Last updated: 30 March 2026

Subclass 482 Visa: Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) — Complete Employer Sponsorship Guide

The subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa is Australia’s primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa. Your employer sponsors you for a specific role in a specific occupation — no points test required. Two main streams cover most applicants: short-term and medium-term, each with different durations and PR options. Most importantly, medium-term stream holders have a clear, well-used pathway to permanent residency in Australia through the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream. If you have an Australian employer willing to sponsor you, the 482 is often where your PR journey starts.

What Is the Subclass 482 Visa?

The subclass 482 visa — now officially called the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), formerly the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa — allows Australian employers to fill genuine skills gaps in their business by sponsoring qualified overseas workers. It replaced the subclass 457 visa in March 2018 and has since become the backbone of Australia’s employer-sponsored temporary migration program.

The defining feature of the 482 is that eligibility flows from your employer, not from a points score. Your employer must become an approved Standard Business Sponsor, nominate a specific position, and demonstrate that they could not find a suitably skilled Australian or permanent resident to fill the role. You, as the applicant, then apply for the visa against that nomination.

The occupation you are being sponsored for must appear on a relevant skilled occupation list. Your qualifications, work experience, and English proficiency must align with that occupation. Health and character requirements apply to all applicants.

The 482 is temporary. But for the right occupation, it is a structured first step toward permanent residency. We cover that pathway in detail below.

What Are the Streams of the Skills in Demand Visa (482)?

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) operates through three streams. The stream you enter depends on your occupation, your salary, and whether your employer has a formal labour agreement with the Australian government. This structure replaces the former short-term and medium-term stream model that operated under the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa — the same subclass 482 under its previous name.

Core Skills Stream

The Core Skills stream is the primary stream for most employer-sponsored temporary workers. It covers occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List and requires applicants to meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). Workers in this stream can hold the visa for up to four years, and the stream supports the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) pathway to the subclass 186 employer nomination visa.

Specialist Skills Stream

The Specialist Skills stream is for highly skilled workers in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 who meet a high-income threshold. This stream provides flexibility for employers recruiting senior professionals and specialists where the occupation may not appear on the Core Skills Occupation List. Like the Core Skills stream, it grants up to four years and supports the 186 TRT pathway.

Labour Agreement Stream

Labour agreements are formal arrangements negotiated between the Australian government and specific employers, industry bodies, or regional authorities. They allow employers to sponsor workers in occupations and under conditions that fall outside the standard 482 framework. Examples include designated area migration agreements (DAMAs) for regional employers and industry-specific agreements in sectors like agriculture, meat processing, and on-hire labour.

If your employer operates under a labour agreement, your eligibility criteria, salary thresholds, and PR options will be defined by the terms of that specific agreement. Reach out to us to assess your specific situation if this applies to you.

What Are the 482 Visa Requirements?

Requirements fall into two groups: what your employer must demonstrate, and what you as the applicant must satisfy. This section covers the applicant-side requirements.

Occupation on a relevant list. Your nominated occupation must appear on the applicable skilled occupation list for your stream. The ANZSCO code that matches your role must align with the list your stream draws from.

Skills and qualifications. You need the relevant qualifications, skills assessment, or work experience for the nominated occupation. Some occupations require a formal skills assessment from a designated assessing authority before you apply. Others rely on qualifications and references assessed by the Department of Home Affairs directly. Your experience must genuinely match the occupation you are being sponsored into.

English proficiency. You must demonstrate competent English. The most common method is an IELTS score of at least 5.0 in each band (or equivalent scores in PTE, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, or OET). Exemptions apply for passport holders of the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland.

Genuine temporary entrant (GTE). Unlike some visa subclasses, the 482 retains a genuine temporary entrant requirement. You must intend to stay temporarily, consistent with the conditions of the visa. If you are on the medium-term stream and intend to apply for the 186 TRT later, that is an entirely legitimate intention — the GTE requirement does not prevent you from pursuing PR.

Health and character. Standard health examinations apply, including chest X-rays and medical assessments conducted by an approved panel physician. All applicants must provide police clearances from any country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.

No debt to the Australian government. Any outstanding debt from previous visa applications or enforcement actions must be resolved before the new application will be approved.

