Employer · Subclass 482
Skills in Demand visa
Employer sponsored work for up to 4 years: Specialist Skills, Core Skills or Labour Agreement stream.
Who it is for
Workers sponsored by an approved employer for up to 4 years. Specialist Skills: most occupations except trades, machinery operators, drivers and labourers, with a salary of at least A$146,576. Core Skills: an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, with a salary of at least A$79,423. Labour Agreement: an occupation covered by the employer's agreement.
Key eligibility
- No age limit.
- English test scores unless exempt (for example UK, US, Canadian, New Zealand or Irish passport holders).
- At least 1 year of relevant full-time experience in the last 5 years.
- A skills assessment only where mandatory for your occupation and passport, commenced before you lodge.
- An approved sponsor and nomination, with salary at least the threshold and the market rate, and labour market testing unless exempt.
- Health insurance for the whole stay; health and character; no payment for sponsorship.
Where to apply, and bridging visas
In or outside Australia (not in immigration clearance). In Australia you need a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C.
Your journey, step by step
Employer enquiry
Role, occupation code, stream, salary and location.
How a registered migration agent helps: advises the employer on the right stream and code.
Sponsorship
The employer becomes an approved standard business sponsor (valid 5 years).
How a registered migration agent helps: prepares the sponsorship application.
Labour market testing
Advertising, unless an exemption applies.
How a registered migration agent helps: checks testing complies.
Nomination
The employer nominates the position and pays the Skilling Australians Fund levy, which must not be passed on to the worker.
How a registered migration agent helps: prepares salary and market rate evidence.
Service agreement
Before any personal advice or preparation, you receive a written service agreement and the OMARA Consumer Guide.
How a registered migration agent helps: sets out the work, the fee and the refund policy in writing. No money is taken for visa work before the agreement is signed.
Visa application
The worker lodges with English, skills assessment if mandatory, health insurance and documents.
How a registered migration agent helps: prepares the worker's application.
Health, police and biometrics
Health examinations, police certificates and biometrics when the Department asks.
How a registered migration agent helps: tracks every request and deadline so nothing lapses.
Decision and working
Work only for the sponsor in the nominated occupation; the employer must meet sponsor obligations.
How a registered migration agent helps: trains the employer on obligations.
Pathway to permanent residence
The 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream after 2 years of eligible sponsored work, or a skilled visa if eligible.
How a registered migration agent helps: plans the 186 timing.
The Department of Home Affairs makes every decision. No one can promise a grant, an invitation or a faster decision.
Government charges from 1 July 2026
| Applicant or item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Main applicant (all streams) | A$4,015 |
| Family member 18 or over | A$4,015 |
| Family member under 18 | A$1,005 |
| Subsequent temporary application charge, in Australia | A$700 |
Employer costs
| Item | Charge |
|---|---|
| Standard business sponsorship | A$420 |
| Nomination | A$330 |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy, turnover under A$10 million | A$1,200 a year |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy, turnover A$10 million or more | A$1,800 a year |
Health checks, police certificates, translations, skills assessments and English tests are extra and paid to the provider. Our professional fee is separate and quoted in writing. Estimate total charges for your family.
Source: Home Affairs Current visa pricing table, charges from 1 July 2026, read 22 October 2026. Confirm in the Visa Pricing Estimator before you pay.
Processing times
Source: Home Affairs Global visa processing times, read 22 October 2026. Check the current guide. A guide only; times change monthly and are not a promise.
Common refusal risks
- Nomination refused: position not genuine, salary below threshold or market rate, wrong occupation code, defective labour market testing.
- Less than 1 year of experience.
- English below the minimum.
- Mandatory skills assessment not commenced, making the application invalid.
- Sponsor's poor compliance history.
- Paying for sponsorship.
Drawn from the published criteria and general practice experience, not Department statistics.
Document checklist
Tick items as you collect them. Ticks are saved in this browser only and are not sent to us. This is a general list; the Department may ask for more.
0 of 0 collected
The Immigration Worldwide. Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130. General information, checked 22 October 2026.
Recent changes
The Skills in Demand visa began.
Income thresholds for nominations from 1 July 2026: Core Skills A$79,423, Specialist Skills A$146,576.
A new Ministerial Direction sets the processing order.
Sources and checks
- Home Affairs: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
- Home Affairs: salary requirements
- Home Affairs: cost of sponsoring
- Home Affairs Current visa pricing table, charges from 1 July 2026
Related
Information checked 22 October 2026. General information only, not advice about your situation. Australian advice is given by Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130.
Talk it through. The first 15 minutes are free and general. Personal advice starts only after a written service agreement and the OMARA Consumer Guide.