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482 Visa (TSS Visa)

The TSS 482 visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand 482 visa on 7 December 2024. New sponsorship and nomination applications now use the Core Skills, Specialist Skills or Labour Agreement streams of the Skills in Demand visa, with the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of $79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) of $146,576 from 1 July 2026. This page is kept as a reference for TSS visa holders and for applications lodged before 7 December 2024. See our 482 visa fees and 482 path to PR guides.


What does the 482 Visa offer?

A 482 Visa (sometimes called a TSS Visa or TSS 482 Visa) enables employers to address labour shortages by hiring skilled workers where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian. It facilitates employment of foreign workers to address temporary skill shortages, while ensuring that Australian workers get priority. 482 TSS visa holders can work in Australia in their nominated occupation and may have a pathway to permanent residency.

A business can sponsor someone for this visa if they cannot find an Australian citizen or permanent resident to do the skilled work. The business must be a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) or an Overseas Business Sponsor (OBS) to sponsor you under the 482 TSS visa.

The visa applicant can be in or outside Australia​ when they lodge their application (or hold a BVA, BVB, BVC) for a 482 visa.

The TSS 482 visa is comprised of a Short-Term stream,  Medium-Term stream and Labour agreement stream. The TSS 482 visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) visa on 7 December 2024.

482 visa: A three-step process:

Step 1: a sponsorship application by the employer (the employer needs to be a lawfull, active, operating business and meet local labour and employment practices).

Step 2: The second part of the application process is the nomination application. This is regarding the position to be filled, salary details, efforts to hire Australian workers and the ‘genuineness’ of the position. The business must also be viable to sponsor from overseas.

Step 3: a visa application by the nominated employee. The visa applicant must demonstrate that they meet the skills required for their occupation as well as health and character requirements.

482 visa: work experience requirement reduced

The Government has reduced the work experience requirement for the TSS 482 Visa from two years to one year for all applicants from 23 November 2024 onwards.

Related: 

Effective from 7 December 2024, the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (sometimes called a TSS Visa) has been replaced by the Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482).

Applications for the TSS Visa which were lodged by 6 December 2024 will be considered according to the eligibility requirements in force at that time.

Existing TSS Visas will remain valid until their original expiry date.

For personal, comprehensive advice on the TSS Visa, Skills in Demand Visa and all your other Australian visa options, please don’t hesitate to book a consultation with one of our licensed migration agents.

Am I eligible for a TSS 482 visa?

The Three 482 Skills in Demand Pathways (2026 to 2027)

Since 7 December 2024, every new 482 visa is a Skills in Demand (SID) visa. The old short-term and medium-term streams no longer exist. Instead, the pathway you use depends mainly on how much you will be paid and what your occupation is.

The income thresholds are indexed on 1 July each year, and the threshold that applies is the one in force when your employer lodges the nomination. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027:

Pathway Income threshold Occupation list
Specialist Skills Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): $146,576 (was $141,210 in 2025 to 2026) No list. Most occupations, except trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers
Core Skills Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): $79,423 (was $76,515 in 2025 to 2026) Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
Labour Agreement As set out in the labour agreement Occupations covered by the agreement

The threshold is only a minimum. Your salary must also be at least the annual market salary rate, which is what an Australian worker would be paid for the same job in the same location. Non-monetary benefits do not count towards the threshold. Select a tab to see who each pathway suits.

Who it is for: highly paid professionals and managers whose guaranteed annual earnings are at least $146,576.

Main requirements:

  • Salary at or above the SSIT and at or above the market salary rate
  • Any occupation in the eligible ANZSCO major groups. Trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers cannot use this pathway, even if their pay is above the SSIT
  • Your occupation does not need to be on the CSOL
  • At least 1 year of relevant work experience
  • English, health and character requirements

The Government has committed to a 7 day median processing time for Specialist Skills visa applications. Read more about the Specialist Skills pathway and the occupations eligible for the Specialist Skills stream.

The 482 Process in Detail: Sponsorship, Nomination and Visa

Every 482 visa goes through the same three stages. The employer handles the first two and you lodge the third. All three can be lodged at the same time, which is often the fastest approach for a new sponsor.

