The 482 Skills in Demand visa is Australia’s main employer-sponsored temporary work visa. In 2026 it runs on three streams (Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement), lets you work for up to four years, and — after two years with an approved sponsor — opens a direct pathway to permanent residency through the 186 visa.
If you’re a skilled worker planning a future in Australia, the 482 is likely your starting point. It replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024, and while the subclass number stayed the same, the rules changed substantially.
Here’s exactly where things stand in 2026 — and, just as importantly, how the 482 connects to permanent residency.
What is the 482 Skills in Demand visa?
The 482 lets an approved Australian employer sponsor a skilled overseas worker for a role they can’t fill locally. It’s a three-step process: your employer lodges a nomination for the position, and you lodge the visa application. You must have a genuine job offer — there is no 482 without an employer sponsor.
The three streams (and which one is yours)
Your stream is set mainly by what you’ll earn and the occupation:
Core Skills stream — the main pathway, for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Around 456 occupations are currently listed across health, aged care, disability, construction, hospitality and trades.
Specialist Skills stream —It has no occupation list, but excludes trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers.
Labour Agreement stream — for employers with a negotiated agreement, common in aged care and other critical sectors (being rebranded “Essential Skills”).
Plus: Annual Market Salary Rate Higher of the two applies Higher of the two applies
The income threshold generally looks at guaranteed annual earnings, excluding non-monetary benefits. The AMSR is what an equivalent Australian worker earns for the same role in the same location. This second test is where many nominations quietly fail, so it’s worth getting right before lodgement.
Work experience and English in 2026
Two recent changes made the 482 more accessible:
Work experience:
just 1 year of relevant full-time experience (or the equivalent) in the last five years — down from two plus relevant qualifications.
English: for tests taken on or after 13 September 2025, you generally need IELTS 5.0 in each of the four bands (or the equivalent in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, OET, CELPIP, LANGUAGECERT or MET).
You can now combine components from different tests taken within three years. You’re exempt if you hold a passport from Australia, the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand or Ireland.
You’ll also need to meet health and character requirements and hold adequate health insurance for your stay.
| Salary rule | Core Skills stream | Specialist Skills stream |
| Income threshold (to 30 June 2026) | $76,515 (CSIT) | $141,210 (SSIT) |
| Income threshold (from 1 July 2026) | $79,423 (CSIT) | $146,567 (SSIT) |
| Plus: Annual Market Salary Rate | Higher of the two applies | Higher of the two applies |
How long the 482 lasts — and what happens if your job ends
The 482 lets you stay for up to four years (up to five for Hong Kong passport holders). If your sponsored employment ends, you now have up to 180 days continuous or 365 days across your 482 visa grant to find a new sponsor — real breathing room to protect your position and your PR pathway.
The 482 to 186 PR pathway
For most people, the 482 is a stepping stone, not the destination. After two years of full-time work with an approved sponsor, you can transition to permanent residency through the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Temporary Residence Transition stream) — with no skills assessment for most 482 holders and up to 45 years of age unless exemption applies. The 186 is permanent from the day it’s granted.
What the 482 costs in 2026
From 1 July 2026, the base visa application charge is $4,015 (with $4,015 for an adult family member and $1,005 for a child under 18). Your employer covers the nomination fee ($330), the sponsorship application ($420 where needed) and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Note the charge is non-refundable if an application is refused — which is exactly why a decision-ready application matters.
Key takeaways
Three streams; Core Skills is the main one and is tied to the CSOL.
Salary must beat both the income threshold ($79,423 Core / $146,567 Specialist from 1 July 2026) and the market rate.
Only 1 year of experience and relevant qualification and IELTS 5.0 each band are needed (with passport exemptions).
180 days continuous or 365 across visa grant period to find a new sponsor if your job ends.
Two years in, you can move to PR via the 186 — no skills assessment, no age limit.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for the 482 visa?
No. The Skills in Demand visa has no age limit. An age limit does apply to the 186 Direct Entry stream, but not to the 482 or the 186 TRT stream.
Can I include my family on a 482 visa?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children up to age 22 can be included as secondary applicants and must meet health and character requirements. Family members not included at lodgement must apply later as subsequent entrants. Once child reaches age 23 years, no longer eligible.
Do I need a skills assessment for the 482?
It depends on your occupation. Where one is mandatory, you must commence it before you lodge — the application is invalid without it.
How long does the 482 take to process?
It varies by stream. Always check current times on the Department of Home Affairs website, and remember nomination and sponsorship stages add time.
Can I change employers on a 482?
Yes, but it requires a new nomination from the new sponsor. You now have up to 180 days continuous or 365 days across 482 visa term between sponsors.
Does time on a 482 count towards permanent residency?
Yes — two years of full-time work with an approved sponsor is the core requirement for the 186 TRT stream.
Talk to us before you lodge. Small errors — a salary just under the market rate, an occupation that’s shifted off the CSOL, an English band that falls short — are expensive to fix after lodgement.
As a boutique firm across both migration and employment law, we see how salary, contracts and nominations interact.
Book a 482 eligibility assessment and we’ll map your fastest pathway to PR.
Book a consultation: toliclawyers.com.au · Parramatta, NSW · Australia-wide.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Migration, employment, and other areas of law are complex and constantly changing, and the information contained in this article may not apply to your individual circumstances
