Skills in Demand visa (482)
The Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024. It has a Core Skills stream for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List, a Specialist Skills stream for higher paid positions, and a Labour Agreement stream. The visa is granted for up to 4 years and the applicant needs at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the last 5 years; there is no age limit.
- Salary floors 2026-27
- AUD79,423 Core Skills; AUD146,576 Specialist Skills
- Training levy
- Paid by the employer when nominating; cannot be passed on
What we do
- 01Prepare the standard business sponsorship application, the labour market testing and the nomination, and check the salary against the current thresholds.
- 02Prepare the visa application, including skills assessment, English and health requirements.
When you need this
If you are an employer:
- You have found the right person for a role and cannot fill it locally, and want to know whether you can sponsor them.
If you are the worker:
- You have a job offer and your employer has agreed to sponsor you.
- Your employment has ended and you need to find a new sponsor within the time allowed.
Who you will work with
Jing Sun
Principal Solicitor · Notary Public
Founder and Principal Solicitor with 16+ years across commercial, corporate, litigation and immigration law. Also a Notary Public.
ProfilePoints worth knowing
The salary floors change every July
For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027 the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD146,576; the Core Skills threshold also applies to 186 nominations, and the same AUD79,423 figure applies to the regional 494 visa. The nominated salary must also be no less than what an Australian would earn in the same job.
Labour market testing is still required
In most cases, before nominating for a Core Skills, Specialist Skills or 494 position the employer must have advertised the position at least twice, for at least four weeks, within the four months before lodging; for a 482 nomination an international trade obligation can remove the requirement. There are no occupation based exemptions.
The employer pays the training levy, and cannot pass it on
The Skilling Australians Fund levy is payable in full when the nomination is lodged: for a 482 nomination AUD1,200 or AUD1,800 for each year, depending on whether the business turns over less than AUD10 million; for 186 and 494 nominations a one off AUD3,000 or AUD5,000. The employer must not pass the levy or any sponsorship or nomination cost on to the worker, and it is an offence for a worker to pay an employer for sponsorship.
Losing the job does not end the visa immediately
A 482 holder whose employment ends has up to 180 days to find a new sponsor or arrange to leave Australia, and the new employer must lodge a new nomination. Employers must tell the Department within 28 days when a sponsored worker's employment ends.
How we work
- 01A first conversation in English or Mandarin, with the employer or the worker or both, about the role, the business and the timetable.
- 02Before any work starts, we confirm the scope of work and our fees in writing. Where we act for both employer and worker, we say in writing what we will do for each.
- 03We prepare the sponsorship, nomination and visa applications in the right order, keep both sides informed, and plan the permanent residence step.
Common questions
My employer wants me to pay the sponsorship costs. Is that allowed?
No. The employer must pay all costs of becoming a sponsor and of nominating you, including the training levy, and cannot deduct them from your salary; paying an employer for sponsorship is illegal.
Can a small business sponsor someone?
Yes. Any legally established and currently operating business can apply to become a standard business sponsor, which lasts 5 years, provided there is no adverse information about it and it shows a commitment to employing local labour.
This page is general information about Australian immigration law and is not legal advice. Please contact us about your own situation.
Last updated: October 2026