  1. Sponsorship (employer). The business applies to become an approved sponsor, usually a standard business sponsor. Approval lasts 5 years, so a business that is already approved can skip this step. Businesses based overseas can apply as an overseas business sponsor.
  2. Labour market testing (employer). Unless an exemption applies, such as an international trade obligation, the employer must advertise the job in Australia before nominating. Since 11 December 2023, advertising on Workforce Australia is no longer required. You need two advertisements, each running for at least 4 weeks, within the 4 months before you lodge the nomination. See our guide to labour market testing.
  3. Nomination (employer). The employer nominates the position and the worker, showing that the role is genuine, full time unless an exception applies, matches the nominated occupation and pays at least the market salary rate and the relevant income threshold. The employer pays the nomination fee and the SAF levy at this stage.
  4. Visa application (you). You show that you have the skills, work experience and English for the role and that you and your family meet health and character requirements. You can apply in or outside Australia.
  5. Decision and start work. Once the visa is granted, you can start work for your sponsor in the nominated occupation. Check our SID 482 processing times for current timeframes.
482 visa document checklist

The documents needed depend on the business, the role and your circumstances. This list covers what is commonly requested. Click each heading to see more.

  • Evidence that the business is lawfully operating, such as ASIC registration, ABN details and business licences
  • Recent financial statements, tax returns or BAS showing the business is financially viable
  • An organisation chart and a list of current employees
  • Evidence of the business’s activities, such as contracts, leases and invoices
  • For newer businesses, a business plan and evidence of funding
  • A signed employment contract showing the salary, hours and duties
  • A detailed position description that matches the nominated occupation
  • Evidence of the market salary rate, such as the pay of Australian workers in the same role, an enterprise agreement or salary surveys
  • Labour market testing evidence: copies of the advertisements, dates they ran and a summary of the results
  • An explanation of why the position is genuine and needed by the business
  • Passport bio page for you and each family member
  • Birth certificates and national identity cards
  • Evidence of any change of name
  • A recent passport sized photo for each applicant
  • A current CV
  • Qualifications and academic transcripts
  • Reference letters on letterhead showing dates, hours and duties, plus payslips or tax records
  • A skills assessment, if your occupation or passport country requires one
  • Any licence or registration needed to work in the occupation in Australia, or evidence you can get it
  • An English test result taken within 3 years before you lodge the visa application
  • Or evidence of an exemption, such as a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland, or at least 5 years of full-time study in English at secondary level or higher
  • Marriage certificate, or evidence of a de facto relationship
  • Birth certificates of children, and custody documents if a child’s other parent is not coming
  • Health examinations for each applicant, if requested
  • Evidence of adequate health insurance for your stay
  • Police certificates for each country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years since turning 16

482 Visa Requirements for the Worker: Experience, English and Skills

Work experience: 1 year

You need at least 1 year of relevant work experience in your nominated occupation or a related field, gained in the 5 years before you apply. Part-time and casual work counts if it adds up to at least 12 months of full-time work, and the experience does not need to be continuous. Some work done as part of a formal placement, internship or apprenticeship can also count. See our page on work experience for the SID 482.

English

For the Specialist and Core Skills pathways you generally need an IELTS score of at least 5 in each component, or a PTE Academic score of at least 36 in each component, or an equivalent result in another accepted test. You are exempt if you hold a passport from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland, or have completed at least 5 years of full-time study in English at secondary level or higher. Labour agreements may set a different level. See our page on 482 SID English requirements.

Skills assessment, licensing and other requirements
  • Skills assessment: not every applicant needs one. Whether you do depends on your occupation and, for some occupations, your passport country.
  • Licensing: if your occupation needs a licence or registration in Australia, for example many health and trade roles, you must hold it or be able to get it.
  • No age limit: there is no age limit for the 482 itself, but the 186 visa you may later apply for has an age limit of under 45 unless an exemption applies.
  • Health insurance: you and your family must keep adequate health insurance while you hold the visa.

Not sure if you qualify? Use our SID 482 eligibility assessment.

What a 482 Visa Costs: Government Fees From 1 July 2026

The employer must pay the sponsorship fee, the nomination fee and the SAF levy, and cannot pass these costs on to the worker. The visa application charge can be paid by either the employer or the worker.

Cost Who pays Amount
Standard business sponsorship Employer $420
Nomination fee Employer $330
SAF levy, annual turnover under $10 million Employer $1,200 for each year of the nomination, paid upfront
SAF levy, annual turnover of $10 million or more Employer $1,800 for each year of the nomination, paid upfront
Visa charge, main applicant Employer or worker $4,015
Visa charge, each additional applicant 18 or over Employer or worker $4,015
Visa charge, each additional applicant under 18 Employer or worker $1,005

Worked example: a small business with turnover under $10 million, sponsoring its first worker on a 4 year nomination, pays $420 for sponsorship, $330 for the nomination and $4,800 for the SAF levy (4 years at $1,200), a total of $5,550 in employer government costs. If the worker comes with a partner and one child, the visa charges add $4,015 + $4,015 + $1,005 = $9,035. Health checks, police certificates, English tests, skills assessments and professional fees are extra.

