482 (Skills in Demand) visa requirements explained by a registered agent in Brisbane: sponsorship, occupation, work experience, English, and who can sponsor.
The subclass 482 visa, now called the Skills in Demand visa, lets an Australian employer sponsor a skilled worker to fill a position they can’t fill locally. To qualify, you generally need an approved employer willing to sponsor and nominate you, an occupation on the relevant skilled list, the skills and work experience to do the job, at least the required level of English, and you must meet health and character requirements. On the employer’s side, the business has to be an approved sponsor, offer a genuine position, and pay at least the market salary rate. It’s a temporary visa, but for many people it’s the first step toward permanent residency through employer nomination. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s actually required.
If you’ve been searching “482 visa requirements”, note that subclass 482 has been rebuilt as the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, replacing the older Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) arrangement. The subclass number is unchanged in most places, but the streams and some settings have moved. The structure below reflects the current employer-sponsored model. Because the rules changed recently, treat specific thresholds you see online as a guide and confirm them before you rely on them.
A 482 isn’t a visa you can apply for on your own. It always involves three linked steps and two parties:
1. Sponsorship. The business becomes an approved standard business sponsor. 2. Nomination. The sponsor nominates a specific position and names you as the worker. 3. Visa application. You apply for the visa itself, meeting the personal requirements.
If any of the three fails, the visa doesn’t happen. That’s why both sides need to be right from the start.
As the person being sponsored, you generally need:
The business that wants to sponsor you must:
A 482 sponsor is generally an Australian business that’s lawfully and actively operating and can show a genuine need for the position. The business applies to become an approved sponsor, then nominates the specific role. There are also arrangements for overseas businesses sponsoring staff to work in Australia in limited circumstances. What a sponsor can’t be is a favour from a friend with an ABN. The department looks closely at whether the business is real, whether the job is genuine, and whether the salary is at market rate. If a “sponsor” asks you to pay them for the nomination or to repay their costs, that’s a serious red flag.
Most applicants need to show English at the level their stream requires, usually through an approved test like IELTS, PTE, or equivalent, taken within the validity window. Some applicants are exempt, for example certain passport holders or those who’ve completed enough study in English. The exact score depends on your stream, so it’s worth confirming the current requirement before you book a test. We check this early, because an English shortfall is a common and avoidable reason for delay.
The Skills in Demand visa is temporary, and the length of stay depends on the stream and occupation. For many workers, the real goal is permanent residency, and the 482 is a stepping stone. After a qualifying period working for your sponsor, you may be able to move to the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Planning that pathway from the start usually works out better than treating the 482 as a standalone visa. We map it on our Employer Nomination (ENS) page.
Processing times move constantly and depend on the stream, whether your application was complete, and whether the department needs more information. The most common cause of delay we see is an application that was lodged with gaps, so the department has to come back and ask. A complete, well-evidenced application with the right English result and documents attached from day one is the best thing within your control. We can’t promise a timeframe, but we can remove the avoidable causes of delay.
We’re a registered migration practice in Brisbane, led by a registered migration agent (MARN 1794201). We work with both employers and workers, so we can check your occupation, confirm the right stream, prepare the sponsorship and nomination properly, and make sure your personal requirements like English and skills are sorted before lodgement. We also plan the pathway to permanent residency where that’s the goal, so you’re not paying for one temporary visa after another. See our Employer Sponsored / TSS service page for more.
You generally need an approved sponsor, a nominated occupation on the relevant list, relevant work experience, the required English level, and you must meet health and character. The employer must offer a genuine position at market salary.
Yes. Subclass 482 has been rebuilt as the Skills in Demand visa, replacing the older TSS arrangement. The subclass number is largely the same, but streams and some settings have changed.
Generally an Australian business that’s lawfully and actively operating, can show a genuine need for the role, and is willing to become an approved sponsor and pay market rates. Some overseas business arrangements also exist.
Usually an approved English test result at the level your stream requires, unless you’re exempt. The exact score depends on your stream, so confirm the current requirement before booking a test.
It depends on your occupation and circumstances. Some occupations and nationalities require a formal skills assessment, others don’t. We check this against your specific occupation.
You typically need a period of recent, relevant experience in your nominated occupation or a closely related field. The exact requirement depends on your stream and occupation.
Yes, eligible family members can usually be included. They need to meet health and character requirements and are generally granted the same visa period as you.
The employer must pay the sponsorship and nomination costs, including the training levy, and can’t lawfully pass those to you. You generally pay your own visa application charge and personal costs like medicals and English tests.
A further 482 generally means a fresh nomination by your sponsor and a new visa application, with the charges applying again. Many workers instead move toward the permanent 186 once they qualify.
Yes. After a qualifying period with your sponsor, many 482 holders move to the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Planning that from the start is usually the smarter route.
Delays are usually caused by incomplete applications, missing documents, or requests for more information, on top of general processing times that change over time. A complete, well-evidenced application is the best defence.
Whether you’re an employer looking to sponsor or a worker hoping to be sponsored, getting all three stages right is what makes a 482 work. See our Employer Sponsored / TSS service page, then call BYD Education & Immigration Consultants on 0434 893 901 to book a consultation with a registered migration agent.
