482 Visa Requirements: How to Apply and Get PR in Australia

What happens when an Australian employer can’t find the right local candidate? One solution is a temporary employer-sponsored visa that lets businesses hire skilled workers from overseas, as long as they can prove a suitable Australian wasn’t available.

Let's say you're the overseas worker. You've found an Australian employer who wants to sponsor you, but now you're dealing with occupation lists, salary thresholds and a three-stage application process. The 482 visa requirements can be confusing, and getting things right is essential for both workers and employers.

The 482 visa means you can live and work in Australia for up to four years, with pathways to permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme.

This guide covers everything you need to know, including eligibility criteria, costs, step-by-step application instructions and how to avoid common pitfalls.

At Matilda Migration, we've helped hundreds of employers and skilled workers navigate this process. Whether you need end-to-end support or guidance on a specific stage, our team can help.

Matilda Tip: Looking for the old 457 or TSS visa? The 457 became the TSS (482) in 2018, which became the Skills in Demand visa in December 2024. The subclass number remains 482, so you're in the right place.

What Is the 482 Visa?

The 482 visa, officially called the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers when they can't find suitable local candidates.

The visa operates through three streams, each with different salary thresholds and eligibility. The processing times listed below are for decision-ready applications, with salary thresholds indexed annually. 

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The 482 visa involves three stages:

Phase 1 — Sponsorship: The employer applies to become an Approved Work Sponsor.Phase 2 — Nomination: The employer nominates the specific position.Phase 3 — Visa application: The worker applies for the visa.All three stages can be lodged at the same time.

482 Visa Cost

Employer-sponsored visas have multiple cost components. The table below shows Government fees (as at March 2026):

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Fees indexed annually and displayed on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Agent fees for sponsorship and nomination must be paid by the employer. These costs cannot be passed to the worker.

Matilda Migration Fees

Many migration agents charge $5,500–$7,500+ for full 482 visa services. Our fixed pricing means no surprises.

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All Matilda fees inclusive of GST. See our full employer-sponsored visa pricing.

482 Visa Requirements

Both employers and applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria. Understanding the 482 visa requirements beforehand avoids wasted time and money.

Employer Requirements

As an employer, you first have to become an Approved Work Sponsor. Key requirements include:

• Being a lawfully operating business (a company, trust, partnership or franchise, not a sole trader)
• Demonstrating financial capacity to pay the sponsored worker
• Having no outstanding debts to the Australian government
• Employing salaried staff (not just contractors or freelancers)
• Showing a track record of employing local workers
• Meeting training benchmarks or pay the SAF levy.

Next, you nominate the position by providing:

• Labour market testing (2 job ads run for 28+ days within the past 4 months), but there are some exemptions for some nationalities, including UK passport holders and intra-company transfers
• Evidence the position is genuine (organisational chart, business need)
• A salary above the threshold ($76,515 CSIT for Core Skills; $141,210 SSIT for Specialist Skills) and at market rates
• A listing of the occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) (for Core Skills stream)
• A signed employment contract.

For detailed guidance, visit our employer services page.

Worker Requirements

The 482 visa requirements for workers include:

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You must also meet the department's health requirements and character requirements, and sign the Australian Values Statement.

The 482 Visa Application Process

The 482 visa involves three stages, each with strict documentation requirements:

Stage 1 — Sponsorship

The employer applies to become an Approved Work Sponsor, demonstrating financial capacity and a track record of employing local workers.

Stage 2 — Nomination

 The employer nominates the specific position, providing labour market testing evidence (2 job ads), salary benchmarks and genuine position documentation.

Stage 3 — Visa Application

The worker applies for the visa with skills evidence, work references, English test results and health and character clearances.

All three stages can be lodged simultaneously, but each must be approved in sequence. A single error (such as an expired skills assessment, a job ad that ran 2 days short or a reference missing key details) can delay or derail the entire application.

Why Work with Matilda MIgration? 

We handle all three stages end-to-end: preparing sponsorship applications, compiling nomination evidence, and ensuring visa applications are decision-ready. 

What Happens After You Apply

Once your visa application is submitted: 

You’ll Be Granted a Bridging Visa (If You’re an Onshore Applicant)

If you're in Australia on another visa, you and any family members included in the application will be granted a Bridging Visa A. This allows you to remain in Australia lawfully while your application is processed.

Health Examinations Take Place

An e-medical referral will be generated in your ImmiAccount. Use this to book health checks at a Bupa Medical Visa Services clinic (or approved panel physician). Complete these promptly, as delays in health checks delay your visa.