Paying the market salary rate

The salary you are offered must be at least the annual market salary rate for the role, and it must also meet the CSIT or SSIT. If Australians in the same business doing the same job are paid more, you must be paid the same. The employer must keep paying at least this rate for the whole time you are sponsored, not just at nomination. See our pages on market salary rates and SID 482 visa fees, or our overview of employer sponsored visa costs.

Changing Employers and Your Obligations on a 482 Visa

Your 482 visa is linked to your sponsor and your nominated occupation under condition 8607. You can change employers, but you need to follow the rules.

  • A new nomination is needed. Your new employer must be an approved sponsor and lodge a nomination for you. If the new job is in the same occupation, you can usually start once the nomination is approved, and you do not need a new visa. See our page on nomination transfers on the SID 482.
  • A new occupation needs a new visa. If you will work in a different occupation, you generally need a new nomination and a new visa application before you start in the new role.
  • The 180 day rule. If your employment with your sponsor ends, you have up to 180 days in a row to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or leave Australia, with a maximum of 365 days in total across the whole visa. During this time you can work for other employers, including in other occupations.
  • Your time still counts. Time with any approved sponsor in your nominated occupation can count towards the 2 years needed for permanent residence.
What the employer must do
  • Pay you at least the market salary rate and give you terms no less favourable than Australian workers doing the same job
  • Tell Home Affairs in writing within 28 days if your employment ends or your duties change
  • Not pass on sponsorship costs, such as the SAF levy and nomination fee, to you or your family
  • Keep employment records and pay return travel costs for you and your family if asked in writing

Read more about sponsorship obligations and changing sponsors.

From 482 to Permanent Residence: A Typical Timeline

All 482 holders, whatever their occupation or pathway, can work towards permanent residence through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. The main requirements are:

  • At least 2 years of full-time work in your nominated occupation in Australia, in the 3 years before you apply, while holding a 457, TSS 482 or SID 482 visa
  • The 2 years can be with more than one approved sponsor
  • A 186 nomination from your employer for a position paying at least the market salary rate and the CSIT
  • Under 45 years of age, unless an exemption applies (see 186 visa exemptions)
  • English, health and character requirements
Stage Typical timing
Sponsorship, nomination and 482 visa lodged and granted Depends on SID 482 processing times; Specialist Skills applications have a 7 day median service standard
Start full-time work with your sponsor Your 2 year count starts
Reach 2 years of full-time work in the occupation About 2 years after starting
Employer lodges 186 TRT nomination and you lodge the 186 visa From the 2 year mark
186 visa granted Depends on employer sponsored processing times

Other options may suit you better, such as the 186 Direct Entry stream, or a points-tested 189, 190 or 491 visa if your skilled work in Australia lifts your points. See our full guide to the SID 482 path to PR.

What Changed From the TSS 482 to the Skills in Demand 482

If you read older guides, or you already hold a TSS visa, the table below shows how the rules have changed. TSS visas granted before 7 December 2024 stay valid until they expire, and applications lodged before that date were decided under the TSS rules.

Feature TSS 482 (before 7 December 2024) SID 482 (from 7 December 2024)
Streams Short-term, medium-term and labour agreement Specialist Skills, Core Skills and labour agreement
Occupation lists STSOL, MLTSSL and ROL CSOL for Core Skills; no list for Specialist Skills
Minimum salary TSMIT ($73,150 from 1 July 2023) CSIT $79,423 or SSIT $146,576 (from 1 July 2026)
Work experience 2 years, reduced to 1 year from 23 November 2024 1 year in the last 5 years
Visa length Up to 2 years in the short-term stream, up to 4 years in the medium-term stream Up to 4 years in all streams (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders)
Time to find a new sponsor 60 days Up to 180 days at a time, 365 days in total
Labour market testing Three advertisements, including one on Workforce Australia (until 11 December 2023) Two advertisements within the 4 months before nomination; Workforce Australia optional since 11 December 2023
Path to permanent residence Through the 186 TRT after 2 years (for all streams since 25 November 2023) Through the 186 TRT after 2 years, with time with any approved sponsor counting

For a fuller comparison, see SID visa compared to the TSS visa.

