Skills in Demand (subclass 482)

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is Australia's main employer-sponsored temporary work visa, replacing the former Temporary Skill Shortage arrangement. It lets an approved Australian employer sponsor a skilled worker to fill a position they cannot readily fill locally, and it is one of the most common ways for overseas professionals to move to Australia with a job already in hand. Depending on the stream, it can lead to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).

The visa has streams based on salary and skill level, including a Specialist Skills stream for high-earning roles and a Core Skills stream tied to an occupation list. To be eligible you need a genuine job offer from an approved sponsor in an eligible occupation, the skills and qualifications for that role, at least competent English, and a salary meeting the relevant income threshold. The employer must also meet sponsorship obligations and, in most cases, demonstrate genuine local recruitment efforts through labour market testing.

To sponsor you, an employer must be an approved standard business sponsor and nominate a position in an eligible occupation. The occupation must appear on the relevant skilled occupation list, and the role must be genuine and full-time. The salary you are paid must meet both the Core Skills Income Threshold (around AUD 73,150 in 2026) or the higher specialist threshold where relevant, and the annual market salary rate for the role, so that overseas workers are not used to undercut local wages.

For most nominations, the employer must complete labour market testing by advertising the role locally before nominating you, demonstrating that no suitable Australian worker was available. Understanding which stream and occupation list applies to your job is essential, because it affects how long the visa lasts and whether it leads to permanent residence. Higher-paid specialist roles enjoy faster processing and broader occupation eligibility, while core-skills roles are tied more tightly to listed shortage occupations.

The process has three connected stages. First, the employer must be (or become) an approved sponsor. Second, the employer lodges a nomination for the specific position, including evidence of labour market testing and the salary on offer. Third, you lodge the visa application, providing your skills, qualifications, English results, identity documents, health examinations and police certificates. The nomination and visa can often be lodged together to save time.

Because the visa depends on the employer relationship, the most important practical factors are a genuine, well-documented job offer and a compliant sponsor. Keep copies of your employment contract, position description and evidence of your qualifications and experience, since these support both the nomination and the visa. If you later change employers, a new sponsor must lodge a fresh nomination, so maintaining clear records of your sponsored employment matters for future applications and for any move toward permanent residence.

The visa application charge for the primary applicant runs into the low thousands of Australian dollars, with additional charges for family members, plus health, police and skills costs; employers separately pay the nomination charge and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. The visa can be granted for up to four years, and your partner and dependent children can be included with work and study rights.

A major attraction of the subclass 482 is its pathway to permanent residence. After working for your sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation for the required period, typically around two to three years, you may be eligible for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream. Planning this pathway from the start, and staying with a sponsor who is willing to nominate you for PR, is the key to turning a temporary sponsored role into long-term settlement in Australia.

Because the subclass 482 cannot be self-nominated, the practical starting point is securing a job with an employer who is already an approved sponsor or willing to become one. Target employers in genuine shortage occupations, tailor each application to roles that match your skills assessment, and be ready to explain the sponsorship pathway clearly to recruiters who may not be familiar with hiring from overseas. Networking with industry bodies and using occupation lists to focus your search are often more effective than applying broadly.

The most common reasons a 482 application runs into trouble are a salary set below the market rate, an occupation that does not clearly match the duties of the nominated role, weak labour market testing evidence, or gaps in the employer's sponsorship compliance. You can reduce these risks before lodging by confirming the position description genuinely aligns with the listed occupation, keeping pay at or above both the income threshold and the market rate, and making sure your skills assessment, English results and supporting documents are complete and consistent.