Sponsorship Visa Australia: Requirements for the Subclass 482 Visa Explained

The Subclass 482 visa is still the main way Australian employers can sponsor skilled overseas workers — but the rules behind it have changed. Since 7 December 2024, the Subclass 482 has operated under the Skills in Demand (SID) framework, which replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. The subclass number stayed the same. Almost everything else inside it was rebuilt: three salary-based streams replaced the old short-term and medium-term setup, a single Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) replaced the two previous lists, and the path to permanent residency was shortened.

This guide sets out the current sponsorship visa Australia requirements for 2026, for skilled workers applying for the visa, and for Australian businesses wanting to sponsor staff. It covers eligibility, salary thresholds, processing times, the three streams, family inclusion, and the move from temporary work to permanent residency under the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.

Direct answer The Subclass 482 visa lets an approved Australian employer sponsor a skilled overseas worker for up to four years. Since December 2024, it has operated under the Skills in Demand framework, with three streams — Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement — and a clearer two-year pathway to permanent residency through the Subclass 186 visa.

What is the Sponsorship Visa Australia (Subclass 482)?

The Subclass 482 visa —  now known as the Skills in Demand (SID) visa — is a temporary employer-sponsored work visa administered by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). It allows an Australian employer to fill a skilled position they cannot fill from the local labour market by sponsoring an overseas worker.

The visa replaced the older Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024. Anyone holding a TSS visa granted before that date continues on their existing visa until expiry. New applications and renewals are processed under the SID framework.

Three things stayed the same:

• The subclass number (482)
• The basic shape: employer becomes a sponsor → employer nominates a role → worker applies for the visa
• The link to permanent residency through the Subclass 186 visa

What changed under the SID framework:

• Streams: short-term and medium-term streams were replaced by Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement streams
• Occupation lists: the MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL were consolidated into one Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) containing 456 occupations
• Work experience requirement: reduced from two years to one year within the past five years
• Job mobility: the grace period to find a new sponsor after leaving an employer has been extended from 60 days to 180 days
• PR pathway: visa holders can apply for permanent residency after two years (down from three under the original TSS rules)

The Subclass 482 is the main visa in the Employer Sponsored Visa family. It sits alongside the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (permanent) and the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa.

Sponsorship Visa Australia Requirements at a Glance

Direct answer To meet sponsorship visa Australia requirements, an applicant needs a job offer in a CSOL-listed occupation (or a Specialist Skills role above AUD $141,210), at least one year of relevant work experience, English at the required level (usually IELTS 5.0 overall), and a clear health and character record. The sponsoring Australian employer must hold Standard Business Sponsorship approval and pay at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of $76,515 (or the SSIT of $141,210 for the Specialist Skills stream).

The 482 visa is built on three separate but linked approvals:

1. Sponsorship approval — the employer is granted Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) status by DHA
2. Nomination approval — the employer nominates a specific role for a specific worker
3. Visa application — the worker lodges their visa application

All three must be approved.  Each stage must be assessed on its own merits. The typical reason for refusal is usually salary, occupation eligibility,  labour market testing incomplete, salary is not market related, position in company not seen as a genuine position, absence of relevant work experience or qualifications, etc

The Three Streams of the Skills in Demand Visa

Specialist Skills Stream

The Specialist Skills stream targets higher-earning roles where Australia faces immediate shortages. Three points define it:

• Salary floor: AUD $141,210 per year for nominations lodged on or before 30 June 2026, rising to $146,717 from 1 July 2026 (indexed annually to AWOTE).
• No occupation list: any occupation classified under ANZSCO is eligible, except trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers (broadly ANZSCO major groups 3, 7 and 8).
• Processing speed: the published median is 7 to 11 business days, by a wide margin, the fastest stream.

The stream is capped at 3,000 places per year. Salary excludes superannuation.

Core Skills Stream

Core Skills is the workhorse of the Subclass 482 visa and covers most applicants.

• Salary floor: AUD $76,515 per year (the Core Skills Income Threshold or CSIT), rising to $79,499 from 1 July 2026.
• Occupation list: the role must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which contains 456 occupations across health, trades, engineering, IT, education and care sectors.
• Processing speed: median processing times have stretched to 4 to 8 months in 2026.