Common 482 Visa Mistakes to Avoid

Most 482 refusals and delays come from problems that could have been avoided. Click each one to see how to avoid it.

The STSOL, MLTSSL and ROL no longer apply to new 482 nominations. Some occupations that were on those lists are not on the CSOL, and some new ones were added. Check the CSOL, and any caveats, before the employer starts advertising.

Meeting the CSIT is not enough if Australians in the same role are paid more. The salary must also match the market salary rate, and non-monetary benefits do not count. The thresholds rise each 1 July, so a salary that worked last year may not work for a new nomination.

Advertisements that are too old, too short, on the wrong platforms or missing required details can lead to a nomination refusal. Keep copies of every advertisement and a record of the applicants and why they were not suitable.

The duties in the contract and position description must match the nominated occupation. Choosing a higher level occupation than the real job, for example a manager title for a mostly administrative role, is a common reason for refusal. See our page on tasks of the position and nominated occupation.

Reference letters must show your dates, hours and duties, and should be backed by payslips or tax records. Vague letters, or experience in a different occupation, may not meet the 1 year requirement.

Unless you are within the 180 day period after your sponsored job ended, working for a new employer before their nomination (and, if needed, your new visa) is approved can breach condition 8607 and put your visa at risk of cancellation.

If you lose your job, the clock starts straight away. Finding a new sponsor and preparing a nomination can take weeks, so start early. If you go past the limit without a new nomination or another visa, your visa may be cancelled.

Employers must not recover the sponsorship fee, nomination fee, SAF levy or recruitment costs from the worker, including through salary deductions. Breaching this can lead to penalties and a bar on sponsoring in future.

Skills in Demand 482 Visa FAQs

No. New applications have been made under the Skills in Demand 482 since 7 December 2024. If you already hold a TSS visa, it stays valid until it expires, and your time on it can count towards the 186 TRT.

For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is $79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is $146,576. The salary must also be at least the market salary rate for the role. Labour agreements may allow a different salary.

The new thresholds apply to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. They do not change a nomination that was lodged before that date. If your employer lodges a new nomination, for example for a new visa or a change of employer, the threshold in force on the date it is lodged will apply.

Up to 4 years, or up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders, depending on the period your employer nominates. A labour agreement may set a different period.

No. There is no age limit for the 482 itself. If you plan to move to permanent residence through the 186 visa, you generally need to be under 45 when you apply for the 186, unless an exemption applies.

Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children in your application. They can usually work and study in Australia, and they must meet health and character requirements and hold adequate health insurance.

Not always. Whether you need one depends on your occupation and, for some occupations, your passport country. Home Affairs can also ask for one if it has doubts about your skills. We can confirm this for your occupation in a consultation.

Your current visa is not affected. However, a new Core Skills nomination in that occupation will not be possible unless it is back on the list, so you may need to look at the Specialist Skills pathway, a labour agreement or a regional visa. If you are close to 2 years of work, ask your employer about the 186 TRT.

Yes. Your employer, or a new employer, can lodge a new nomination and you can apply for a new 482 visa in Australia. The limit on onshore renewals that applied to the old short-term stream no longer applies, because that stream has closed.

Only in limited cases. A refund is generally not available if the nomination is refused. It may be available in some situations, such as when the nomination is withdrawn before a decision or the visa is granted but the worker never starts work. See our page on the SAF levy.

Medium TSS 482 Visa vs Short TSS 482 Visa

Medium and Long Term 482 Visa (TSS visa)
Short-Term 482 Visa (TSS visa)
482 Visa (TSS Visa) – Regional (ROL)
Is my business eligible to sponsor under the TSS 482 visa program?
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3 Streams

There are three streams available under the TSS 482 visa:

  • 482 Short-term stream: this is for employers to source genuine temporary overseas skilled workers in occupations included on the Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) for a maximum of two years each time (or up to four years if an international trade obligation applies)
  • 482 Medium-term stream: this is for employers to source highly skilled overseas workers to fill medium-term critical skills in occupations included on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupations List (ROL) for up to four years (each time), with eligibility to apply for permanent residence after two years
  • 482 Labour Agreement stream: this is for employers to source overseas skilled workers in accordance with a labour agreement with the Commonwealth, on the basis of a demonstrated need that cannot be met in the Australian labour market and standard visa programs are not available, with the capacity to negotiate a permanent residence option.

