SKILLS IN DEMAND
(SUBCLASS 482) VISA
The Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa lets Australian employers sponsor skilled overseas workers to fill genuine skills shortages that cannot be met from the local labour market. It replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa on 7 December 2024, and many people still search for it under that older name. Sponsored workers can bring eligible family members to Australia, who may then work and study while the primary applicant holds the visa.
WHAT ARE THE STREAMS OF THE SUBCLASS 482 VISA?
The Skills in Demand visa is built around occupation and salary, rather than the old “short-term” and “medium-term” occupation lists. There are currently three operating streams:
- Core Skills stream: for employers sponsoring workers in an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, where the guaranteed annual earnings meet the Core Skills income threshold (indexed annually on 1 July). This is the main pathway for most skilled sponsored workers, with visas granted for up to four years.
- Specialist Skills stream: for highly paid specialists across most professional, managerial and technical occupations, provided the position meets the (considerably higher) Specialist Skills income threshold. This stream is not tied to a fixed occupation list and is designed for fast processing.
- Labour Agreement stream: generally used by larger employers that have negotiated and signed a labour agreement with the Commonwealth, allowing them to sponsor overseas workers where there is a demonstrated need the standard streams and the local labour market cannot meet.
The Department of Home Affairs is also developing a fourth pathway, the Essential Skills stream, aimed at persistent shortage occupations that sit below the Core Skills income threshold. It is not yet operational, so it isn’t a live option for sponsorship at this stage.
HOW DOES THE SPONSORSHIP PROCESS WORK?
Whichever stream applies, obtaining a Skills in Demand visa involves three stages:
- Sponsorship: the employer applies for approval as a Standard Business Sponsor through the Department’s online portal. For the Labour Agreement stream, this stage is replaced by negotiating and signing a labour agreement with the Commonwealth.
- Nomination: once approved as a sponsor, the employer nominates the specific occupation, stream and salary for a prospective visa applicant (or an existing visa holder changing role or employer).
- Visa application: the nominated worker then lodges their own visa application in the relevant stream.
CAN VISA HOLDERS CHANGE EMPLOYERS OR OCCUPATIONS?
Subclass 482 visa holders may only work in Australia for their approved sponsor, in their approved occupation. A visa holder who wants to change employers does not generally need to lodge a fresh visa application to do so, unless their current visa is due to expire, but they cannot start working for the new employer until that employer’s nomination has been approved (unless the occupation is specifically exempt from this restriction).
The same principle applies to changing occupation: an existing visa holder must have a new nomination approved and be granted a new visa before working in a different occupation. Working outside the approved sponsor or occupation without the correct approvals in place breaches the visa’s conditions and can put future visa and residency applications at risk.
IS THERE A PATHWAY TO PERMANENT RESIDENCE?
The Skills in Demand visa can lead to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream. Under the current rules, this generally requires at least two years of full-time employment with a sponsoring employer (or employers) within the preceding three years, a shorter qualifying period than applied under the former TSS visa.
HOW RAMSDEN LAW CAN HELP
Our business migration lawyers regularly advise both employers and applicants through every stage of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa process. We can assist with:
- advising on the requirements and process for the sponsorship, nomination and visa application stages, and which stream best fits your circumstances;
- preparing a tailored document checklist setting out exactly what evidence is required to support your application;
- collating and reviewing your supporting documentation;
- preparing detailed submissions to the Department of Home Affairs addressing each visa requirement and the evidence provided;
- preparing and lodging the sponsorship application, nomination and visa application on your behalf; and
- advising on lodgement status, ongoing sponsorship obligations, and current processing times.
If you are an employer looking to sponsor overseas talent, or a skilled worker considering your options, see our full range of visa options or general skilled migration pathways, or book a consultation with our migration team today.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa?
The Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa allows an Australian employer to sponsor a skilled overseas worker to fill a genuine skills shortage. It replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa on 7 December 2024.
Is the 482 visa the same as the TSS visa?
Not exactly. The Skills in Demand visa is the current subclass 482 program and replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in December 2024. It keeps the same visa subclass number but uses a different stream structure, based on occupation and salary rather than the old short-term and medium-term occupation lists.
What are the streams of the subclass 482 visa?
There are currently three operating streams: the Core Skills stream, the Specialist Skills stream, and the Labour Agreement stream. A fourth, the Essential Skills stream, is being developed by the Department of Home Affairs but is not yet available.
Can I bring my family on a subclass 482 visa?
Yes. Eligible family members can be included on the application and may then work and study in Australia while the primary applicant holds the visa.
Can subclass 482 visa holders apply for permanent residency?
Many visa holders can apply for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream, generally after at least two years of full-time employment with a sponsoring employer within the preceding three years.
Can I change employers on a subclass 482 visa?
You can change employers without a new visa application in most cases, but you cannot start working for the new employer until they are an approved sponsor and their nomination for you has been approved, unless your occupation is specifically exempt from this restriction.
Every situation is different, and visa requirements change frequently. For advice specific to your circumstances, contact Ramsden Law’s migration lawyers or call 1300 749 709.
