Subclass 482 · Employer-sponsored · Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Essential Skills
Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482)
The subclass 482 lets an approved Australian business sponsor a skilled worker for up to four years. It replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage visa in December 2024 and reduced the work-experience requirement from two years to one. Its three streams are split by salary: Specialist Skills for high earners, Core Skills for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List, and Essential Skills for lower-paid critical roles (not yet open).
By Roman Lama
- Stay period
- Up to 4 years; 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders
- Permanent residence
- Yes, PR or a pathway to it
- Points tested
- No
- Age limit
- No age limit for the 482 itself; the 186 transition has one
- Base application charge
- From AUD 4,015 for the primary applicant in the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams. A separate second instalment applies for an adult family member without functional English. A lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens from 1 July 2026.
- Processing time
- Often 1 to 5 months once the sponsor and nomination are approved
- English requirement
- Generally IELTS 5.0 overall with no band below 5.0 for Core Skills; exemptions for some passport holders and salary levels
- Work experience
- At least 1 year of full-time relevant experience in the last 5 years
- Skilled occupation list
- Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), introduced December 2024
Who it's for
The employer must first become an approved sponsor and lodge a nomination for a genuine position. You then need:
- 1
One year of relevant full-time work experience in the last five years
- 2
The required English level for your stream
- 3
A salary at or above the stream threshold and the market rate for the role
- 4
Registration or licensing if your occupation needs it
- 5
Health and character clearance
Visa streams
Specialist Skills
Salary at or above AUD 141,210. Most occupations eligible, no occupation list check, faster processing.
Up to 4 years
Core Skills
Occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List and salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 76,515.
Up to 4 years
Essential Skills
Planned for lower-paid but critical roles under sector agreements. Not open to applicants yet.
Not yet open
Pathway to permanent residence
After two years working for your sponsor you can generally be nominated for the permanent subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa through its Temporary Residence Transition stream. Time on the 482 also counts toward the residence requirement for other pathways.
The three streams
- Specialist Skills: salary at or above AUD 141,210, most occupations eligible, faster processing, no occupation list check.
- Core Skills: occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 76,515.
- Essential Skills: planned for lower-paid but critical roles under sector agreements, not open to applicants yet.
What changed from the old 457 and TSS
The experience bar dropped from two years to one. All streams now count toward permanent residence, removing the old Short-Term stream dead end. Sponsored workers get longer to find a new sponsor after a job loss.
Employer costs
Sponsors pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy, which is a per-year charge that scales with business size, on top of nomination and visa fees. This is a cost to the business, not the worker.
Visa conditions
Condition 8607 ties you to working only for your sponsor in the nominated occupation, and gives you a set period (currently 180 consecutive days, up to 365 in total) to find a new sponsor if your employment ends. Condition 8501 requires health cover.
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): common questions
How much does the subclass 482 visa cost?
Base application charge for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): From AUD 4,015 for the primary applicant in the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams. A separate second instalment applies for an adult family member without functional English. A lower charge applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens from 1 July 2026. Family members you include each pay an additional charge, and there are separate costs for health checks, police certificates, and skills assessments.
How long does the subclass 482 visa take to process?
Typical processing time for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): Often 1 to 5 months once the sponsor and nomination are approved. Times vary with your occupation, how complete your application is, and demand at the time.
Does the subclass 482 visa lead to permanent residence?
After two years working for your sponsor you can generally be nominated for the permanent subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa through its Temporary Residence Transition stream. Time on the 482 also counts toward the residence requirement for other pathways.
What is the age limit for the subclass 482 visa?
No age limit for the 482 itself; the 186 transition has one. Age is assessed at a specific point in the process, usually the date of invitation or application, so check exactly when before you plan around it.
How long can I stay on the subclass 482 visa?
Stay period for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): Up to 4 years; 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders. The exact period and any conditions are set on your grant notice, so confirm yours on the Department of Home Affairs website or in VEVO before you plan travel, study or work around it.
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This is general information, not immigration advice, and Where To Apply is not a registered migration agent. Visa criteria change often, so always confirm the current rules on the Department of Home Affairs website or with a registered migration agent (check their MARN on the OMARA website) before you apply.