At the time of lodging a 482 TSS nomination application, employers will need to select an employment period of up to:

  • 1 year or 2 years for the short-term stream (unless an international trade obligation applies-up to 4 years); and
  • 1 year, 2 years, 3 years or 4 years for the medium-term or labour agreements stream.
Am I eligible for a TSS 482 visa?

482 visa requirements for employees

Work experience

482 visa applicants need at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field, gained in the last 5 years. This was reduced from 2 years for applications from 23 November 2024. This means a recent graduate generally needs at least 1 year of relevant full-time work experience after completing their qualification before they can be sponsored. 482 visa applicants must also meet the ANZSCO Skill Level requirement of your occupation

Condition 8607

Condition 8607 applies to all primary 482 visa holders. It is similar to condition 8107, which was applied to subclass 457 visa holders. Condition 8607 requires 482 visa holders who wish to change occupation (as opposed to employer), to have a new nomination approved and a new visa granted before they start work in a new occupation.

Repeat 482 visa/TSS visas

In general, all applicants for a 482 visa (i.e. primary and secondary) can either be inside or outside Australia. If the application is for a Short-term (ST) stream visa, however, the primary visa applicant must be offshore if all of the below apply:

  • they have held more than one short term stream 482 visa
  • they were in Australia when the application for their most recent 482 visa was made and
  • this requirement would not be inconsistent with any international trade obligation (ITO).

Holders of two ST stream 482 visas in a row (where the second application was made in Australia) can apply for a further visa 482 Short Term stream visa offshore. They should, however, be aware that their immigration history may be relevant in terms of whether they are considered to have met the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement for this visa stream.

Related: TSS 482 visa Checklist for Employee

Employer Requirements – 482 visa

482 Visa SAF Levy

Employers sponsoring workers for a TSS 482 visa must pay a training contribution charge (known as the Skilling Australians Fund levy):

Businesses with turnover of less than $10 million per year will be required to make)
  • an upfront annual payment for each employee on a TSS 482 visa of $1,200
Businesses with turnover of $10 million or more per year will be required to make:
  • an upfront annual payment for each employee on a TSS 482 visa of $1,800

Labour Market Testing (LMT) for 482 visa

Employers must advertise the role on 2 national reaching mediums before offering the position to the overseas applicant (unless an international trade obligation applies). This is to ensure that employers try to find a suitably qualified Australians before they can seek to employ an overseas skilled worker on a TSS 482 visa.

Salary level for 482 visa

Sponsors seeking to employ an overseas worker will need to demonstrate that they are going to pay the market salary rate to ensure that overseas workers are protected and the local labour market is not undercut. In any case it must be above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). This threshold is set by the Department of Home Affairs each year and is $73,150 plus superannuation (from 1 July 2023). Under the Skills in Demand visa the TSMIT was replaced by the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which is $79,423 from 1 July 2026, and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) of $146,576.

Caveats

Some occupations are subject to caveats that set a minimum remuneration level that is above TSMIT.  For example the occupation of “Marketing Specialist” or “Conference and Event Managers” excludes positions which have nominated annual earnings of less than AUD65,000 or for example the occupation of “Corporate Services Manager” will require the business to have turned over at least AUD 1 Million in the 12 months prior to the nomination application.

Related: TSS 482 Visa Checklist for Employer

Is my business eligible to sponsor under the TSS 482 visa program?

