Consider Tomasz, a diesel mechanic from Poland with a Brisbane employer ready to sponsor him. His employer assumed the Specialist Skills stream would be fastest, because the Department prioritises it. It would not have worked. Mechanics sit in an ANZSCO major group that stream excludes, and his salary was well under the threshold anyway. The right route was the Core Skills stream, which his employer had not looked at.
The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024, and the rules moved again on 1 July 2026. The subclass number is still 482, but the streams, the salary floors and the path to permanent residence have all changed. Choosing the wrong stream costs a nomination charge and months.
Short answer: The subclass 482 visa has three streams. Core Skills needs a listed occupation and at least $79,423. Specialist Skills needs at least $146,576 and has no occupation list. The Labour Agreement stream follows a signed agreement, and the visa application charge is $4,015.
The three streams compared
The stream most sponsored workers use. The occupation must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List, which currently holds 456 occupations across trades, professions and technical roles. Chefs, mechanics, nurses, engineers and software developers all sit here. The salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of $79,423 and the market rate for the role, whichever is higher. Labour market testing applies.
Built for highly paid specialists. There is no occupation list, but trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers are excluded by ANZSCO major group. Assured annual earnings must be at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of $146,576. Labour market testing still applies. In return, the Department prioritises these applications, so they usually move faster.
For employers covered by a Designated Area Migration Agreement, an industry labour agreement or a company-specific agreement. The agreement sets the occupations, the salary and any English concessions. Regional employers with occupations missing from the CSOL should test this option first. It often unlocks roles the standard streams refuse.
What changed in December 2024 and since
Four reforms matter most for people applying now. First, the work experience requirement fell from two years to one year in the occupation or a related field. Second, the old short-term and medium-term streams were replaced by the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams. Third, every stream now leads to permanent residence. Fourth, time with any approved sponsor counts towards the two years needed for the subclass 186 visa, so changing employers no longer resets the clock.
The 1 July 2026 changes were mainly to figures. The income thresholds were indexed upwards, and the charges moved with them. Much online advice still quotes last year’s numbers.
Three approvals, one application
Every 482 visa depends on three approvals: the sponsor, the nomination and the visa itself. A weakness in any one can sink the whole application, which is why we prepare all three together.
- Step 1Sponsorship. The employer applies as a Standard Business Sponsor, or relies on an existing approval that lasts five years.
- Step 2Advertising. The employer runs labour market testing for 28 days and keeps dated evidence of every advertisement.
- Step 3Nomination. The employer lodges the nomination, pays the charge and the Skilling Australians Fund levy, and names the stream and occupation.
- Step 4Visa. The worker lodges the 482 application with experience, English, health and character evidence.
- Step 5Permanent residence. After two years of sponsored work, the employer can nominate the worker for the subclass 186 visa.
The employer page explains the sponsorship and nomination steps in detail. The 482 visa page covers what the worker must show at step four.
What the applicant needs
Beyond a willing sponsor, the applicant generally needs five things. An occupation that fits the stream. At least one year of relevant experience within the last five years, which can include part-time or casual work on a pro rata basis. A skills assessment, but only for certain occupations and passport combinations. An English test result at the level set in the instrument, unless an exemption applies. Health and character clearances, including police certificates.
Partners and dependent children can be included in the same application. Partners receive full work rights, which is one reason couples sometimes prefer this route to a partner visa while the relationship evidence builds.
What it costs in 2026-27
Use the calculator to estimate the government charges for the worker and family. Employer charges are shown separately below.
| Employer charge | Figure |
|---|---|
| Sponsorship application | $420 |
| Nomination charge | $330 |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy, per year of the nomination | $1,200 (turnover under $10m) or $1,800 |
Figures verified against Home Affairs visa pricing as at 1 July 2026.
The employer cannot recover any of its charges from the worker. The Department treats cost recovery as a serious breach of sponsorship obligations. Professional fees for each stage are set out on our fees and process page.
Choosing the stream: three questions
Start with the salary. If assured annual earnings are at least $146,576 and the occupation is not in an excluded major group, Specialist Skills is available and usually faster. If not, move on.
Next, check the occupation. If it appears on the current CSOL, Core Skills is the default. The duties must match the ANZSCO code, not just the title, and the salary must clear $79,423 and the market rate.
Finally, if neither fits, look for an agreement. A regional employer may already sit within a DAMA area. An industry may have a labour agreement in place. Where none exists, a company-specific agreement is possible but slow, so it suits employers with ongoing needs rather than a single hire.
The path to permanent residence
For most 482 holders, the goal is the subclass 186 visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream. After two years of sponsored work, the employer can nominate the worker for permanent residence. The applicant must be under 45 at lodgement unless an exemption applies, and the salary must still clear the Core Skills Income Threshold.
What happens if I lose my job on a 482 visa?
You have up to 180 days from the end of employment to find a new sponsor, lodge another application or leave Australia. During that period you can work for other employers to support yourself, and the total is capped at 365 days across the visa. Time with a new approved sponsor now counts towards the 186 two-year requirement. As a result, a change of employer delays permanent residence less than it once did. Our guide to the three dates that decide a 482 to 186 transition explains the timing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a worker switch from Core Skills to Specialist Skills later?
Yes, through a new nomination if the salary reaches the Specialist Skills threshold and the occupation is not excluded. The employer lodges a fresh nomination and pays the charge and levy again, so the switch is only worthwhile where processing speed matters.
Does the visa have a fixed length?
No. The visa runs for the period proposed in the approved nomination, commonly up to four years. Holders of specified Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passports receive five years under a separate rule.
Is the Specialist Skills stream open to trades?
No. Trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers are excluded by ANZSCO major group regardless of salary. A highly paid tradesperson uses the Core Skills stream if the occupation is listed.
Do all three streams lead to permanent residence?
Yes. Since December 2024, holders in every stream can transition to the subclass 186 visa after two years of sponsored work. The age, salary and nomination requirements at that time still apply.
Can I apply for the 482 visa while in Australia on a visitor visa?
Only if the visitor visa carries no condition preventing a further application. Many visitor visas do, so the applicant may need to apply from outside Australia. Check the conditions on the current visa before the nomination is lodged.
This article is general information about Australian migration law as at 2 September 2026. It is not legal advice. Thresholds and charges change each July, and eligibility turns on your own facts, so obtain advice before acting.