Important: the TSS 482 visa has been replaced
The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) 482 visa on 7 December 2024, with Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement streams. The comparison below has been updated for the SID visa and for fees from 1 July 2026. The income threshold (CSIT) is AUD 79,423 and the Specialist Skills threshold (SSIT) is AUD 146,576 from 1 July 2026.
Subclass 482 TSS visa and Subclass 494 Employer Sponsored Regional visa comparison
The temporary 482 visa lets an employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can’t find a suitably skilled Australian to fill. We have compared the 482 with another common Employer Sponsored visa, the 494 visa. The 494 visa enables regional employers to address identified labour shortages within their region by sponsoring skilled workers where employers can’t source an appropriately skilled Australian worker. Here is a summary of both visas:
SUBCLASS 482 SKILLS IN DEMAND VISA (REPLACED TSS ON 7 DECEMBER 2024) |
SUBCLASS 494 SKILLED EMPLOYER SPONSORED REGIONAL VISA |
|
Sponsor |
SBS for Australia or overseas business
Labour Agreement for Australian business |
SBS for Australian business only
Labour Agreement for Australian business |
Position Location |
Anywhere in Australia | Regional Australia – anywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane
metropolitan areas. |
Position Type |
Full time | Full time, and likely to exist for at least 5 years |
Occupation Lists |
Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) for the Core Skills stream; most occupations (other than trades, machinery operators and labourers) for the Specialist Skills stream | 494 occupation list |
Labour Market Testing |
LMT Required, limited exemptions apply | LMT Required, no exemptions apply |
Salary |
Must be market rate, and at least the income threshold ($79,423 from 1 July 2026) per annum | Must be market rate as certified by a RCB, and at least the income threshold ($79,423 from 1 July 2026)
per annum |
Nomination Fee |
DHA 482 Nomination Fee $330 | DHA 494 Nomination Fee AUD 540 |
Skilling Australians Fund |
SAF Levy Fee < $10million turnover AUD$1,200 (per year) SAF Levy Fee > $10million turnover AUD$1,800 (per year)
Partial refund available in certain circumstances |
SAF Levy Fee < $10million turnover AUD$3000 (one off) SAF Levy Fee > $10million turnover AUD$5000 (one off)
Partial refund available in certain circumstances |
Age |
No age limit for primary applicant | Primary applicant must be under 45 years of age |
English Level |
At least IELTS 5 overall, or an equivalent score in another accepted test | Competent English (IELTS 6, PTE 50), dependent applicants must have
Functional English or pay a second VAC |
Skill Assessment |
Only required for specific occupations | Required, with exemptions for Senior Academics and 444/461 NZ visa
holders |
Work Experience |
At least 1 year of relevant full-time work experience (or part-time equivalent) in the last 5 years | Three years of full time work experience required |
Genuine TemporaryEntrant |
Not required (the GTE for short-term occupations no longer applies under the Skills in Demand visa) | No GTE applies |
Health and Character |
Must meet health and character criteria (health waivers available) | Must meet health and character criteria (health waivers available) |
Validity Period |
Up to 4 years from the date of grant (all streams) | 5 years from the date of grant |
Government fees (Single applicant) |
DHA 482 Visa Application Fee (primary applicant, all streams) AUD 4,015 from 1 July 2026 | DHA 494 Visa Application Fee (primary applicant) AUD 6,140 from 1 July 2026 |
Visa Conditions |
· Only work for sponsoring employer, in nominated occupation
· If employment ceases, have up to 180 days at a time (365 days in total) to find a new sponsor, get another visa or depart Australia |
· Only work for sponsoring employer, in nominated occupation
· If employment ceases, have up to 180 days at a time (365 days in total) to find a new sponsor, get another visa or depart Australia |
| · Notify DHA within 14 days of any change of residential address, email, phone number, passport details and address of employment for all family members
· All family members must live, work and study in the designated regional area as defined in the nomination approval · If required in writing by the Minister, provide information such as residential address, address of employer, location of position and address of educational institution within 28 days. · If requested in writing, a 494 holder must attend an interview · Restricted from applying for certain visas within 3 years of grant of the 494 |
||
| Both the Skills in Demand 482 visa (all streams) and the 494 visa have a path to permanent residency through the 186 visa and 191 visa respectively. | ||
Permanent Residency |
SUBCLASS 186 EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME – TRT PATHWAY |
SUBCLASS 191 PERMANENT RESIDENCE (SKILLED REGIONAL) |
| Sponsor | Requires employer sponsorship | Does not require employer sponsorship |
| Position Location | Anywhere in Australia | Regional Australia – anywhere outside Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane
metropolitan areas. |
| Position Type | Full time, and available for at least 2 years from grant | N/A |
| Occupation Lists | Same occupation as your 482 visa (no occupation list restriction for the TRT pathway since 25 November 2023) | N/A |
| Nomination Fee | DHA 186 Nomination Fee $540 (non-regional)
DHA 186 Nomination Fee $nil (regional) |
N/A |
| Skilling Australians
Fund |
SAF Levy Fee < $10million turnover AUD$3000 (one off) SAF Levy Fee > $10million turnover AUD$5000 (one off) | N/A |
| Age | Primary applicant must be under 45 years of age* | No age limit for primary applicant |
| English Level | Competent English (IELTS 6, PTE 50) dependent applicants must
have Functional English or pay a second VAC |
N/A |
| Work Experience | Applicant must have worked in the nominated occupation for at least 2 of the last 3 years while holding a 482 visa (time with any approved sponsor counts since 25 November 2023) | Applicant must have held a 494 visa for a minimum period of 3 years,
and worked in regional Australia for at least 3 years, with taxable income in each of those 3 income years (there is currently no minimum dollar amount, see our 191 visa income requirements guide) pa (ATO documents required) |
| Compliance | N/A | Must have substantially complied with the conditions of the 494 visa
(conditions above) |
| Government fees | DHA 186 Visa Application Fee (primary applicant) AUD 6,140 from 1 July 2026 | DHA 191 Visa Application Fee (primary applicant) AUD 630 from 1 July 2026 |
| Potential Benefits | – Lower English language level
– No skill assessment in most cases – Less work experience required – Faster preparation time – More cost effective for shorter visa validity periods – No RCB involvement – Pathways to other visas – no restrictions on applying from the TSS – Family members can live, work, and study anywhere |
– Lower SAF costs for the business
– Longer validity – secure employees for longer / more time for applicants to meet PR requirements – Skills have been formally assessed as meeting Australian standards – Better pathway to permanent residency with no employer involvement needed – Applicants entitled to Medicare – Longer occupation list – No restrictions on Bridging Visa following lodgement – Can swap main applicant at PR stage |
*Unless grandfathering provisions apply
This document contains general information on the TSS, 494, 186, and 191 visas, which are correct as of the date of writing this article. Changes to the program can occur without notice. It is not intended to be comprehensive, and does not cover all circumstances. You should seek advice that takes into account your individual circumstances and to understand the legal requirements of any application.
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