Up To 4 Years Stay
Depending on your stream and occupation, a 482 visa can be granted for up to four years, with multiple entry to Australia for its duration.
Employer Sponsored Temporary Visa
Subclass 482 Skills in Demand.
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa (formerly the Temporary Skill Shortage visa) is the primary route for Australian businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers for genuine positions they cannot fill locally. Spanning the Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams, it lets you live and work in Australia for up to four years and, for many occupations, can build toward a permanent employer sponsored visa. Intel Migration works with both employers and nominated workers to get the sponsorship, nomination and visa application aligned and decision-ready.
Up to 4 years temporary stay
3 streams to assess
Pathway to 186 PR
MARA Agent #1688088
Why apply for a 482 visa
Australia's main employer sponsored work visa.
For skilled workers with a genuine job offer, the 482 visa offers a faster route into Australia than most points-tested options, with the flexibility to bring family and, for many occupations, a credible pathway toward permanent residency.
Pathway To Permanent Residence
Core Skills and Specialist Skills stream holders who meet the relevant criteria may become eligible for the Subclass 186 permanent visa via the Temporary Residence Transition stream.
Family Inclusion
Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants, generally with the same work and study rights as you.
Broad Occupation Coverage
The Core Skills Occupation List and the Specialist Skills stream's broader eligibility cover a wide range of professional, technical and trade occupations.
Faster Than Points-Tested Routes
With a genuine employer and nomination in place, the 482 can offer a more direct route to working in Australia than waiting in a points-tested invitation pool.
Multiple Entry Travel
482 visa holders generally hold multiple entry permission for the life of the visa, allowing travel in and out of Australia for work, family and personal reasons.
Employer + worker, aligned from day one
Built for genuine, skill-shortage roles.
A successful 482 application starts with a genuine position that a business cannot fill from the local labour market. We help employers justify the need and assist nominated workers who meet the requirement.
Eligibility essentials
Six benchmarks every 482 application must clear.
The 482 visa involves three linked applications - sponsorship, nomination and the visa itself - and each has its own requirements. We review the employer's standing and the worker's profile together so the whole chain holds up.
Approved Sponsor
Your employer must be an approved standard business sponsor (or apply to become one) before they can nominate you for a position.
Eligible Occupation
Your nominated occupation must be on the relevant occupation list for the stream your employer is using, identified by the correct ANZSCO code.
Income Threshold
Your guaranteed annual earnings must meet or exceed the applicable income threshold for your stream, which is indexed and reviewed periodically.
Relevant Experience
You generally need recent, relevant employment experience in your nominated occupation or a closely related field, supported by verifiable evidence.
English Language
A minimum English language level applies for most applicants, with exemptions available in certain circumstances depending on your background and stream.
Health & Character
You and any family members included must meet health examination standards and provide police clearances covering relevant countries of residence.
Strategic roadmap
The 482 visa journey, step by step.
Three applications, one outcome. We coordinate the sponsorship, nomination and visa stages so each builds on the last without unnecessary delays or mismatched information.
Sponsorship Review
We confirm whether your employer is already an approved sponsor, or assist with a new standard business sponsorship application.
Occupation & Stream Check
We identify the correct ANZSCO code and confirm which stream - Core Skills, Specialist Skills or Labour Agreement - applies to the role.
Salary & Position Evidence
We help document the genuine position, duties and salary package against the relevant income threshold and market rate.
Nomination Lodgement
Preparation and submission of the employer nomination application with supporting business and position evidence.
Skills & Experience Evidence
Compilation of work references, qualifications and, where required, a positive skills assessment for the nominated occupation.
English Language Test
Confirming whether an English test is required for your circumstances, and preparing for IELTS, PTE Academic or an accepted equivalent.
Visa Lodgement
Preparation and submission of your visa application with identity, employment, qualification and family documents.
Health, Character & Grant
Completion of health examinations and police clearances for all applicants, followed by final assessment, grant and onward pathway planning.
