Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand visa

2026 guide and service overview for sponsors, agents, and skilled workers

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is the main temporary employer-sponsored work visa in Australia. It allows an Australian business to sponsor an overseas skilled worker for an existing genuine role. For most workers it is the entry point to a longer pathway — typically 482 first, then a Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa for permanent residence.

This page covers what the 482 is, the three streams, what the sponsor and the applicant each have to do, indicative costs, and how WIDEN supports the sponsorship, nomination, and visa stages. For the PR step at the end of the pathway, see the 186 Visa Permanent Residency Guide.

MARN 1576536 · Verifiable at mara.gov.au

What the 482 visa is

The 482 Skills in Demand visa is a temporary visa, generally granted for up to 4 years (less in some streams). It allows the holder to work in Australia for the nominating sponsor in the nominated occupation, bring eligible family members, and travel in and out of Australia during validity. Subject to meeting the requirements of the relevant stream, most 482 holders can transition to permanent residence via the 186 ENS visa after the qualifying period of employment.

The 482 is a three-stage pathway, with each stage handled separately:

Sponsorship — the Australian business applies to become a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) if it does not already hold sponsorship.
Nomination — the sponsor nominates the specific role and worker, supported by a Genuine Position Statement (GPS), Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) analysis, organisational documents, and Labour Market Testing evidence where required.
Visa application — the worker applies for the visa, supported by skills, English, health and character evidence.

The three streams

Core Skills stream

For occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List, paid at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT). This is the most common stream and the typical onboarding pathway for trades and mid-skill professional roles. After the qualifying employment period the worker is usually eligible for 186 via the Temporary Residence Transition stream.

Specialist Skills stream

For higher-skill roles paid above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT). The Specialist Skills stream is designed for senior, technical, and high-value occupations, generally with faster processing where the income threshold is clearly met and the role is genuinely specialised.

Essential Skills stream

Used for labour agreement and Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) arrangements covering essential occupations not on the Core Skills list. Specific requirements depend on the agreement.

Sponsorship — what the business has to do

If the business does not already hold a Standard Business Sponsorship approval, the first step is to apply. The sponsor application looks at the business's lawful operation, financial position, training contribution, and absence of adverse information. Approval lasts 5 years and allows the business to lodge nominations during that period.

For an in-depth walkthrough of the sponsorship application, see How to Become an Approved Sponsor in Australia.

Nomination — the heart of the file

Nomination is where most 482 applications succeed or fail. The sponsor must demonstrate that the role is a genuine, ongoing position, that the worker will be paid at or above the relevant income threshold and at the market salary rate for the role, and that Labour Market Testing has been conducted where required.

Key documents typically include:

Genuine Position Statement (GPS) — position justification, business need, organisational structure
Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) analysis — benchmarking by occupation, region, and ANZSCO
Labour Market Testing evidence (advertisements, candidate evaluations) where required
Employment contract aligned to the nominated occupation
Sponsor financials and organisational chart

If you are a migration agent looking for documents-only nomination support — including GPS drafting, AMSR reports, and full nomination packs — see For Migration Agents.

Visa application — the worker's side

The applicant lodges the visa application after the nomination is lodged (sponsorship and nomination can sometimes be lodged together with the visa). Typical evidence requirements include:

Skills evidence — qualifications, work experience, and a skills assessment where required for the occupation
English language — competent English (IELTS 5.0 each band or equivalent, with some occupations requiring higher)
Health and character — medical, police clearances from every country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
Identity, relationship, and family documents

482 visa cost 2026

Total 482 cost varies materially by stream and family composition. The cost decomposes into three layers:

Government charges (Department of Home Affairs). Sponsorship application charge; nomination charge; visa application charge (varies by stream and family size); biometric and health-examination charges.
SAF levy (Skilling Australians Fund, paid by the sponsor up-front). $1,200 per year of nomination for small business or $1,800 per year for other businesses.
Professional fees (migration agent). Fixed-fee, set in writing under section 42 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022 before work begins.

Typical total employer + applicant cost ranges from approximately $7,000 to $15,000 plus professional fees, but the actual number depends on the stream, family size and the current Department charges at the date of application. Verify current government figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before any business decision.

482 visa processing time — how long does it take?

There are three sequential decisions in a 482 file and the total processing time is the sum of all three: sponsorship decision (for new sponsors), nomination decision, and visa decision. The Department publishes indicative processing times per stream at the link above and updates them regularly; current published bands shift considerably depending on volume and stream priority. For a 482 lodged through a complete file, end-to-end times in 2026 typically fall in the range of 1–6 months for the visa stage, with sponsorship and nomination adding more time at the front. The Department's "global priorities" framework may compress timelines for higher-priority occupations and sectors — confirm the current settings before committing to a relocation timeline.

482 visa requirements

The requirements operate at three layers — the sponsor, the position, and the worker — and each is decided separately:

Sponsor requirements. Approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) — lawfully operating Australian business, no adverse information, sponsor obligations history clean. Sponsorship is valid for five years.
Position requirements. Genuine ongoing role; occupation on the relevant list for the stream; salary at or above the CSIT (Core Skills) or SSIT (Specialist Skills); terms and conditions equivalent to an Australian worker doing the same role; labour market testing where required.
Worker requirements. Skills sufficient to perform the role (often with a formal skills assessment); 2+ years of relevant work experience in most occupations; English language at the required level; health and character requirements; valid passport.

