Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482): Core Skills Stream

AUD4,015 for the main applicant and each dependant aged 18 or over, and AUD1,005 for each dependant under 18. Concessions apply in limited circumstances, including a lower cost for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens from 1 July 2026. You will also pay for English tests, health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

For the period your employer nominates you, up to 4 years (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders). The visa cannot be extended: to keep working for your employer, they lodge a new nomination and you apply for a new visa, or your employer may sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).

You can include your partner and dependent children, and some other dependent relatives, in your application. Family members can live, study and work in Australia. They can also apply later as subsequent entrants.

In or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance. If applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B or C.

You must start work within 90 days of arriving (or of the grant, if you are already in Australia), and work only in your nominated occupation for your sponsor or an associated entity. If you stop working for your sponsor, you have up to 180 days to find a new sponsor or leave Australia.

Your employer must be an approved standard business sponsor (or have applied to become one) and must nominate you for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List.

If your sponsor is an Australian business, you must work in your nominated occupation for that business or an associated entity. If your sponsor is an overseas business, you must work in your nominated occupation for that business in Australia.

You need at least 1 year of experience in your nominated occupation, or in a related field at the same skill level.

You must show the skills and experience to perform the occupation. Some applicants must complete a mandatory skills assessment, depending on their occupation and passport.

You must meet the minimum English language standard, unless an exemption applies.

You and your family must keep adequate health insurance for your whole stay.

You and your family must meet the health and character requirements. Organising health examinations before you apply can reduce processing times.

If applying in Australia, you must hold an appropriate visa and have complied with your previous visa conditions. Previous refusals or cancellations are considered, and you must have no debts to the Australian Government.

You and your family must not have asked for, offered, received or provided a benefit for a sponsorship-related event in the past 3 years.

Applicants aged 18 or over must read the Life in Australia booklet and sign the Australian Values Statement.

Work in your nominated occupation for your sponsor, study and travel as often as you like. You must start work within 90 days and meet all visa conditions.

Let Home Affairs know about changes to your contact details, passport, employer, employment (including promotions and hours), relationship status or the birth of a child.

You have up to 180 days to find a new sponsoring employer or make arrangements to leave Australia.

You cannot extend this visa. Your employer can lodge a new nomination for a new visa, or may sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).

If you leave Australia permanently, you may be able to claim your superannuation.

AUD330 to nominate a worker, plus the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy of AUD1,200 a year (annual turnover under AUD10 million) or AUD1,800 a year (AUD10 million or more) for the nominated stay.

Lodge the nomination before, or at the same time as, the worker's visa application. The nomination must be approved before the visa can be granted.

12 months from approval, or until it is withdrawn, the visa application based on it is decided, or certain other events occur.

You must meet your obligations as a standard business sponsor, even if someone such as a migration agent acts for you. See our compliance support.

The occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List. Caveats apply to some occupations, which can prevent approval even if the occupation is listed.

You must show you could not find a suitably skilled Australian citizen or permanent resident, usually by advertising the role. Labour market testing rules.

If the salary is under AUD250,000, you must show you will pay at least the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), and no less than the Core Skills Income Threshold (AUD79,423 for nominations from 1 July 2026).

The position must exist and be what it says it is, with duties consistent with the nominated ANZSCO occupation.

The worker must be engaged under a written contract to work for your business (or an associated entity, for Australian sponsors).

Employment conditions must be no less favourable than for an Australian doing the same work at the same location, and you must not use discriminatory recruitment practices.

There must be no adverse information about your business or associated people, unless it is reasonable to disregard it.

You may be able to sponsor the worker for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream.