The Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482 is Australia’s main employer-sponsored temporary work visa, allowing an approved Australian business to sponsor a skilled overseas worker when it cannot fill a role locally. It replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 482 in December 2024, kept the same visa number, and now operates through three separate streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement.
If your goal is to live and work in Perth through an employer-sponsored pathway and eventually move towards permanent residency, the 482 Skills in Demand Visa is likely to be one of the first visa options you need to understand.
Below is a complete, plain-English breakdown of how the visa works in 2026, who qualifies, the main 482 visa requirements, what it costs and how it may lead to a permanent visa such as the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa.
What Changed When the TSS Visa Became the Skills in Demand Visa?
In December 2024, the Department of Home Affairs replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa framework with the Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482.
The older occupation lists used under the previous system were replaced for the Core Skills stream by the Core Skills Occupation List, commonly known as the CSOL. This list covers occupations across areas such as trades, engineering, healthcare, information technology and construction.
The reform also introduced salary-based streaming. The Specialist Skills stream does not use the CSOL, although restrictions apply to the occupational groups that may be nominated under that stream.
The Three Skills in Demand Visa Streams Explained
Core Skills Stream
This is the stream many Perth applicants will use. Your occupation must be included on the Core Skills Occupation List, and your guaranteed annual earnings must meet or exceed the applicable Core Skills Income Threshold.
For nomination applications lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD79,423. The offered salary must also satisfy the Annual Market Salary Rate requirements.
Because the threshold is indexed, applicants and employers should confirm the amount applying on the date the nomination is lodged.
Specialist Skills Stream
The Specialist Skills stream does not require the nominated occupation to appear on the CSOL. However, it is not available for every occupation, and occupational exclusions apply.
The position must satisfy the Specialist Skills Income Threshold. For nomination applications lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the threshold is AUD146,576.
This stream is intended for highly skilled and highly paid workers and generally receives a higher processing priority than the Core Skills stream.
Labour Agreement Stream
This stream applies where an employer has a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government. Labour agreements are often used where employers or industries face workforce shortages that cannot be sufficiently addressed through the standard visa streams.
Depending on the relevant agreement, concessions may be available for certain occupation, salary, English, age or work-experience requirements.
Who Is Eligible for the Subclass 482 Visa?
The exact 482 visa requirements depend on the selected stream, occupation and circumstances. However, applicants generally need to meet the following requirements.
An Australian employer that is an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or is willing to become one, must nominate the applicant for a genuine position.
For the Core Skills stream, the nominated occupation must generally appear on the CSOL. For the Specialist Skills stream, the nominated position must meet the applicable occupational and salary requirements.
The applicant generally needs at least one year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field within the five years before applying. Some occupations, licensing authorities or labour agreements may impose additional requirements.
The applicant must satisfy the applicable English-language requirement unless an exemption applies. The required test scores depend on the accepted test, the test date and the applicable legislative requirements.
The applicant and included family members must meet the relevant health and character requirements.
The salary offered must satisfy both the applicable income threshold and the Annual Market Salary Rate for the position. Meeting the minimum income threshold alone does not guarantee that the nomination will be approved.
How the 482 Skills in Demand Visa Application Process Works
Unlike a points-tested skilled visa, the 482 Skills in Demand Visa process usually involves three connected stages.
Step One: Sponsorship
The employer applies to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor unless it already holds a valid sponsorship approval.
Step Two: Nomination
The employer nominates the position, occupation, stream and salary. The nomination generally needs to include evidence relating to the genuine position, salary, employment terms and Labour Market Testing where required.
Step Three: Visa Application
The nominated worker submits the visa application with evidence of identity, qualifications, skills, relevant work experience, English ability, health and character.
The applications may sometimes be lodged close together or concurrently. However, the visa cannot be granted unless the relevant nomination has been approved.
This is why having an experienced migration professional manage the sequencing and supporting evidence can be important, particularly where a skills assessment, registration or occupational licensing requirement applies.
Subclass 482 Processing Times and Costs
Processing time depends on the selected stream, the quality and completeness of the application, occupation, sponsorship history and whether further information is requested.
Applicants should check the Department of Home Affairs global visa processing-times tool shortly before lodging because published processing times change regularly.
Visa application charges are also indexed and may vary according to the stream, applicant’s age, family composition and other circumstances.
Employers usually pay the sponsorship and nomination charges and the applicable Skilling Australians Fund levy. Applicants commonly pay their visa application charge and personal costs such as health examinations, police certificates, English tests and skills assessments.
Ask for a written and itemised professional-fee quote before proceeding so both the employer and applicant understand which costs each party is responsible for paying.
Can Your Family Come With You?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children may generally be included as secondary applicants, provided they satisfy the relevant relationship, dependency, health and character requirements.
Eligible family members normally receive a visa period linked to that of the primary applicant. Their work and study rights will depend on the conditions attached to their visas.
From the 482 Visa to Permanent Residency
One of the main reasons applicants pursue the Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482 is the potential pathway it creates towards permanent residency through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa.
Eligible Subclass 482 visa holders may be able to apply through the Temporary Residence Transition stream after completing the required period of sponsored employment and meeting the applicable nomination and visa requirements.
This pathway is not automatic. Applicants must still satisfy the relevant Subclass 186 requirements at the time of application, including requirements relating to employment, occupation, age, English, health and character, unless an exemption applies.
The journey from a Subclass 482 visa to a Subclass 186 visa remains an important employer-sponsored pathway for skilled workers in industries such as trades, engineering, healthcare, construction and technology.
Common Reasons Subclass 482 Applications Get Delayed or Refused
Many avoidable problems arise from a small number of recurring issues.
Nominations may be questioned where the employer cannot clearly establish a genuine need for the position or where the proposed salary does not reflect the Annual Market Salary Rate.
Applications may also be delayed where the job title, position description, employment contract and nominated occupation do not align.
Incomplete employment references are another common concern. References should clearly explain the applicant’s duties, employment dates, hours, position and relevant experience.
Applications can also face difficulties where Labour Market Testing is incomplete, the employer has not provided sufficient business evidence, or the applicant does not satisfy an occupational licensing or skills-assessment requirement.
A registered migration agent who checks the evidence against the applicable occupation and legislative requirements before lodgement can help identify these issues early.
Working With a Registered Migration Agent in Perth
Because the Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482 pathway involves sponsorship, nomination and visa stages, an error in one application may delay or affect the entire process.
A registered migration agent who regularly assists Perth employers and skilled workers can help determine the correct stream, review the nominated occupation, assess the salary requirements and prepare the supporting evidence.
People sometimes search online for a Skill in Demand Visa 482, but the correct official name is the Skills in Demand Visa, subclass 482.
If you believe you may meet the 482 visa requirements, or your employer is considering sponsoring you, speak with a registered migration agent in Perth who can assess the position against the current requirements and explain a possible pathway towards permanent residency through the Subclass 186 visa.
This guide provides general information only and does not constitute personal immigration advice. Income thresholds, visa charges, occupation lists, processing times and legislative requirements may change. Always confirm the requirements applying at the time of lodgement.
Need Help With the Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482?
If you are considering employer sponsorship in Perth, PATHFINDER VISA & IMMIGRATION SERVICES PTY LTD can help you understand the Subclass 482 visa requirements, identify the correct stream, review your occupation and salary, and guide you through the sponsorship, nomination and visa application process.
Contact PATHFINDER VISA & IMMIGRATION SERVICES PTY LTD today to book a consultation and discuss your pathway from the Skills in Demand Visa Subclass 482 to permanent residency through the Subclass 186 visa.
Call now to speak with a registered migration agent in Perth.