482 visa from India / UK / common origin countries

The 482 framework is country-neutral in eligibility terms — the same sponsor / position / worker rules apply regardless of nationality. Country of origin affects two operational areas: (1) the English language exemption (UK, US, Canada, NZ and Ireland passport-holders are generally exempt from the formal English test); and (2) the skills assessment requirement for trade occupations, where Trades Recognition Australia operates a country-specific list and the Job Ready Program pathway. For 482 applicants from India, the most common stuck-point is the skills assessment / English combination; for UK applicants, it is usually salary positioning rather than English or skills.

Is there an age limit on the 482 visa?

No — the Subclass 482 itself has no upper age limit. However, the Subclass 186 (the permanent-residency follow-on most 482 holders use) generally requires the applicant to be under 45 at the time of nomination for the Temporary Residence Transition and Direct Entry streams, with limited exceptions. If permanent residency through the 186 is the goal, the 45-year age cap is the binding constraint, not the 482 itself.

Common scenarios we work with

Australian business sponsoring an overseas worker

End-to-end engagement: SBS application (if not already held), nomination including GPS and AMSR, visa application. Suited to businesses that want the full pathway managed under one MARA agent.

Transition from 482 to 186 (PR)

For workers who have been on a 482 for the required qualifying period with their sponsor, the next step is 186 via the Temporary Residence Transition stream. See the 186 Visa Guide for the PR stage.

Migration agents needing documents-only support

Fellow registered migration agents commonly engage WIDEN for documents-only B2B work — GPS drafting, AMSR reports, nomination preparation, or file review before lodgement. See For Migration Agents for service scopes, fixed fees, and turnaround commitments.

Indicative fees and timelines

Each 482 file has three layers of fee: government charges (paid to the Department), levy (SAF, paid by the sponsor), and professional fees. Indicative government figures include sponsorship application $420, nomination fee variable by stream, visa application charge variable by stream and family composition, and SAF levy $1,200/year (small business) or $1,800/year (other). All figures are subject to change — confirm current figures on the Department of Home Affairs website before planning.

Professional fees are set on a fixed-fee basis under section 46 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022 and are confirmed in writing in a service agreement before work commences.

Discuss your 482 pathway

Book an initial consultation

The 482 file involves multiple parties (employer, worker, occupation, salary, and sometimes an existing migration agent). A 30-minute consultation will clarify your stream, identify the documents required, and outline the steps and costs.

Consultation fee: $200 + GST. Tax invoice with MARN issued. The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins.

Book Consultation →

Frequently asked questions

What is the 482 Skills in Demand visa?

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is the main temporary employer-sponsored work visa for Australia. It replaced the legacy 457 and is the current pathway for Australian businesses to sponsor overseas skilled workers. The visa typically permits stays of up to 4 years and, in most cases, is the first step toward permanent residence via the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.

What are the streams of the 482 visa?

The 482 has three streams. The Core Skills stream is for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List with a minimum salary at the Core Skills Income Threshold. The Specialist Skills stream is for higher-skill roles paid above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold. The Essential Skills stream covers labour agreement and limited essential-skill arrangements.

How much does the 482 visa cost?

Government fees include the sponsorship application ($420), the nomination fee, the visa application charge (varies by stream), and the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy ($1,200 per year for small business or $1,800 per year for larger employers, paid up-front). Total employer + applicant cost typically ranges from $7,000 to $15,000 plus professional fees. Government figures are subject to change — verify with the Department of Home Affairs.

Can the 482 lead to permanent residency?

Yes. The most common pathway is 482 to 186 via the Temporary Residence Transition stream, available after the worker has been employed by the nominating sponsor for the required period (typically 2 years on the Core Skills stream). See the 186 visa guide for the PR step.

Who is responsible for what — sponsor, nominator, applicant?

The Australian business is the sponsor (Standard Business Sponsorship) and the nominator (nomination of a specific role). The overseas worker is the applicant. Each of the three stages — sponsorship, nomination, and visa application — has its own form, fee, and evidence requirements, and there are separate compliance obligations on the sponsor after grant.

Does the worker need a skills assessment for the 482?

A skills assessment is required for some occupations (notably trades-listed occupations from countries on the Department's skills-assessment list). For other occupations the requirement is met through demonstrated work experience. Always check the specific occupation requirements before applying.

186 Visa Permanent Residency Guide — the PR step after 482
How to Become an Approved Sponsor in Australia — the SBS application in detail
Study Pathway Finder — match Australian courses to a 482-eligible occupation
For Migration Agents — documents-only B2B services including GPS, AMSR, and nomination-only
Pre-Lodgement Risk Audit — peer RMA second opinion on 482 nominations before lodgement ($800, 24-48 hrs)
How to Find Employer Sponsorship — for workers searching for a sponsor
407 Training Visa — an alternative temporary sponsored pathway

This page contains general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) only after a paid consultation under section 43 of the Migration Agents Code of Conduct 2022, with a written service agreement issued before further work commences. The OMARA Consumer Guide is provided to all clients before the consultation begins. Government fees and policy settings are subject to change — verify all figures with the Department of Home Affairs before making decisions.