Income thresholds are indexed and change over time
The income thresholds, occupation lists and stream settings for the 482 visa are reviewed and updated periodically by the Australian Government. We confirm the figures and lists that apply at the time of your nomination, and recommend employers build a small buffer above any minimum salary threshold.
Choosing your stream
Core Skills vs Specialist Skills vs Labour Agreement.
Most 482 applications fall under the Core Skills stream, but a higher salary package or an existing labour agreement can open faster or broader options. We confirm which stream genuinely fits the role before lodging anything.
| Feature | Core Skills Stream | Specialist Skills Stream | Labour Agreement Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation coverage | Occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List | Most occupations above the income threshold, with limited exclusions | Occupations and conditions set by the registered labour agreement |
| Salary requirement | Must meet the Core Skills income threshold | Must meet a substantially higher specialist income threshold | Set out in the specific labour agreement |
| Visa length | Up to four years, occupation dependent | Up to four years | As set out in the labour agreement, generally up to four years |
| Pathway to PR | May support a future Subclass 186 application | May support a future Subclass 186 application | Pathway terms depend on the labour agreement |
| Typical use case | The most common stream for mainstream skilled roles | High-income specialists, niche or executive roles | Industries with an approved, tailored agreement in place |
Official resources
Useful links before you start.
These official Home Affairs pages are a useful starting point for understanding sponsorship, nomination and the 482 visa. We help interpret the rules against your actual business structure, role and occupation.
Common 482 risks
- Nominating an occupation that does not genuinely match the duties of the position.
- Salary packages structured in a way that does not clearly meet the income threshold.
- Employers letting their sponsorship obligations lapse after the visa is granted.
- Assuming every 482 stream leads automatically to permanent residency.
- Gaps or inconsistencies in the worker's employment history and reference letters.
- Visa holders not understanding the work conditions attached to their sponsor and occupation.
FAQ
Before you lodge a 482 visa.
Practical answers for both employers and skilled workers considering the Skills in Demand pathway.
01Is the subclass 482 visa permanent?
No. The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is a temporary visa, valid for up to four years depending on your stream and occupation. However, time spent on a 482 in the Core Skills or Specialist Skills streams can count toward eligibility for the employer sponsored Subclass 186 permanent visa.
02What is the difference between the Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams?
The Core Skills stream covers occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List where the salary meets the relevant income threshold. The Specialist Skills stream is for high-income specialists earning above a higher income threshold across most occupations, with faster processing. The Labour Agreement stream applies where your employer has a registered labour agreement covering occupations and conditions not otherwise available.
03Do I need a job offer to apply for a 482 visa?
Yes. The 482 visa is entirely employer driven. You need an approved Australian sponsor to nominate you for an eligible occupation in a genuine position before you can lodge a visa application.
04Can the 482 visa lead to permanent residency?
It can. Holders of the Core Skills or Specialist Skills stream who meet the relevant work experience and other criteria may become eligible for the Temporary Residence Transition stream of the Subclass 186 visa. Eligibility depends on your occupation, employer and the criteria current at the time you apply.
05Can my family come with me on a 482 visa?
Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants, generally with the same work and study rights as the primary applicant.
06What happens if I lose my job while on a 482 visa?
If your employment ends, you generally have a limited period to find a new approved sponsor, transition to another visa, or otherwise regularise your status, as conditions attached to your visa require you to work for your approved sponsor in the nominated occupation. We help affected visa holders review their options quickly.
Sponsored. Skilled. Mobile.
Ready to map your 482 pathway?
Whether you are an employer looking to sponsor a skilled worker or a worker with a job offer in hand, send us your details and current visa situation. We will help confirm the right stream, the documents required, and what a future pathway to permanent residency could look like.
Book a 482 consultation
MARA Registered Agent #1688088
Intel Migration Pty Ltd
West End, Brisbane QLD