What Does Your Employer Need to Do to Sponsor You?

Before you can lodge a 482 visa application, your employer must complete two steps: becoming an approved sponsor and lodging a nomination for your specific role. Both steps involve significant documentation and compliance obligations.

Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS). Your employer must apply to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor. To qualify, they must be a lawfully operating business, demonstrate a genuine need for the overseas worker, have a satisfactory immigration compliance record, and agree to the sponsorship obligations. SBS approval is generally valid for five years.

Nomination. The employer then nominates the specific position they want to fill. The nomination must establish that the position is genuine, that the occupation matches a role on the relevant list, and that the proposed salary meets or exceeds the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), currently set at AUD 73,150 per year, or the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the role if that is higher.

Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. Employers must pay the SAF levy as part of the nomination process. The levy is:

• Small businesses (annual turnover under AUD 10 million): AUD 1,200 per year of the visa period
• Other businesses: AUD 1,800 per year of the visa period

This is an employer cost, not an applicant cost. It is paid upfront for the full visa period at nomination.

Labour market testing (LMT). In most cases, employers must demonstrate they made genuine efforts to recruit Australian workers before nominating an overseas worker. This typically requires advertising the position through specified channels in the 12 months before the nomination is lodged.

Ongoing obligations. Sponsors must continue to employ the worker in the nominated role, pay the agreed salary, not transfer the cost of sponsorship to the worker, and cooperate with monitoring activities by the Department of Home Affairs.

How Do You Apply for the 482 Visa Step by Step?

The 482 application is a three-stage process. Each stage depends on the completion of the previous one, and stages one and two are your employer’s responsibility.

Step 1 — Employer applies for Standard Business Sponsorship. If your employer is not already an approved sponsor, they lodge an SBS application through ImmiAccount. Most businesses with a genuine need and clean compliance record are approved. Processing takes days to a few weeks for straightforward cases.

Step 2 — Employer lodges a nomination. Once approved (or if already approved), your employer nominates the specific position. This includes paying the SAF levy, providing evidence of labour market testing, demonstrating the position is genuine, and confirming salary. Nomination processing runs concurrently with many SBS applications.

Step 3 — You lodge the visa application. Once the nomination is lodged (not necessarily approved), you can lodge your own visa application through ImmiAccount. You will need your nomination reference number. You upload your identity documents, qualifications, employment references, English test results, and any required skills assessment at this stage.

Step 4 — Health and character checks. The Department will request health examinations through eMedical and may request biometrics if you are located in certain countries. Police clearances should be obtained in advance and attached at lodgement where possible.

Step 5 — Decision. A case officer assesses the nomination and visa application together. If both are approved, your visa is granted. You will receive your visa grant notice, which states your conditions, duration, and work rights.

You can be onshore or offshore when you apply. If you are onshore on a valid visa, you will generally hold a Bridging Visa A while your 482 is processed.

How Does the 482 Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?

This is the question most 482 holders eventually ask, and for good reason. The 482 itself is temporary — but the medium-term stream creates a direct and well-established road to permanent residency in Australia.

The mechanism is the subclass 186 employer nomination visa through its Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. Here is how the 482 to PR pathway works in practice:

Work in your nominated occupation for the required period. You must have worked for your nominating employer in your nominated occupation for at least two years full-time (or equivalent part-time) within the three years immediately before the 186 application is lodged. This work must be in the same occupation as your 482 nomination.

Your employer lodges a 186 nomination. Your employer nominates you again — this time for permanent residence. They must still be an approved sponsor, the position must be genuine, and you must be employed in the nominated occupation at the time of application.

You lodge the 186 TRT visa application. You apply for the 186 visa concurrently with or after the nomination. Requirements at this stage include skills assessment (waived for some occupations where you completed it for the 482), English proficiency, health and character, and age — you must be under 45 at the time of 186 application lodgement.

Additional considerations:

• You can renew your 482 visa while waiting for the 186 to be decided. Your status does not lapse.
• The work period requirement is two years with your current nominating employer specifically. Moving to a new employer resets the clock — though your new employer can sponsor you on a fresh 482 nomination.
• Your family members on secondary 482 visas are included in the 186 application and gain PR at the same time.

