The most common error we find in a 482 file is a miscounted year. An applicant lists three years of experience. Two of them fall outside the five-year window, and the remaining year was casual work at half the hours. On paper the requirement looks satisfied. Measured properly, it is short by several months, and the application would have been refused.
The subclass 482 visa has a reputation for being straightforward. It is, provided each requirement is checked in order and measured the way the Department measures it. This guide sets out the seven gates and where files fall short.
Short answer: A 482 applicant needs an approved sponsor and nomination, an eligible occupation and one year of relevant experience. The Core Skills salary floor is $79,423, English, health and character apply, and the visa application charge is $4,015.
The seven gates in order
The order matters, because the early gates belong to the employer.
Gate 1: An approved sponsor
You cannot apply on your own. An Australian business must hold approval as a Standard Business Sponsor, or be party to a labour agreement, before anything else happens. If your employer has never sponsored before, that approval is the first task on the list.
Gate 2: An approved nomination
The employer then nominates the specific position. This is where labour market testing, the salary tests and the genuine position question are decided. The role must be full-time and must be a position the business actually needs. The visa cannot be granted until the nomination is approved.
Gate 3: An eligible occupation
Your occupation must fit the stream. The Core Skills stream uses the Core Skills Occupation List of 456 occupations, each tied to an ANZSCO code. The Specialist Skills stream has no list, but excludes trades, machinery operators, drivers and labourers. The Department matches your actual duties to the code, not your job title.
Gate 4: Skills, qualifications and registration
You must hold the skills and background to perform the tasks of the nominated occupation. Some occupations and passport combinations require a formal skills assessment. Others require Australian registration or licensing before you can lawfully work, which the visa does not replace. Medical practitioners also need recognition from an Australian registration authority.
Gate 5: One year of relevant experience
Since December 2024, the requirement is at least one year of full-time equivalent work in the nominated occupation or a related field. Part-time and casual work count on a pro rata basis. The work must fall within the five years ending immediately before the day you apply. Both the total and the window are measured precisely.
Gate 6: English
Most applicants must sit an approved test and meet the score set in the English instrument for each component. Results are valid for three years from the test day. Since September 2025, a single component can be re-sat on a later day where the provider offers it. Passport holders from Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States are exempt. So are applicants with five years of full-time study taught in English.
Gate 7: Health, character and insurance
You will complete health examinations when asked and provide police certificates from each country where you have lived for the required period. You must also hold adequate health insurance for your stay. Start early, because some police certificates take months.
Three streams, three sets of rules
The stream most applicants use. The occupation must be on the CSOL and the salary must be at least $79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. The market rate test applies on top. Full details are on our 482 visa page.
For high earners. The salary must be at least $146,576 and the occupation cannot fall in the excluded ANZSCO major groups. There is no occupation list, but labour market testing still applies. The Department prioritises these applications.
For employers covered by a Designated Area Migration Agreement or an industry labour agreement. The agreement sets the occupations, salary and English concessions. Each agreement is different, so the requirements come from the agreement rather than the standard rules.
What the application costs
The visa application charge depends on who is included. Use the calculator to estimate the government charges for your family.
Figures verified against Home Affairs visa pricing as at 1 July 2026.
Applicants already in Australia on certain visas also pay a subsequent temporary application charge of $700. The employer’s sponsorship charge, nomination charge and Skilling Australians Fund levy are separate, and the employer cannot recover any of them from you. Professional fees are set out on our fees and process page.
Documents to gather
Complete files move faster, because a case officer decides on the papers in front of them. Tick each item as you collect it, and your browser will remember your progress.
How long the visa lasts
There is no fixed period. The visa runs for the period of stay proposed in the approved nomination, so the employer’s nomination shapes how long you can stay. Nominations are commonly for up to four years. Holders of specified Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passports receive five years under a separate rule.
After two years of sponsored work, most holders become eligible for the subclass 186 visa in the Temporary Residence Transition stream. Time with more than one approved sponsor now counts, so a change of employer no longer resets the clock. Our guide to the three dates that decide a 482 to 186 transition explains the timing in detail.
Where files fall short
Beyond the experience miscount, three problems recur. First, applicants lodge before the nomination is ready, and the visa simply waits. Second, they assume the income threshold is enough, when the market rate test applies separately. Third, they choose a neighbouring ANZSCO code that looks right but carries a different skill level or a skills assessment requirement.
Each of these is avoidable with a proper check before lodgement. If you are unsure where you stand, book a consultation through our contact page and we will map the seven gates against your file.
Frequently asked questions
Does casual work count towards the one year of experience?
Yes, on a full-time equivalent basis. Casual hours are added up and compared with full-time hours for the occupation. The work must also fall within the five years before you apply, so older casual work does not help.
Can experience in a related occupation count?
Yes. The rule refers to the nominated occupation or a related field. Work at a similar skill level with overlapping duties usually qualifies, but the reference letters must describe the tasks clearly enough to show the relationship.
Do I need a skills assessment for the 482 visa?
Only for certain occupations and passport combinations set out by the Department. Many applicants do not need one. Check the requirement for your occupation and nationality early, because assessments can take months where they apply.
Can I include my partner if we are not married?
Yes. A de facto partner can be included, provided the relationship meets the Department’s definition and is supported by evidence. Partners included in a 482 application receive full work rights in Australia.
What happens if my employment ends while I hold the visa?
You have up to 180 days from the end of employment to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or depart. During that period you can work for other employers to support yourself. The total across the visa period is capped at 365 days.
This article is general information about Australian migration law as at 2 September 2026. It is not legal advice. Charges and thresholds change each July, and eligibility turns on your own facts, so obtain advice before acting.