Australia's main employer sponsored work visa. Only 1 year of experience required, with a clear pathway to 186 permanent residence.
Work experience
1 year
In the last 5 years, in your nominated occupation or a related field
Visa duration
Up to 4 years
Depending on stream and circumstances
PR pathway
186 via TRT
After 2 years, portable across sponsors
On 7 December 2024, the Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. The subclass number — 482 — stayed the same, but the framework was rebuilt: the old Short-Term and Medium-Term streams were replaced by three streams based on occupation and salary, and the minimum work experience dropped from 2 years to 1 year.
In practice, this is Australia's main employer sponsored work visa. It lets an approved employer sponsor a skilled worker for a role they can't fill locally, gives the worker up to 4 years of work rights, and — importantly — provides a clear pathway to 186 permanent residence.
We focus on this visa for Queensland employers and the workers they sponsor across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich. Because the rules changed recently and are indexed each July, the details below link back to the Department of Home Affairs so you can always confirm the current position.
Applications lodged before 7 December 2024 are assessed under the old TSS rules. Anything lodged after that date follows the SID framework. Read the official overview on the Department of Home Affairs.
We help you identify the right stream for your occupation and salary. Income thresholds are set by the Department and indexed each 1 July — we confirm the current figure for your case.
For occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The most common pathway for skilled workers sponsored by a Queensland employer.
A high-earner pathway for specialists. Not tied to the CSOL, with priority processing — the fastest employer sponsored route for senior and specialist roles.
For workers sponsored by an employer that holds a labour agreement with the Australian Government — useful where the standard streams do not fit.
The salary side of a 482 has two tests — and the higher one always applies.
The minimum salary floor for the Core Skills stream. It is set by the Department and indexed each 1 July, so we confirm the current figure for your nomination.
The higher salary floor for the Specialist Skills stream. Roles paid at or above it can access priority processing without an occupation list.
Separately, the employer must pay the market rate for the role in that location. The thresholds are floors, not ceilings — if the market rate is higher, that applies.
Current threshold figures change each July. Always confirm the latest amounts on the Core Skills and Specialist Skills official pages, or ask us to check for your case.
One of the most applicant-friendly features of the SID framework is stronger mobility if your job ends.
180
Days to find a new sponsor
If your employment ends, you generally have time to find a new approved sponsor rather than leaving Australia immediately.
365
Days total flexibility
Across your visa period — time to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa, or prepare to depart.
Watch the “dead time” trap.If you move to a new employer but their nomination isn't finalised yet, that period may not count toward your 2-year PR requirement. Managing the transition correctly is exactly where professional advice protects your timeline.
The 482 isn't a dead end. For most holders it's the first step toward 186 PR.
Year 1
Begin sponsored employment and build your Australian work history.
Year 2
Continue in your nominated occupation, approaching the TRT threshold.
After 2 yrs
Your employer nominates you for 186 PR. The 2 years can be portable across approved sponsors.
Longer term
Once a permanent resident, work toward Australian citizenship over time.
Time with more than one approved sponsor can count toward the 2-year requirement. We help you track your sponsored employment so nothing is lost along the way.
Government charges split into two sides — and by law, the employer's costs can't be passed to you.
Figures shown are indicative for the 2026–27 year and government fees are indexed each 1 July. We give you a written, itemised estimate for your specific situation — or try our sponsorship cost estimator.
Before nominating an overseas worker under the Core Skills stream, an employer generally must show they tried to recruit locally first. This is called Labour Market Testing (LMT) — usually advertising the role on approved platforms for a set period and demonstrating no suitable Australian worker was found.
Some situations are exempt, and the Specialist Skills stream generally does not require LMT. Getting the advertising content, timing and evidence right is a common point of failure — so we guide the sponsoring employer through it before the nomination is lodged.
End-to-end support from nomination to visa grant
We check your occupation against the CSOL and confirm your eligible stream.
Where required, we guide your skills assessment with the relevant authority.
We prepare and lodge the sponsoring employer’s nomination.
We prepare and lodge your 482 application with full supporting documents.
Once granted, we map your pathway toward 186 permanent residence.
Answer a few questions and we will tell you if you qualify for the 482 Skills in Demand visa.
Related Visas
📍 Serving South East Queensland — Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Logan and Toowoomba. Remote consultations for clients across Australia and overseas, including the Philippines, China, India, Malaysia and Singapore.
Since 7 December 2024, you need at least 1 year of full-time (or equivalent part-time/casual) work experience in your nominated occupation or a closely related field, gained within the 5 years before you apply. This was reduced from the previous 2-year requirement.
Book a consultation or start with a free AI assessment — our MARA registered specialists will guide you.