What about the Skills in Demand visa name change?

The subclass 482 is now officially the Skills in Demand visa. If you are currently on a 482 granted under the previous stream structure, your existing pathway to the 186 TRT is unchanged. Your work history with your employer continues to count toward the TRT two-year requirement. Continue your employment as planned.

For a full breakdown of the transition to permanent residency, see our dedicated 482 to PR pathway guide.

How Long Does 482 Visa Processing Take?

Processing times for the 482 vary by stream, application complexity, and current Department of Home Affairs workloads. The Department publishes 75th and 90th percentile processing times, which give the most realistic picture.

These figures are indicative. Complex cases — those involving skills assessments, character issues, or additional document requests from a case officer — take longer. Applications that are fully documented at lodgement and where the nomination has already been approved tend to move faster.

Nomination processing is a separate step that adds to the total elapsed time. Employers should lodge nominations well before they need the worker in place.

If you hold a valid visa onshore and lodge your 482 before it expires, your Bridging Visa A preserves your right to remain and work while the application is decided. Departing Australia on a Bridging Visa A will cause it to cease — so discuss travel plans with a migration agent before departing.

We can help you assess realistic processing timelines based on your stream and application profile.

How Much Does the 482 Visa Cost?

The 482 involves costs on both sides — some paid by the employer, some by you as the applicant.

Application fees (applicant-paid):

Employer-paid costs:

Other costs to budget for:

It is unlawful for employers to pass the cost of sponsorship or the SAF levy onto workers. If your employer asks you to cover their nomination or levy costs, that is a breach of their sponsorship obligations — seek independent advice.

What Documents Do You Need for the 482 Visa?

Preparing a complete document set before lodgement reduces the risk of delay. Here is what you will typically need.

Identity documents:

• Current passport (valid for the intended visa period)
• Previous passports if you have held others
• Birth certificate

Qualifications and employment:

• Academic transcripts and certificates for all relevant degrees and diplomas
• Employment reference letters from past and current employers, detailing your role, duties, and dates of employment
• Payslips or tax records to corroborate employment history
• Organisational charts or position descriptions for current role

Skills assessment (where required):

• Completed skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation
• Application reference and outcome letter

English proficiency:

• Official score report from IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1/C2, or OET
• Scores must not be expired at time of lodgement (most tests are valid for 3 years)

Health and character:

• Health examination results via eMedical (your case officer will send a health request)
• Australian Federal Police check (for time in Australia)
• Overseas police clearances for each country where you lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years

Employer-provided documents (for nomination):

• Position description for the nominated role
• Evidence of labour market testing (job advertisements, applications received, outcomes)
• Evidence of business operations (ABN, ASIC registration, financial statements)
• SAF levy receipt
• Proposed employment contract or letter of offer

Your employer’s migration agent or HR team typically handles the nomination document set. You and your employer should coordinate closely to ensure there are no gaps between the nomination and visa application files.

The Skills in Demand Visa: What Changed from the Old 482 Structure

The subclass 482 is now officially named the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). The Skills in Demand visa restructures employer-sponsored temporary migration by replacing the former short-term and medium-term stream model with three streams built around occupation and salary:

• Core Skills stream: For workers in occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List earning above the TSMIT. Up to 4 years, with a path to the 186 TRT.
• Specialist Skills stream: For high-income workers across ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Up to 4 years.
• Labour Agreement stream: For workers covered by formal industry or regional labour agreements.

A key aim of the restructure is to give workers greater labour market mobility — making it easier to change employers than it was under the old TSS framework.

What does this mean if you are currently on a 482?

If your visa was granted under the previous short-term or medium-term stream, your existing visa conditions remain in place and your PR pathway is not affected. If you were on the medium-term stream and building toward the 186 TRT, continue your employment as planned — the transition does not reset or interrupt your work history for TRT eligibility purposes.

If you are applying now, you will apply under the new Skills in Demand stream structure. Your occupation and salary will determine which stream applies to you.

How Does the 482 Compare to the 186 and 494?

