Skills in Demand Visa (482) for Skilled Workers
If an Australian employer has offered you a skilled role, the 482 lets you work for them for up to 4 years. Your employer becomes an approved sponsor and nominates your position, and you then apply for the visa. We check your skills, experience and English first, explain the conditions you will live with, and plan your route to permanent residence.
The Skills in Demand visa has three streams: Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement. Which one applies depends on the occupation, the salary offered and the business. A 482 is a temporary visa, but for many workers it is the first step towards permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme.
- TypeTemporary
- SponsorApproved employer
- StreamsSpecialist, Core, Labour Agreement
- Next stepEmployer Nomination (186)
Three stages to a 482 visa
3 stagesAn employer-sponsored 482 is built in three stages, and each must be approved before the next. If the employer is already an approved sponsor, the process starts at stage 2.
- Employer
- Visa applicant
Stage 1
Sponsorship
Lodged by the employer
- The business is lawfully and actively operating in Australia
- No adverse information about the business or the people running it
- It can meet the sponsor obligations, such as paying the right salary and keeping records
- Approval is held for a fixed period, then renewed
Stage 2
Nomination
Lodged by the employer
- A genuine, full-time position in an eligible occupation
- Pay at or above the market rate and the salary threshold for the stream
- Evidence of labour market testing, where it applies
- The Skilling Australians Fund levy is paid
Stage 3
Visa application
Lodged by the worker
- Relevant skills, qualifications and work experience for the nominated role
- English at the level required for the stream
- Health and character requirements, including police checks
- A job offer that matches the approved nomination
This is a summary. Requirements differ by stream and change over time, so we confirm what applies to your business and role.
Overview
The Skills in Demand (482) visa lets you work in Australia for an approved sponsoring employer in a skilled role.
- There are three stages: your employer becomes an approved sponsor, nominates your position, and you apply for the visa.
- We confirm your occupation, stream and requirements before anything is lodged.
Who this suits
Skilled workers offshore with a job offer from an Australian business
Graduates and visa holders in Australia whose employer is ready to sponsor
Workers who want a clear path from this visa to permanent residence
Key facts
- Stay of up to 4 years (up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders)
- Employer-sponsored, so the visa is tied to an approved nomination
- You can change sponsors, but the new employer must lodge a new nomination
- All three streams can lead to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
- There is no age limit for the 482 itself
Government application fees
Skills in Demand (482), all streams
Main applicant$4,015
Additional applicant 18+$4,015
Additional applicant under 18$1,005
A subsequent temporary application charge of $700 may apply to later applications made in Australia.
These are the Department of Home Affairs charges only. They are indexed each 1 July, so confirm the current amount with the Department before you lodge. Other costs may apply, such as health examinations, police certificates, skills assessments and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Our professional fees are separate.
Work condition 8607
- Condition 8607 applies to the primary 482 holder: you may work only in your nominated occupation, and only for your sponsor or an associated entity
- You must not stop working for more than 180 consecutive days, or 365 days in total across the visa
- If you leave or lose the job, you have 180 days from your last day to have a new approved sponsor take over your nomination, to be granted another visa, or to leave Australia
- During those 180 days you may work in any occupation for any employer
- A new employer must be an approved sponsor and lodge a nomination. If the role is in the same occupation, you can start once it is approved. A different occupation needs a new 482 application
- Working outside the condition, or missing the 180-day window, breaches the visa and can lead to cancellation. Secondary applicants do not carry this condition
What you need to qualify
- You need an employer who is, or can become, an approved sponsor and who has a genuine role for you.
- Your occupation must be eligible, and the pay must meet the required market rate and salary threshold.
- You need the skills, qualifications and experience the role requires, and the English level that applies.
- You and any family members must meet health and character requirements.
Skills assessment
Skills assessment, with our help
Some occupations, such as trades, need a skills assessment before the visa can be granted.
Many applicants ask us to help with their skills assessment, because the assessing authority’s rules are strict and a weak application can cost months.
Ask about a skills assessmentAssessing authority fees are set by the authority and are separate from ours.
- The right authorityWe identify the assessing authority and the assessment that applies to your occupation.
- Eligibility firstWe review your qualifications and experience against the requirements before you pay any fees.
- Guidance on your evidenceWe explain what the authority expects, such as employment references and duties, and review what you have gathered before you submit.
- Support to the outcomeWe help you understand and respond to the authority’s requests until the outcome is issued.
Documents you will need
- Passport and identity documents for you and each family member included
- Qualifications, employment history and references
- English test results, where required
- Skills assessment or licence, where your occupation needs one
- Police certificates and health examination results when requested
After the visa is granted
- You must work in the nominated role and follow your visa conditions.
- Check with us before changing employer, role or pay.
- Keep your records, as they support any later permanent residence application.
- We help plan the step to permanent residence, such as the 186.
How we help
- We check you qualify before you commit. Your skills, experience and English are tested against the stream, so you know where you stand.
- We keep your application and your employer’s nomination consistent, so nothing in one contradicts the other.
- We explain your conditions in plain language, including what happens if the job ends.
- We plan your move to permanent residence from day one.
Common pitfalls
- Resigning before a new sponsor is lined up, and not planning for the 180 days that condition 8607 allows
- Working outside the nominated occupation, or for someone other than the sponsor or an associated entity
- A CV, nomination and references that do not match, which can raise a misrepresentation concern
- Stopping work for more than 180 consecutive days, or 365 days in total across the visa
- Paying someone for a sponsorship or a job offer
- Assuming time on a 482 leads to permanent residence automatically, without tracking the requirements and your age
Frequently asked questions
Who lodges what?
Your employer lodges the sponsorship (if needed) and the nomination. You lodge the visa application, with your family if they are coming. We prepare all three together so the details stay consistent.
Can I move to a new employer?
Yes, but the new employer must sponsor you with a new nomination. It is best to plan the change carefully before you resign, and we can advise on timing and what the new employer needs to lodge.
What is condition 8607 and what happens if I lose my job?
Condition 8607 means the primary holder can work only in the nominated occupation and only for the sponsor or an associated entity. If the job ends, you have 180 days from your last day to have a new approved sponsor take over your nomination, be granted another visa, or leave Australia. During that time you can work for any employer. We advise on timing before you resign.
Can my partner and children come with me?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants. They do not carry condition 8607, and we confirm their work and study rights for your situation.
How long can I stay on the 482?
A stay of up to 4 years is available, and up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders. The visa is tied to an approved nomination, so the actual position depends on your employer and role.
Can I get permanent residence from a 482?
Yes. If you meet the requirements, all three streams can lead to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). We recommend planning that pathway from the start rather than leaving it late.
Is there an age limit for the 482?
There is no age limit for the 482 itself. Age can matter later if you are aiming for permanent residence, so we look at your longer-term plans when advising on the pathway.