482 Sponsorship Migration Agents

The Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa lets an approved Australian employer sponsor a skilled worker. It is one of the more technical visas to get right: the stream, the salary threshold, labour market testing, and the sponsorship obligations all have to line up. The agents listed here specialise in employer-sponsored work, compare them and contact one directly.

What to know about the 482 visa

On 7 December 2024 the 482 was renamed from Temporary Skill Shortage to Skills in Demand, and the occupation lists changed. There are three streams: Specialist Skills, for higher-paid professional and managerial occupations, with no occupation list, no labour market testing, and fast processing; Core Skills, where the occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List, with labour market testing in most cases; and Labour Agreement, for employers with a labour agreement, including a DAMA.

A few key points: it is a three-step process (the employer’s sponsorship, the nomination of the role, then the visa application); you generally need one year of relevant experience in the last five; after two years on a 482 you can usually apply for the Subclass 186 permanent visa; and the employer pays the levy and cannot pass visa costs to the worker.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer before applying for a 482? Yes. The 482 is employer-sponsored, so an approved Australian employer must nominate you for a specific role.

Can a 482 lead to permanent residency? Generally yes, through the Subclass 186 visa after two years working in your nominated occupation.

Can a tradesperson get a 482? Often yes, through the Core Skills stream or a Labour Agreement. Trades are excluded from the Specialist Skills stream.

Contact a 482 specialist

Use the enquiry form to contact a listed agent. Your enquiry goes to the specialist you choose.