Core Skills is the stream most workers and employers default to. Watch the CSOL closely — Jobs and Skills Australia updates it as labour market conditions change.

Labour Agreement Stream

The Labour Agreement stream is for employers who hold a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government, including:

• Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) — regional agreements covering specific geographic zones (such as Northern Territory, South Australian regions, Pilbara, Goldfields)
• Industry agreements — for sectors with structural shortages, including aged care, agriculture, hospitality and meat processing
• Project agreements — for major infrastructure projects with a clearly defined workforce need

This stream allows salary and skill concessions not available under Core Skills, and is the only practical route for many lower-paid roles where the CSIT cannot be met.

Subclass 482 Stream Comparison Table

Feature	Specialist Skills	Core Skills	Labour Agreement
Minimum salary (to 30 Jun 2026)	$141,210	$76,515	Varies (concessions available)
Minimum salary (from 1 Jul 2026)	$146,717	$79,499	Varies
Occupation list	None (excludes ANZSCO 3/7/8)	CSOL — 456 occupations	Defined by agreement
Annual cap	3,000	Uncapped	Varies by agreement
Median processing time	7–11 business days	4–8 months	3–6 months
Visa length	Up to 4 years	Up to 4 years	Up to 4 years
PR pathway	186 TRT after 2 years	186 TRT after 2 years	186 TRT or Subclass 191
Work experience required	1 year within the last 5	1 year within the last 5	Per agreement

Source: Department of Home Affairs, May 2026.

Requirements for Skilled Workers (Subclass 482 Visa Eligibility)

A worker applying for the Subclass 482 visa needs to meet six categories of requirements.

Occupation Requirements

The nominated role must fall into one of three categories:

• For Core Skills: an occupation on the CSOL, identified by a specific ANZSCO code
• For Specialist Skills: any ANZSCO occupation except those in the excluded major groups, paid at least $141,210
• For Labour Agreement: an occupation specified in the employer’s signed agreement

ANZSCO matching is strict. The duties of the actual role on offer must match the duties described in the ANZSCO code, not just the job title. Mismatched duties are one of the most common nomination refusal reasons.

Work Experience Requirements

Applicants need at least one year of relevant full-time experience (or part-time equivalent) within the last five years. The experience must be:

• In the same or a closely related occupation
• Genuine paid employment, not unpaid internships or volunteer work
• Documented through reference letters, payslips and contracts on company letterhead

The reduction from two years to one year was a 2024 reform aimed at international graduates already in Australia on the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa. It made the 482 a realistic next step for early-career skilled workers. This one-year work experience requirement in the last 5 years applies to all 482 visa applicants

Skills Assessment Requirements

A formal skills assessment is required only for:

• Trades occupations (assessed by Trades Recognition Australia)
• Some healthcare occupations (depending on the relevant assessment body)
• Specific occupations flagged in the CSOL where DHA mandates assessment

Most professional white-collar occupations do not need a skills assessment for the 482 visa, although they may need one later for the Subclass 186 permanent residency application. Where assessment is required, it must be completed by the relevant assessment body (such as TRA for trades, VETASSESS for general skilled, AHPRA for health professionals). For more, see our guide to skills assessment in Australia.

English Language Requirements

The baseline English requirement for the Subclass 482 is:

• IELTS: 5.0 overall with a minimum of 4.5 in each component
• Equivalent scores in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced or OET

Higher English may be required for licensed occupations (such as nursing or teaching), and for the later Subclass 186 PR application (typically IELTS 6.0 overall, with at least 5.0 in each component).

Exemptions apply to passport holders of the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, and to applicants who have completed at least five years of full-time secondary or tertiary study in English.

Health Requirements

All applicants — and accompanying family members — must meet Australia’s health requirements, set under the Migration Regulations 1994. This means a panel doctor health examination, clearance for conditions of public health concern (such as tuberculosis), and assessment against the “significant cost or prejudice to access” test, especially for conditions requiring expensive ongoing treatment. A health waiver is available in limited circumstances, including where the employer agrees in writing to cover specified health-related costs.