If you are exploring employer-sponsored migration, three visas come up most frequently: the 482, the 186, and the 494. Here is how they compare:

The 482 is the logical starting point when an employer is ready to sponsor you but you do not yet meet the requirements for the 186 directly — or when you need time to build the work history required for the TRT stream.

The employer sponsored visa Australia overview page covers the full landscape of employer-sponsored options if you want to compare further.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 482 Visa

Is the 482 visa a pathway to permanent residency?

The 482 visa itself is temporary, but it provides a well-established pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 186 employer nomination visa Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. After working for your nominating employer in your nominated occupation for the required period — currently at least two years full-time — your employer can nominate you for the 186, and you can apply for PR. The medium-term stream specifically supports this pathway. Short-term stream holders have much more limited options for employer-sponsored PR.

How long can you stay on a 482 visa?

The short-term stream grants up to two years, or up to four years for nationals of certain countries under bilateral arrangements. The medium-term stream grants up to four years. The labour agreement stream duration varies by the specific agreement. You can renew the 482 — short-term stream holders can generally renew once onshore, while medium-term stream holders can renew without that restriction. Time spent on the 482 counts toward your PR work history requirements.

Does the 482 visa require a points test?

No. The 482 is not a points-tested visa. Eligibility is based on your employer sponsoring you, your occupation appearing on the relevant skilled occupation list, your qualifications and work experience matching the occupation, and meeting English proficiency, health, and character requirements. This makes it accessible to many skilled workers who may not accumulate sufficient points for the independent skilled stream visas like the 189 or 190.

Can you change employers on a 482 visa?

You can, but it requires a new sponsorship arrangement. Your current 482 is tied to the employer who nominated you. If you want to move to a different employer, the new employer must apply to become an approved Standard Business Sponsor (if they are not already), lodge a new nomination, and you must apply for a new 482 visa against that nomination. You cannot simply accept a new job and start working for a different employer without going through this process. Working outside your approved sponsorship arrangement is a visa condition breach.

What is the Skills in Demand visa?

The Skills in Demand visa is the official current name for the subclass 482. The 482 has been renamed and restructured: the old short-term and medium-term streams have been replaced with three streams — Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement. The Core Skills stream covers occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List; the Specialist Skills stream targets high-income workers across broader ANZSCO Major Groups. Workers on existing 482 visas granted under the previous stream structure are not affected — their visa conditions and PR pathways remain intact.

How much does the 482 visa cost?

The base application fee for the 482 visa is AUD 3,035 for the short-term stream and AUD 3,490 for the medium-term and labour agreement streams. These fees apply per person, including secondary applicants. Additional costs include skills assessment fees (AUD 200–800), an English test (AUD 330–385), health examinations (AUD 300–600), and police clearances. The employer separately pays the Skilling Australians Fund levy — AUD 1,200 or AUD 1,800 per year of the visa depending on their business size — and the nomination application charge of AUD 330. Employers are prohibited from recovering these costs from you.

What Should You Do Next if the 482 Visa Fits Your Situation?

If you have an Australian employer who is ready to sponsor you — or an employer who could be open to sponsoring you — the 482 is likely where your Australian migration journey begins. Here is how to move forward with clarity.

Confirm your occupation is on the right list. Check whether your ANZSCO occupation appears on the STSOL or the MLTSSL. This determines your stream and, critically, whether the 186 TRT PR pathway is available to you.

Assess your English and skills requirements. Find out whether your occupation requires a formal skills assessment and which authority conducts it. If you need an English test, book it early — test slots fill quickly and results take time.

Talk to your employer. Your employer needs to understand the SBS and nomination process, the SAF levy, and their ongoing obligations. Many employers are unfamiliar with the process and benefit from guidance. We can help you prepare a clear summary for them.

Consider your PR pathway from day one. If you are entering on the medium-term stream, start your two-year work history clock as soon as your visa is granted. Document your employment carefully from the outset — you will need it for the 186 TRT application later.

Get the numbers right. Make sure the proposed salary meets the current TSMIT and, if applicable, the market rate for the role. Salary shortfalls are a common nomination rejection reason.

We work with applicants and their employers across all stages of the 482 process — from initial eligibility assessment through to 186 permanent residency. If you want a straightforward read of your situation and a clear view of what the path looks like, we are here to help.