Transition from subclass 457 to subclass 482 visa

  • The 457 visa was abolished and replaced with the 482 TSS visa. This has itself since been replaced with the Skills in Demand visa.
  • The Department of Home Affairs has set 25 November 2023 for implementing changes to the employer-sponsored permanent residency program. Once the ENS reforms have been implemented, short-term Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa holders will gain access to permanent residency under the 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the ENS visa program.
  • Employers who are already approved standard business sponsors for subclass 457 will be able to sponsor skilled overseas workers under the 482 TSS visa program.
  • Secondary visa applicants (of 457 visa holders) are able to lodge a subsequent dependent TSS application and if they meet requirements, will be granted a TSS 482 visa linked to their family’s subclass 457 visa/nomination application. The validity period of the 482 visa will match the expiry date of the subclass 457 primary visa holder. Spouses/partners and children included in the 482 TSS visa application will have unrestricted work and study rights.
  • Subclass 457 visa holders whose visa is not expiring but wish to change employer do not need to apply for a new 482 TSS visa, but need their new employer to lodge a TSS 482 nomination application and link it to your 457 visa. You will need to apply for a new 482 visa before your 457 visa expires to continue working.
  • Subclass 457 visa holders who wish to change occupation or need a new visa (for example: with longer validity) will need to lodge a new 482 TSS visa application referencing a new TSS nomination application.
  • If you are granted a 457 visa after 18 April 2017 off the MLTSSL list, it can be granted for 4 years. You will be able to be apply for a permanent 186/187 visa after 3 years on a 457 visa if that company decides to nominate you.
  • If you already hold a 457 visa in a STSOL occupation, you can apply for a two year 482 TSS visa and a further two year 482 TSS visa onshore.
  • Can I apply for 186 Transition after applying being on a 2 year TSS 482 Visa? if you are not grandfathered you would need to be on the MLTSSL list and you would need a further one year 482 TSS visa to be eligible to apply for a permanent 186/187 RSMS visa under that occupation with the same company.
  • I am over 50 years of age, can I still apply for this visa? Yes, there is no age limit for the TSS 482 visa.
Some consequences of this:
  1. Under the former TSS visa, occupations such as cook and restaurant manager were on the short-term list, which limited the path to permanent residence. Under the Skills in Demand visa, eligibility depends on whether your occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) (or you qualify for the Specialist Skills pathway), and most 482 holders can apply for permanent residence through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream after 2 years of sponsored work.
  2. The 187 visa closed to most new applicants on 16 November 2019. Regional employer sponsorship is now generally through the 494 visa.
  3. Graduates now need at least 1 year of relevant full-time work experience in the last 5 years, reduced from 2 years on 23 November 2024. Structured, formal training and work experience on a Student visa may count towards this requirement.

Related:

Employer sponsored visa guides

482 visa FAQ

Yes. Since 25 November 2023, holders of a 482 visa in any stream (including former short-term TSS holders) can apply for permanent residence through the 186 visa Temporary Residence Transition stream, once they have worked for 2 years on the 482 and their employer nominates them. See our 482 path to PR guide.

This temporary visa lets an employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position they can’t find a suitably skilled Australian to fill.

Yes, in most cases. You need at least 2 years of work on a 482 visa in the 3 years before nomination. Since December 2024 this time can be with any approved sponsor, not only your current employer. You must also meet the age (under 45, unless exempt), English and skills requirements for the 186 visa.

Yes. Since 25 November 2023, short-term stream 482 holders have the same pathway to permanent residence through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream as other 482 holders.

You can usually apply for the 186 visa after 2 years on a 482 visa. Processing times for 482 and 186 applications change often and depend on the stream, the occupation and how complete the application is. See our employer sponsored processing times.

  • Your employer must nominate you for a 186 visa in the Temporary Residence Transition stream, in the same occupation you have worked in on the 482.
  • You must have worked for at least 2 years on a 482 visa in the 3 years before the nomination (time with any approved sponsor counts since December 2024).
  • You must have at least Competent English.
  • You must be under 45 when you apply, unless an exemption applies.
  • The salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold ($79,423 from 1 July 2026) and the annual market salary rate.

Yes, it is possible to change your 482 visa to a 190 visa. Having worked in Australia, you will receive additional points towards your skill assessment. However, additional criteria may apply and a 190 visa is not available to all 482 visa holders.

How the Skills in Demand visa replaced the TSS 482 visa

As part of Australia’s migration strategy, the Skills in Demand visa replaced the TSS 482 visa on 7 December 2024. The visa keeps the subclass number 482 and has three streams:

  • Specialist Skills stream: for highly paid workers earning at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT), $146,576 from 1 July 2026. There is no occupation list, but trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers are excluded.
  • Core Skills stream: for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), with a salary of at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), $79,423 from 1 July 2026, and the annual market salary rate.
  • Labour Agreement stream: for workers nominated under a labour agreement.

The Essential Skills pathway that was proposed for lower paid workers has not been introduced as a general visa stream.

The Skills in Demand visa can be granted for up to 4 years in all streams, and every stream has a pathway to permanent residence. Visa holders have more time to find a new sponsor if their employment ends (up to 180 days at a time, and 365 days in total).

Skilling Australians Fund

The SAF levy is still paid upfront when the nomination is lodged: $1,200 per year for businesses with turnover under $10 million and $1,800 per year for larger businesses.

Labour Market Testing

Labour market testing still applies for most nominations. Since 11 December 2023, employers no longer need to advertise on the Workforce Australia website. Two advertisements are needed, each running for at least 4 weeks, within the 4 months before the nomination is lodged.

Book a meeting today for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.

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