Character Requirements

Applicants must pass the character test under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958. This involves police clearances from every country lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years, disclosure of any criminal, immigration or character history, and an Australian Federal Police (AFP) check for anyone who has lived in Australia for 12 months or more. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify an applicant, but it triggers a discretionary assessment.

Requirements for Australian Employers (Sponsorship Obligations)

The sponsorship and nomination side of the Subclass 482 is where most applications stumble. The employer obligations are heavier in 2026 than they were under the original TSS framework, and DHA enforcement has tightened.

Becoming a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)

To sponsor an overseas worker, an Australian business must first be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor. The SBS application asks for:

• ABN and ACN (where applicable)
• Two years of financial statements as prepared by their external accountants, and evidence of viable trading
• Start up businesses can apply for approval to be a sponsor but they need to provide a business plan for 12 months, including financial forecasting for the 12 months
• Proof of lawful operation in Australia
• A non-discriminatory recruitment statement
• A signed declaration of commitment to sponsorship obligations

SBS approval lasts five years for accredited sponsors and five years for standard approvals (extended from three years in late 2024). Once approved, the business can lodge multiple nominations under a single SBS approval.

Salary Thresholds (CSIT and SSIT in 2026)

Two income thresholds apply, both indexed annually to Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE):

• Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): AUD $76,515 (until 30 June 2026), rising to $79,499 from 1 July 2026
• Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): AUD $141,210 (until 30 June 2026), rising to $146,717 from 1 July 2026

Both thresholds exclude superannuation. The nominated salary must meet both:

1. The threshold for the chosen stream
2. The Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) — what an Australian doing the same job in the same location would be paid

If the AMSR is higher than the CSIT, the AMSR sets the floor. This stops sponsors from paying overseas workers less than the going market rate. DHA cross-checks salaries quarterly against ATO payroll data — discrepancies are flagged automatically.

Genuine Position Requirement

The nominated role must be a genuine, ongoing position needed by the business. DHA looks for:

• A real business need for the role (revenue, headcount and operational evidence)
• A position not created solely to support the visa application, it must fit into the scope of the business
• Duties that match the ANZSCO description for the nominated occupation
• Hours and conditions that reflect Australian employment standards

This is the most common refusal ground in nomination applications, especially where vague claims are made about the genuineness. Migration agents typically build a written submission supporting genuineness, with organisational charts, financial evidence and operational data.

Labour Market Testing (LMT)

Labour Market Testing requires the employer to show they tried to fill the role from the local labour market before sponsoring an overseas worker. Standard LMT involves:

• Advertising the role on two separate national reach platforms, 
• Advertisements need to run for at least 28 days within the four months before lodging the nomination. The adverts and the dates they ran for need to be clearly presented,
• Advertisements showing the actual salary range, location and full duties. If the salary is over $96400 + super, it is not required to specify the salary range in the ad

LMT exemptions apply for all streams, which include, but are not limited to, applicants with passports from the following countries:  UK, South Korea, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Chile, and Japan. In addition, nomination applications which involve intra-company transfers to an associated entity in Australia are also exempt from the advertising requirement. 

 

Sponsorship Obligations Under the Migration Act

Approved sponsors take on legally binding obligations under the Migration Regulations 1994, including:

• Paying the nominated salary on time and in full
• Not recovering sponsorship and nomination costs from the visa holder
• Cooperating with monitoring requests from DHA
• Notifying DHA of changes (such as the worker leaving, the business restructuring, or salary changes)
• Keeping records for five years

The penalties for non-compliance include sponsor bars (the right to sponsor revoked for up to five years), civil penalties, and, in serious cases, referral to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

The Subclass 482 Visa Application Process (The Visa Path)

The 482 application runs in stages. Each one must succeed for the visa to be granted.

Step 1 — Eligibility assessment. Before any lodgement, the employer and the worker confirm that the job fits an eligible stream, the salary meets the threshold and the AMSR, the worker meets the work experience and English standards, and the documentation is ready. Most refusals can be traced back to a weak assessment at this stage. A registered migration agent will usually charge a fixed fee for this initial review. AustraliaMigrate does not charge a fee for eligibility assessments

Step 2 — Sponsorship application. If the business is not already an approved Standard Business Sponsor, the SBS application is lodged with DHA. Median processing time in 2026 is 3 to 6 weeks for non-accredited sponsors, faster for accredited sponsors.

