Labour Market Testing Made Simple: A Guide for 482 Visa Employers

Understanding Labour Market Testing (LMT) for the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa

Labour Market Testing (LMT) is a key requirement for businesses applying for the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa—whether you’re nominating an overseas worker or being nominated by your employer.

The process begins with advertising the position for at least 28 consecutive days before the nomination and visa application can be lodged.

Why is LMT so important?

Two advertisements must be placed on national reach job platforms, such as Seek, Indeed, CareerOne, Linkedin. However there are other options.

This step often frustrates employers because strict rules apply:

• The ads must include mandatory information such as salary range, business name, job duties, and role requirements.
• If any details are missing or incorrect, the entire 28-day period could be invalid—meaning the employer would need to start over and run a new 28-day advertising campaign.

Are there exemptions to Labour Market Testing?

Yes. In certain situations, Labour Market Testing may not be required. You might be exempt if:

1. The nominee is from certain countries – including Brunei, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam, or is a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, Chile, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.
2. The nominee already works for an overseas branch of your business – and that branch operates in one of the countries listed above. (For this approach, you are still required to conduct labour market testing, but you are exempt from providing evidence that it has been completed.)
3. The nominee will take on a senior executive or managerial role and is transferring from an associated overseas entity located in a World Trade Organization (WTO) member country.
4. Your business operates in a WTO member country and you’re setting up operations in Australia, with the nominee moving into an executive or senior manager position.
5. The nominee has worked in the nominated position full-time in Australia for at least two years and is a citizen or permanent resident of a WTO member country.

Need help navigating LMT requirements?

If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies for an exemption or you want  to make sure your job advertisements meet all compliance rules, AustraliaMigrate can help.

We’ll guide you step by step to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure your application meets the Department of Home Affairs’ requirements.

Contact us today on 02 9411 6000 or email on info@australiamigrate.com to check your eligibility and get accessible and expert advice.