The 482 visa, lodged in the right order.
Sponsorship approval, then nomination, then the visa. Each step has its own test and its own refusal risk. We act for the worker and for the employer, and we run all three together so nothing lapses while the next piece is being prepared.
Government charges, subclass 482
- Visa application charge, main applicant$4,015
- Each adult dependant$4,015
- Each child under 18$1,005
- Standard business sponsorshipemployer, once, valid five years$420
- Nominationemployer, per position$330
- Skilling Australians Fund levy, per yearemployer, turnover under or over $10m$1,200 or $1,800
As at 1 July 2026. The employer cannot pass sponsorship, nomination or SAF costs to the worker.
Which stream you are in decides everything.
The stream sets the salary floor, the occupation list and whether labour market testing applies. Get it wrong and the nomination is refused before the visa is even assessed.
- 01
Core Skills stream
The main stream. Your occupation must sit on the Core Skills Occupation List of 456 ANZSCO codes and the guaranteed annual earnings must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold of $79,423 and the market rate for the role. Labour market testing applies.
- 02
Specialist Skills stream
For roles paid at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of $146,576. Any ANZSCO occupation except trades, machinery operators, drivers and labourers. Priority processing, and still subject to labour market testing.
- 03
Labour Agreement stream
For employers with a labour agreement or a designated area migration agreement (DAMA). Concessions on salary, age and English are possible, and the terms of the agreement govern the nomination.
What the applicant has to show.
The visa stage is simpler than the nomination, but it is where identity, health, character and work history are tested against the claims the employer already made.
One year of relevant experience
At least twelve months of full-time equivalent work in the nominated occupation or a closely related field within the last five years. Part-time and casual work can count if it adds up.
Skills assessment where required
Only some occupations and passport holders need a skills assessment for the 482. We check yours against the legislative instrument rather than assuming.
English
IELTS 5.0 overall with no band below 5.0, or an equivalent test, for Core Skills and Specialist Skills. Some passports are exempt. Labour agreements can set their own level.
Health, character and insurance
Health examinations, police clearances for every country lived in for twelve months or more, and adequate health insurance for the whole stay.
The nomination is where 482 cases are won or lost.
A Department case officer reads the nomination before anything else. We prepare it as a legal submission, not a form.
Read our employer guides
| Test | What satisfies it |
|---|---|
| Approved sponsor | A lawfully operating business with no adverse information, approved as a standard business sponsor for five years. |
| Genuine position | A real, full-time role that fits the business and the ANZSCO description, evidenced by organisation charts, contracts and financials. |
| Labour market testing | Advertising on at least two national recruitment platforms for at least 28 days in the four months before nomination, unless an international trade obligation exempts the worker. Workforce Australia is no longer mandatory. |
| Salary | Annual market salary rate for an equivalent Australian worker, and not below CSIT or SSIT for the stream. |
| SAF levy paid | Paid at nomination for each year of the visa period. Refundable only in narrow circumstances. |
482 visa, answered plainly.
Can I change employers on a 482?
Yes. After your visa is granted you can move to a new approved sponsor once that employer lodges and has a nomination approved for you. You have 180 days after leaving an employer to find a new sponsor, lodge another visa or depart. Working for anyone else in the gap is a breach of condition 8607.
Does the 482 lead to permanent residence?
For most holders, yes. After two years working for your sponsor in the nominated occupation you can be nominated for the subclass 186 through the Temporary Residence Transition stream. Age, English and the employer's willingness to nominate all need to be planned for early, ideally at the time the 482 is lodged.
How long does a 482 take?
Processing varies by stream and by how complete the application is. Specialist Skills nominations are prioritised. Decision-ready applications with no Department requests are consistently faster than the published medians, which is why we do not lodge until the evidence is complete.
What is the Skilling Australians Fund levy?
A training contribution the employer pays at nomination: $1,200 per year of visa period for businesses with turnover under $10 million, and $1,800 per year for larger businesses. It is a cost of the sponsor and cannot be recovered from the worker.
Do I need a skills assessment?
Only if your occupation and passport combination is listed in the relevant legislative instrument. Many applicants do not need one for the 482, but will need one later for a 186 Direct Entry application. We check both at the first consultation.
Checking an offer, or trying to fill a role?
One consultation covers the stream, the salary floor, labour market testing and the two-year path to the 186. Fixed fee quoted in writing afterwards.