You May Need to Provide More Information

Home Affairs may contact you or your employer for additional documents during processing. Respond within the timeframe given (usually 28 days) to avoid delays.

You’ll Receive a Decision Notification

You'll receive the outcome via your ImmiAccount. If approved, your visa grant letter will confirm your work rights, visa conditions and duration.

482 Visa to PR: Pathway to Permanent Residency

One of the biggest advantages of the 482 visa is the pathway from 482 visa to permanent residency. All streams now offer routes to PR through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa.

The most common way to go from a 482 visa PR is through the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. To be eligible, you must:

• Hold a 482 visa as the primary applicant
• Be nominated by your sponsor for the same occupation
• Have worked for your sponsor for at least 2 of the past 3 years
• Be under 45 years of age (exceptions apply)
• Have competent English (IELTS 6.0 per band or equivalent)
• Meet health and character requirements.

TRT Employment Requirements

Your employer must have been an Approved Work Sponsor for the entire duration of your claimed employment period.

If they became approved partway through your employment, only the time you worked after the approval counts toward the 2-year requirement.

Check your employer's sponsorship approval date before planning your 186 application.

For full details on the 482 visa to PR pathway, see our 186 visa guide.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

These mistakes cause the highest number of delays and refusals.

Inadequate labour market testing 

Job ads must run for at least 28 days on 2 reputable platforms (like Seek) within 4 months of nomination. Keep dated screenshots as evidence.

Salary below thresholds 

The salary must be base salary only (bonuses, commissions, and allowances cannot be included). It must exceed the TISMIT ($76,515 for Core Skills, $141,210 for Specialist Skills), excluding super, and meet market rates. Provide salary survey evidence.

Weak work experience evidence 

References need to be on company letterhead with specific dates, duties matching the ANZSCO description and referee contact details.

Occupation mismatch 

Job duties must align exactly with the ANZSCO code description. Case officers scrutinise this closely.

Document quality issues 

Files over 5MB, unclear scans, missing signatures or poor labelling cause unnecessary delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a 482 visa last?
Up to 4 years for all streams (Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement).

Can I change employers on a 482 visa?
Yes, but your new employer must be an approved sponsor and lodge a new nomination. You have 180 days after leaving your job to find a new sponsor.

What is the 482 visa fee?
The government fee is $3,210 for the main applicant. Total costs including sponsorship, nomination and SAF levy typically range from $5,000–$10,000+ for the government fees alone. Matilda's agent fee for the visa application is $2,950.

Can I bring my family?
Yes. Include your spouse/partner and dependent children in your application. Government fees are $3,210 per adult and $805 per child under 18.

What's the difference between Core Skills and Specialist Skills?
Specialist Skills require a salary of $141,210+ with no occupation list requirement. Core Skills require a salary of at least $76,515 (TISMIT) and the occupation must be listed on the CSOL.

Is there an age limit?
There’s no age limit for the 482 visa. However, the 186 visa (PR) generally requires applicants to be under 45.

How long does it take to go from 482 visa to PR?
You need to have worked at least 2 years for your sponsoring employer before applying for the 186 visa TRT stream. Processing times for the 186 visa vary.

Key Takeaways

The 482 visa requirements involve coordination between employer and applicant across a three-stage process:

Three available streams

• Specialist Skills (at a salary of $141,210+)
• Core Skills at a salary between $76,515–$141,209)
•  Labour Agreement.

Processing can be fast

• 7 days for Specialist Skills
• 21 days for Core Skills (decision-ready applications).

482 visa to PR is possible

All streams lead to permanent residency via the 186 visa after 2 years.

Preparation is everything

Labour market testing, compliant references and aligned documents prevent most refusals.

How Matilda Migration Can Help

The 482 visa process involves a lot of moving parts, including sponsorship applications, nomination evidence, labour market testing, salary benchmarking and more. Many employers and applicants find themselves overwhelmed by the paperwork or unsure whether their documents meet Home Affairs' standards.

At Matilda Migration, we take the complexity out of employer-sponsored visas. 

For employers

We prepare market salary letters backed by the salary survey evidence expected by Home Affairs, draft genuine position statements and organise your nomination documents. You’ll get a custom company dashboard to track all migration tasks in one place.

For applicants

We review your eligibility and identify the best visa pathway, then prepare your application with compliant references and supporting evidence. We also liaise with Home Affairs on your behalf and keep you updated at every step.

Ready to Apply?

For applicants: Check your eligibility in 2 minutes with our free assessment.
For employers: Book a free consultation to explore your sponsorship options.