Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482): Complete 2026 Guide

Australia Has Issued 975,622 Employer-Sponsored Work Visas

The Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482), formerly known as the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, is Australia's main employer-sponsored work visa. Since 2005, the Australian government has granted 975,622 Subclass 482/457 visas to skilled workers from around the world. With 3580 Standard Business Sponsors currently active, Australia remains one of the top destinations for visa sponsorship globally. Explore the full dataset on our Australian visa sponsorship page.

Three Streams Explained

As of the December 2024 reforms, the Subclass 482 visa has three streams:

1. Core Skills Stream

• Salary threshold: AUD 73,150/year (TSMIT)
• Occupation: must be on the Core Skills Occupation List
• Duration: up to 4 years
• PR pathway: eligible for ENS 186 after 2 years with same employer

2. Specialist Skills Stream

• Salary threshold: AUD 135,000/year
• Occupation: any ANZSCO occupation (no list restriction)
• Duration: up to 4 years
• PR pathway: eligible for ENS 186 after 2 years

This stream is designed for high-earning professionals regardless of occupation code. If you earn above AUD 135K, your employer doesn't need to prove the role is on any shortage list.

3. Labour Agreement Stream

• For industries with government-negotiated labour agreements (e.g., meat processing, dairy, aged care)
• Salary and conditions set by the specific agreement
• PR pathway varies by agreement

Yearly Grant Trends

The 482/457 visa programme has seen significant fluctuations, driven by economic cycles, policy changes, and COVID-19:

Period	Annual Grants	Context
2005-2008	39K-58K	Resources boom, high demand
2009-2010	35K-48K	GFC impact, recovery
2011-2012	68K	Peak mining boom
2013-2016	45K-52K	Post-boom normalization
2017-2019	28K-41K	457→482 transition, tighter rules
2020	23K	COVID-19 border closures
2021-2022	32K-52K	Recovery and reopening
2023-2024	52K-68K	Strong recovery, record 2024

2024 set a near-record with 68,197 grants, the highest since the 2011-2012 mining boom. This signals robust employer demand for sponsored workers.

Key Requirements

For Workers

• ANZSCO-classified occupation on the relevant list (Core Skills stream) or any occupation (Specialist Skills at AUD 135K+)
• Minimum 2 years relevant experience (or equivalent qualifications)
• English: IELTS 5.0 overall (no band below 4.5)
• Health and character: medical exam + police clearances from all countries lived in 12+ months
• Skills assessment: required for some occupations (ACS for IT, TRA for trades, ANMAC for nursing)

For Employers (Standard Business Sponsor)

• Lawfully operating business in Australia
• No adverse information (immigration/workplace law breaches)
• Meet the training benchmark (spending on Australian worker training)
• Demonstrate genuine need for the position (Labour Market Testing for Core Skills stream)

Costs

Item	Cost (AUD)	Who Pays
Nomination	$330	Employer
Visa application (primary)	$1,730	Worker
Skilling Australians Fund levy	$1,200-$1,800/year	Employer
Skills assessment	$300-$1,000	Worker
Health exam	$300-$500	Worker

Note: employers cannot pass on nomination or SAF levy costs to the worker — this is a legal requirement.

Pathway to Permanent Residency

After 2 years on a 482 visa with the same employer, you can apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 — Australia's main employer-sponsored permanent visa. This requires continued employment, English at IELTS 6.0, and a positive skills assessment (for some occupations).

Alternatively, highly skilled workers may qualify for independent permanent visas (Subclass 189/190) through the SkillSelect points system.

Practical Tips

1. Search active sponsors — browse our database of 3580 Australian sponsors
2. Start your skills assessment early — some assessments (e.g., ACS for IT) take 6-12 weeks
3. Negotiate above TSMIT — a salary of AUD 73,150+ makes the Core Skills stream available; AUD 135K+ opens the Specialist Skills stream with no occupation restrictions
4. Consider regional Australia — regional employers may have fewer applicants, and regional living provides Subclass 491 pathway benefits
5. Check occupation-specific requirements — some roles (e.g., registered nurses) require registration with Australian regulatory bodies

What Changed in 2024-2025

The December 2024 reforms rebranded TSS as "Skills in Demand" and introduced the Specialist Skills stream at AUD 135K. The TSMIT was raised to AUD 73,150 (from AUD 70,000). Processing times have generally improved, with most applications decided within 3 months. The government has signalled that further changes in 2026 may include sector-specific occupation lists and streamlined processing for critical shortage occupations.