Back to Employer Sponsored Indicative eligibility screener

482 eligibility

Six questions on the core Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) requirements - your employer, occupation and salary, experience, skills assessment and English. You get an indicative stream and a list of what still needs checking. This is general information, not legal advice or a formal assessment.

Income thresholds for nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027: Core Skills AUD 79,423 and Specialist Skills AUD 146,576. Checked against Home Affairs on 7 October 2026.

01Your employer

The 482 needs a nomination from an employer who is an approved standard business sponsor, or who has at least applied to become one.

02Occupation list

Is your occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, or covered by a labour agreement? If not, which kind of role is it?

03Salary offered

Your guaranteed annual earnings for the role, not counting non-monetary benefits such as a car or accommodation.

04Relevant experience

Do you have at least one year of work experience in your nominated occupation, or a related field, in the last 5 years? Part-time or casual work counts if it adds up to 12 months full-time. (Labour agreements can set different requirements.)

05Skills assessment

Some applicants need a mandatory skills assessment, depending on their occupation and passport (IMMI 18/039). Where it is mandatory it must be started before you apply, within the 3 years before the application.

06English

For the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams. For tests taken from 13 September 2025 the minimum is, for example, IELTS 5.0 in each skill, or PTE Academic 33 listening, 36 reading, 29 writing and 24 speaking, taken in the 3 years before you apply.

Please answer the highlighted questions - choose “not sure” where it fits.

Skills in Demand at a glance

Home Affairs currently lists three streams for primary applicants. There is no Essential Skills stream open. The visa can be granted for up to 4 years (up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders).

StreamOccupationIncome threshold (nominations from 1 July 2026)
Specialist SkillsAn ANZSCO occupation in Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 - so not trades, machinery operators, drivers or labourers. No occupation list.AUD 146,576 (Specialist Skills Income Threshold)
Core SkillsAn occupation on the Core Skills Occupation ListAUD 79,423 (Core Skills Income Threshold)
Labour AgreementAs set by the employer’s labour agreement with the Australian GovernmentAs set by the agreement

For the worker

  • There is no age requirement for the 482 itself.
  • At least 1 year of relevant work experience in the last 5 years (full-time or equivalent).
  • A skills assessment where IMMI 18/039 makes it mandatory, started before you apply.
  • English at the minimum standard unless an exemption applies; labour agreements set their own requirements.
  • Health and character requirements, and adequate health insurance for the whole stay.
  • Visa application charge from AUD 4,015 for the main applicant (from 1 July 2026). See our fee calculator.

For the employer

  • Be an approved standard business sponsor (AUD 420), or have applied to become one.
  • Nominate the position (AUD 330) and pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy.
  • Pay at least the annual market salary rate and the relevant income threshold. The market rate test applies where the salary is under AUD 250,000.
  • Advertise the role in Australia at least twice over 4 weeks, within the 4 months before nominating, unless an exemption applies. Ads must show the salary if it is under AUD 96,400.

Advising an employer? See our employer-sponsored practice and the Subclass 482 guide.

Sources

This screener is general information, not legal advice, and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Eligibility depends on your full circumstances and current law. Fees and thresholds checked against Home Affairs on 7 October 2026 (thresholds apply to nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027); confirm at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

Solicitor-led assessment

Get a real assessment

A screener can only go so far. We assess your Skills in Demand eligibility properly - stream, occupation, sponsor and evidence - and act for employers and workers Australia-wide.

Book consultation Start intake