Subclass 482 visa: the employer-sponsored pathway.

The subclass 482 visa lets Australian employers sponsor skilled overseas workers for up to four years where they cannot find suitable Australian candidates. It replaced the older 457 visa in 2017 and was restructured in 2024 under the Migration Strategy reforms.

The three streams

• Core Skills stream. For occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Most common stream. Up to 4 years.
• Specialist Skills stream. For high-earning specialists (over $135,000 base salary). Faster processing, broader pathway to permanent residency.
• Essential Skills stream. For aged-care, agriculture and other lower-paid critical occupations. Different salary threshold ($70,000 base).

Eligibility — the basics

The applicant must:

• Be nominated by an approved Australian sponsor (the employer)
• Hold the necessary skills, qualifications and experience for the nominated position
• Meet the relevant English language requirement (IELTS 5.0 average for Core Skills; English exemption available in narrow circumstances)
• Meet health and character requirements
• Have at least 1 year of full-time work experience in the occupation in the last 5 years (Core Skills stream)

The sponsoring employer must:

• Be an Australian business or overseas business with an Australian presence
• Hold standard business sponsorship (SBS) approval (or apply for it concurrently)
• Demonstrate genuine need for the position
• Pay the nominee at least the Annual Market Salary Rate for the position
• Pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy — $1,200/year for small businesses, $1,800/year for medium/large businesses

Processing times and costs

May 2026 indicative figures (Department of Home Affairs):

• Core Skills stream: 50% in 28 days, 90% in 4 months
• Specialist Skills stream: 50% in 21 days, 90% in 6 weeks (priority processing)
• Essential Skills stream: 50% in 35 days, 90% in 5 months

Department application charges (combined nomination + visa):

• Core Skills: $3,210 (primary applicant)
• Specialist Skills: $3,210
• Essential Skills: lower-tier fee TBC
• Family members: $3,210 (over 18) / $810 (under 18)
• Sponsor SBS application: $420 (5-year approval)
• SAF levy: $1,200–$1,800/year of sponsorship

Migration lawyer / RMA professional fees: $3,500–$7,500 for the visa preparation; sponsor SBS work additional ($1,200–$2,500).

Pathway to permanent residency

Most 482 holders aim to transition to permanent residency through the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme. The 2024 reforms introduced clearer pathways:

• Temporary Residence Transition stream (TRT): Apply after 2 years of full-time work for the sponsoring employer (down from 3 years pre-reform). Most common pathway.
• Direct Entry stream: Apply directly without prior 482, requires positive skills assessment.
• Labour Agreement stream: Where the employer has a specific labour agreement with the government.

Common pitfalls

• Genuine need not demonstrated. The Department checks whether the position is genuinely required — new positions or those created shortly before lodgement face scrutiny.
• Salary below Annual Market Salary Rate. The nominated salary must meet or exceed the AMSR for the occupation. Below-market salaries are the most common reason for nomination refusal.
• Sponsor obligations. Sponsors must keep records, notify of changes, and not engage in sham contracting. Breaches can result in sponsor bars.
• Occupation not on the CSOL. The CSOL is reviewed periodically. An occupation listed today may not be listed tomorrow. Check the current list before lodgement.

What to ask the migration lawyer

1. Is my (or my employer’s) circumstances suited to the 482 visa, or is another pathway better?
2. Does the sponsor need to apply for SBS first, or can we lodge concurrently?
3. What evidence does the Department typically request for an occupation like mine, and how should we prepare it?
4. What does the realistic timeline to permanent residency look like in my case?
5. What are the sponsor’s ongoing obligations once the visa is granted?