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Skill In Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

Simplifying Your Skill In Demand Visa (Subclass 482) Process

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Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

Skills in Demand Visa Australia or subclass 482, also known as the Skills in Demand Visa, is a short-term visa that lets employers employ skilled workers (overseas or onshore) when they cannot find a suitable skilled Australian to fill the position. The Skills in Demand Visa (SID) Australia is designed to address temporary skill shortages in the Australian labor market.

Subclass 482 visa holders can only work in eligible skilled occupations. The 482 visa program has three stages: Sponsorship, Nomination, and Visa Application.

  1. Sponsorship: Employer is approved as standard business sponsor
  2. Nomination: The Employer nominates an occupation for applicant
  3. Visa Application: Applicant apply for subclass 482 visa

The four subclass 482 streams

Core Skills stream

Subclass 482 (SID) visa offers pathway to a Permanent Residency Visa (See subclass 186 – TRT Stream) :

Criteria:

  • Must be nominated by an approved sponsor.
  • Must nominate the applicant for an occupation specified on relevant skill list and minimum salary of $79,423 per annum (the Core Skills Income Threshold from 1 July 2026).
  • Must demonstrate that he/she has relevant skills, qualification and employment background required to perform the job. Applicants may or may not require to undertake skill assessment based on nominated occupation (Some occupations have mandatory skill assessment requirements).
  • Must have at least 1 year fulltime experience in nominated occupation.
  • Must demonstrate that the applicant meets English requirements.
  • Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.

Specialist Skills stream

Specialist Skills stream offer pathway to Permanent Residency Visa (See subclass 186 – TRT Stream)

Criteria:

  • Must be nominated by an approved sponsor
  • Must nominate the applicant for an occupation and minimum salary must be $146,576 per annum (the Specialist Skills Income Threshold from 1 July 2026).
  • Must demonstrate that he/she has relevant skills, qualification and employment background required to perform the job. Applicants may or may not require undertaking skill assessment based on nominated occupation (Some occupations have mandatory skill assessment requirements).
  • Must have at least 1 years’ fulltime experience in nominated occupation within the last 5 years.
  • Must demonstrate that the applicant meets English requirements.
  • Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.

Labour agreement stream

Criteria:

  • The nominated occupation must be part of the relevant labour agreement.
  • Must have 1 year experience in nominated occupation unless agreed otherwise under labour agreement.
  • Must demonstrate that he/she meets English requirements.
  • Must be nominated by the employer.
  • Must meet health, character and any other requirements as specified under legislation.

Subsequent Entrant stream

This visa is designed for individuals who are family members of subclass 457 and SID visa holders. They are applying independently for their SID visa and desire to join the main subclass 457 or SID visa holder in Australia.

Skills In Demand Visa (Subclass 482) provides an avenue for employers in Australia to address temporary skill shortages by hiring skilled workers from overseas or onshore. It offers different streams to cater to various occupation categories and provides opportunities for both short-term employment and potential pathways to permanent residency in certain cases.

What the sponsoring employer must do

Most of the subclass 482 process sits with the business, not the applicant. Three approvals run in sequence — sponsorship, nomination, then the visa — and the first two are the employer’s responsibility.

Labour market testing

For the Core Skills and Labour Agreement streams you must advertise the role before nominating. Two separate advertisements, each running for at least 28 consecutive days, placed within the 12 months before nomination, each stating the position, skills required, location, salary and your business name. General classifieds and social media posts are not accepted.

Costs the employer cannot pass on

The nomination charge and the Skilling Australians Fund levy are legally the employer’s cost. The levy is calculated on your annual turnover and the nomination period and is paid upfront. Recovering either from the worker breaches the Migration Act, with civil penalties, sponsorship bars and repayment orders as consequences.

Salary and the occupation list

The nominated occupation must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List, and you must pay both the applicable income threshold and the annual market salary rate for the role, whichever is higher. The threshold that applies is fixed by the date you lodge the nomination, not the date it is decided. Government figures change each July, so confirm current amounts before you budget a salary.

From the 482 to permanent residence

The subclass 482 is a temporary visa, but for most holders it is a step rather than a destination. After a qualifying period working for your sponsor in the nominated occupation, the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream is the usual route to permanent residence. Core Skills and Specialist Skills stream holders both have access to it. Time counted towards that period must be worked for the sponsoring employer in the occupation you were nominated for, so a change of role or employer can reset the clock.

When the 482 is not the right visa

The 482 only works if the occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List and the applicant meets the age, English and experience requirements. If any of those fail, the nomination will not succeed no matter how genuine the vacancy is. Western Australian employers in that position often have an alternative through a DAMA labour agreement, which relaxes several of those criteria.

If you are sponsoring under the 482, or holding an offer and trying to work out whether you qualify, our registered migration agents in Perth can confirm the stream, the threshold and the timeline before you commit to the cost. Book a consultation.

FAQs –

The Subclass 482 visa allows skilled workers to live and work in Australia when an approved employer cannot find a suitable local candidate. It has Short-Term, Medium-Term, and Labour Agreement streams based on occupation and business need. Indeedvisa helps employers and applicants understand which stream applies and ensures a smooth, compliant visa process.

You must be nominated by an approved sponsor, have the required skills, qualifications, and work experience for the role, and meet English language, health, and character requirements. Indeedvisa reviews your profile against eligibility criteria and occupation lists to ensure you’re applying under the right stream with complete documentation.

Yes, if you are on the Medium-Term stream, you may be eligible for permanent residency through the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme after 2–3 years of work with your sponsor. Indeedvisa provides future-focused advice to plan your pathway from temporary status to permanent residency without disruptions.

In most cases, a skills assessment is not required for 482 visa applicants. However, for certain occupations and passport holders, it is mandatory. Indeedvisa checks if your occupation and nationality require a skills assessment and can assist with preparing the necessary documents or sourcing a recognised skills assessor if needed.

Most applicants must show competent English, usually by taking IELTS (score of 5.0 overall with no band below 4.5) or equivalent tests. Some applicants may be exempt due to nationality or prior education. Indeedvisa helps you understand what evidence is accepted and offers options if you need to meet English criteria urgently.