Step 3 — Nomination application. Once SBS is approved (or already in place) or lodged, the employer lodges a nomination for the specific role. The nomination needs:

• Position description and ANZSCO occupation code
• Salary detail and AMSR evidence
• Labour Market Testing evidence (where required)
• A written submission addressing the genuineness of the position

Step 4 — Visa application. The worker lodges the visa application, usually in parallel with or shortly after the nomination, but can be after the nomination is approved. Documents required include:

• Identity documents (passport, birth certificate)
• English language test results
• Work experience evidence (reference letters, payslips, contracts)
• Police checks for every co.untry lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years
• Health examination results
• Sponsorship and nomination reference numbers

Step 5 — Decision. DHA issues the decision by email and placed on the ImmiAccount portal. If granted, the visa is valid for the number of years requested in the nomination application, where there was an option to select a period of up to 4 years, depending on how much SAF levy the employer paid. For Hong Kong (BNO and HKSAR) passport holders, the visa can be granted for up to five years and includes additional concessions on the path to permanent residency.

Processing Times and Costs in 2026

Median processing times reported by DHA for the 2025-26 financial year:

Stage	Standard sponsor	Accredited sponsor
Sponsorship (SBS)	4–8 weeks	1–3 weeks
Nomination (Core Skills)	6–10 weeks	2–4 weeks
Nomination (Specialist Skills)	1–3 weeks	1–2 weeks
Visa application (Core Skills)	4–8 months	2–4 months
Visa application (Specialist Skills)	7–11 business days	5–7 business days

 

Government charges for the visa application (Visa Application Charge or VAC) as of 1 July 2025:

• Primary applicant: AUD $3,210
• Adult dependant (18+): AUD $3,210
• Child dependant (under 18): AUD $805
• Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: $1,200 per year (small businesses) or $1,800 per year (larger businesses), paid by the sponsor

Professional fees from a registered migration agent vary based on the complexity of the case and the agent’s experience. The agent must be MARA-registered to act on Australian visa applications — verify the agent’s MARN at mara.gov.au.

Family and Dependants on the 482 Visa

The primary 482 applicant can include eligible family members in the same application:

• A spouse or de facto partner (same-sex relationships included)
• Dependent children under 18
• Dependent children aged 18–22 in full-time study, who are financially dependent

Family members included in the visa receive full work rights, full study rights (subject to international student fees in some cases), and Medicare access where a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement applies.

Family members not included at lodgement must apply later as a subsequent entrant under the Subclass 482 — they cannot simply be added to the existing visa.

For partners not married or not in a registered relationship, evidence requirements mirror those of the Partner Visa Australia — joint financials, cohabitation evidence, statutory declarations, and communication records.

From Subclass 482 to Permanent Residency: The 186 TRT Pathway

The Subclass 482 is designed as a stepping stone to permanent residency through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme — Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.

Eligibility for the 186 TRT in 2026 requires:

• At least two years of full-time work with one or more approved sponsoring employers on a valid 482 visa
• A current nomination from the employer for the same or a closely related occupation
• An age limit of under 45 at the time of the 186 application (with exemptions for high-income earners, healthcare professionals and academic staff)
• IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (or equivalent)
• Health and character clearances

Two reforms in 2024–25 made this faster:

• The two-year requirement is now cumulative across multiple sponsors (not just one) — provided the worker held a continuous 482 visa
• The work experience counts even if the occupation changed between sponsors, as long as the worker was approved to work in those occupations

One risk to manage carefully: dead time. The 180-day mobility window lets a 482 visa holder find a new sponsor without the visa being cancelled, but time worked under that window, before a new nomination is lodged, does not count toward the two-year PR requirement. For workers close to the threshold, sponsor changes need to be timed carefully.

For the full step-by-step process for Subclass 186, see our Employer Nomination Scheme guide.

