Skills in
demand
The Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa is the primary employer-sponsored route for Australian businesses, with three streams and, for most holders, a pathway to permanent residence.
Three-Stream Architecture
The Skills in Demand visa replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage framework and now runs across three streams — Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Essential Skills — each with its own income threshold and occupation basis. Following recent reforms, most 482 holders have a pathway to permanent residence after two years of sponsored work with their nominating employer, generally through the Subclass 186. The base charge rose to $4,015 from 1 July 2026, on top of sponsorship, nomination and the Skilling Australians Fund levy.
The Three Streams
- • Core Skills — the mainstream stream for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List; salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold ($79,499) or the market rate, whichever is higher.
- • Specialist Skills — a faster stream for higher-earning roles at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold ($146,717).
- • Essential Skills — a stream for defined workforce needs, typically supported by a labour agreement.
Compliance Pillars
Fees current as at 3 July 2026 (FY2026-27); the charge at your lodgement date applies — confirm at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Sponsorship and nomination fees are additional.
Common Questions
Does a 482 lead to permanent residence?
For most holders, yes. After two years of sponsored work with the nominating employer, there is generally a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 186 (ENS). The exact route depends on your stream, occupation and how the nomination is structured — we plan the PR step from the outset rather than leaving it to chance.
What is Labour Market Testing and when does it apply?
Labour Market Testing requires the sponsoring business to advertise the position and show that no suitable Australian worker is available, within strict timing and content rules. Errors in advertising drive nomination refusals. We audit every advertisement before it goes live and keep the evidence lodgement-ready.
Who pays the SAF levy?
The sponsoring employer pays the Skilling Australians Fund levy, and it cannot lawfully be passed to the worker. For a 482 it is $1,200 per year of the visa for businesses with turnover under $10 million, and $1,800 per year for larger businesses. We factor it into the corporate migration budget before you commit.
Sponsor on solid ground
Sponsorship, nomination and visa run on strict evidentiary rules. We manage the end-to-end 482 process for employers and act for sponsored workers Australia-wide.