contract
  • Name of employing company & sponsoring company (if different)
  • Salary details (base + allowances)
  • Occupation in Australia (ANZSCO)
  • Length of assignment
  • Signatures: Both company rep & nominee (with dates)

Awards & Enterprise Agreements

A Letter of Engagement (or offer with acceptance) is acceptable if it includes:

  • Statement confirming engagement as employee
  • Statement that terms are in an Agreement/Award
  • Name/ID of the Agreement or Award
  • Ordinary hours of work
  • Classification/Level and/or Salary details
  • Signatures: Both company rep & nominee (with dates)

Acceptable Electronic Signatures

If physical signatures aren't possible, the following digital evidence is accepted:

✉️ Sent by Email: Acceptable if sent from a verifiable company email address.
↩️ Reply Acceptance: Acceptable if acceptance is a direct reply including the original offer email.
💻 Online Portal: A screenshot from the website/portal showing acceptance is valid.

English Language Requirements

General Rule: English language requirements are typically assessed at the visa application stage.

Exception: Evidence may be requested for an existing visa holder changing employer or occupation if their previous visa was granted based on an exemption that no longer applies.

Salary Related Requirements

To ensure the program is not used to undercut the local labour market, overseas workers must be paid the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR).

Current Income Thresholds

Core Skills Threshold AUD $76,515 Indexed annually (AWOTE)
Specialist Skills Threshold AUD $135,000 Indexed annually (AWOTE)

Requirements Checklist

Unless annual earnings are AUD $250,000 or above, the following must be satisfied:

  • The AMSR has been determined according to legislation.
  • The AMSR (excluding non-monetary benefits) is not less than the applicable Income Threshold.
  • The nominee's annual earnings will not be less than the AMSR.
  • The sponsor's determined AMSR is consistent with Australian labour market conditions.

What Counts as "Earnings"?

✅ Earnings INCLUDE:
  • Wages
  • Amounts applied on the person's behalf or as they direct
  • The agreed money value of non-monetary benefits
❌ Earnings DO NOT Include:
  • Payments that cannot be determined in advance
  • Reimbursements
  • Certain superannuation contributions

*Non-monetary benefits are benefits other than money payments (or benefits without an agreed money value).

Frequently Asked Questions

? What is the Skills in Demand Visa Australia?
The Subclass 482 Visa replaces the old 482 Visa, offering temporary skilled work for up to 4 years in high-demand roles via three distinct pathways (Specialist, Core, and Essential skills).
? What are the 482 Visa requirements for the core skills pathway?
You generally need an occupation on the CSOL list, a salary of at least $76,515, 12 months of experience, IELTS 5.0, and an employer nomination with valid Labour Market Testing (LMT).
? How much are 482 Visa fees in 2025?
The base fee is $4,015 for the main applicant. Employers must also pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, which ranges from $1,200 to $4,200 depending on business size and visa length.
? Can the 482 Visa lead to PR?
Yes. You can transition to PR via the Subclass 186 TRT stream after 2 years of work. In 2025, this pathway has a 92% success rate.
? What's new in the Skills in Demand Visa for 2025?
Key updates include indexed income thresholds (now $76,515 for Core skills), updated English test requirements (as of Sept 2025), and ongoing CSOL reviews by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA).
? How long does 482 Visa processing take?
Processing is fast, with a median time of 21 days. The Specialist Skills tier is even faster, averaging just 7 days.
? Who can sponsor a Subclass 482 Visa?
Any approved Australian business can sponsor, provided they can prove genuine skill shortages and demonstrate that they pay a fair market salary.
? Is there an age limit for the 482 Visa?
No. There is no age cap for the 482 Visa itself, making it accessible for all skilled workers. However, age limits may apply later if you transition to certain permanent residence visas.

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