Common Mistakes That Lead to 482 Visa Refusals

After more than a decade of processing sponsorship applications, a few patterns explain most refusals:

1. Salary just at the threshold. Lodging at exactly $76,515 when the AMSR for the role and location is $85,000 — the nomination fails on AMSR grounds.
2. ANZSCO duty mismatch. The job title matches the CSOL, but the day-to-day duties do not match the ANZSCO description. DHA reads the duties, not the title.
3. Weak labour market testing. Advertisements on the wrong platforms, advertisements running for fewer than 28 days, or salary ranges shown that are below the threshold, employment contracts signed before 28 days of advertising are complete.
4. Genuine position evidence gaps. Small businesses are looking for senior roles without revenue,  headcount or operational data to support the need.
5. Work experience claimed but not documented. Reference letters that do not state duties, dates, or hours per week. Absence of salary evidence, such as payslips, bank deposits, and income statements
6. English test scores, each band must be at least 6 for IELTS and for PTE  – listening 47, Reading 48, writing 51 and speaking 54

 

A registered migration agent’s value in these cases is proactive — a careful submission that pre-empts every refusal ground, rather than reacting to one after it lands.

How Australia Migrate Helps with Your Subclass 482 Visa

Australia Migrate is a MARA-registered migration practice working across all employer-sponsored visa subclasses, including the 482, 186 and 494. Our principal agent is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and operates under the Code of Conduct for Registered Migration Agents.

Our work on the Subclass 482 covers:

• Eligibility assessment for the worker and the sponsoring business – no charge
• Standard Business Sponsorship and accreditation applications
• DAMA and Labour Agreement, such as Premium Dining Labour Agreement
• Nomination drafting with genuine position submissions and AMSR evidence
• Visa application lodgement and document review
• Refusal response and Administrative Appeals Tribunal representation
• Long-term planning for the move from 482 to 186 PR

To start with an eligibility check, book a free initial consultation with one of our migration agents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic sponsorship visa Australia requirements?

A 482 applicant needs a job offer in a CSOL occupation (or a Specialist Skills role above $141,210), one year of relevant work experience in the last five years, English at IELTS 5.0 overall (with no band below 5), a clear health check, and a clear character record. The sponsoring employer must hold Standard Business Sponsor approval and pay at least the CSIT of $76,515 (or the SSIT of $141,210 for Specialist Skills).

Is the Subclass 482 the same as the TSS visa?

The subclass number is the same. The framework underneath it changed on 7 December 2024 — the TSS visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand visa. Anyone holding a TSS visa granted before that date keeps their existing visa until expiry. New applications run under the SID rules.

How long does the Subclass 482 visa last?

Up to four years from the grant date. Hong Kong passport holders can be granted up to five years. The visa can be renewed by lodging a new nomination and visa application under the SID framework.

Can I bring my family on the 482 visa?

Yes. A spouse or de facto partner, dependent children under 18, and dependent children 18–22 in full-time study can be included. Each receives work rights and study rights. Family members not included at lodgement must apply separately as subsequent entrants.

How much does the 482 visa cost in 2026?

The Visa Application Charge is AUD $3,210 for the primary applicant and adult dependants, and $805 per child. The Skilling Australians Fund levy of $1,200 or $1,800 per year is paid by the sponsor. Professional fees from a registered migration agent vary based on case complexity.

Can I change employers on the 482 visa?

Yes. The job mobility window is 180 days — during that time, the worker can find a new sponsor. The new sponsor must lodge a fresh nomination. Time worked before the new nomination is approved counts toward the two-year PR requirement, when the new nomination is lodged, so long as it is approved,  toward the two-year PR requirement.

Does the 482 lead to permanent residency?

Yes — through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme via the Temporary Residence Transition stream, after two years of work on a 482 visa with an approved sponsor. The two years can be cumulative across multiple sponsors.

What happens if my 482 visa application is refused?

A refusal can usually be reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within 28 days of the decision date. Refusal grounds need careful analysis — most refusals can be reframed and re-lodged, but timing is critical. A MARA-registered agent can advise on whether an AAT review or a fresh application is the better course.

Disclaimer: This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Australian immigration law and policy change regularly. Eligibility is subject to the legislation in force at the time of your application. For advice on your situation, speak with a MARA-registered migration agent.