Australia Employer-Sponsored Visa Guide 2026: Subclass 482 and 186 Fees, Salary, Jobs and PR Requirements

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Australia’s employer-sponsored visa system allows approved businesses to recruit qualified overseas workers when suitable Australian workers are unavailable. For many foreign professionals, tradespeople and healthcare workers, the two most important options are the Skills in Demand visa—Subclass 482—and the Employer Nomination Scheme visa—Subclass 186.

The Subclass 482 visa provides temporary employer-sponsored work authorization, generally for up to four years. The Subclass 186 visa grants permanent residence to qualifying workers nominated by an Australian employer.

These visas are connected, but they are not identical. Some workers qualify directly for permanent residence through Subclass 186, while others first work in Australia on a Subclass 482 visa before transitioning to permanent residence.

Significant costs are involved for both the employer and worker. The employer may pay sponsorship, nomination and Skilling Australians Fund charges, while the employee may pay the visa application fee, medical examinations, police certificates, English tests, skills assessments and relocation expenses.

This guide explains how Australia’s employer-sponsored visa system works in 2026, including current fees, salary thresholds, eligible occupations, employer obligations, processing times and permanent-residence pathways.

Subclass 482 vs Subclass 186: Quick Comparison

Feature	Subclass 482	Subclass 186
Official name	Skills in Demand visa	Employer Nomination Scheme visa
Immigration status	Temporary	Permanent residence
Typical stay	Up to 4 years	Permanent
Employer nomination	Required	Required
Job offer	Required	Required
Standard age limit	No general age limit	Usually under 45
Minimum work experience	Usually 12 months	Usually 3 years for Direct Entry
Skills assessment	Required for selected cases	Usually required for Direct Entry
English requirement	Minimum test standard unless exempt	Competent English unless exempt
Main applicant fee	From AUD4,015	From AUD6,140
Main occupation system	Core Skills Occupation List or eligible Specialist Skills occupation	Eligible occupation for Direct Entry; no separate occupation list for most TRT cases
Permanent residence	Possible later	Granted after approval
Best suited to	Workers entering Australia temporarily through sponsorship	Workers ready for employer-sponsored permanent residence

The Department of Home Affairs describes Subclass 482 as a temporary visa used by employers to address genuine labour shortages, while Subclass 186 allows employer-nominated skilled workers to live and work in Australia permanently.

What Happened to the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa?

The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024.

Although both visas use the Subclass 482 number, new applicants apply under the Skills in Demand framework rather than the former TSS short-term or medium-term streams. Applications submitted before the transition continue to be assessed under the rules that applied when they were lodged.

The current Subclass 482 visa has three principal streams:

Specialist Skills stream;
Core Skills stream; and
Labour Agreement stream.

Each stream has different occupation and salary requirements.

Subclass 482 Specialist Skills Stream

The Specialist Skills stream is designed for highly paid professionals whose work is expected to contribute significant economic value, innovation or specialist expertise to Australia.

The nominated occupation must fall within ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6. This generally covers managers, professionals, community and personal-service workers, clerical and administrative workers, and sales workers. Trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers cannot normally use this stream merely because their earnings exceed the threshold.

From 1 July 2026, the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD146,576 per year

The salary must also satisfy the Annual Market Salary Rate. This means an employer cannot simply offer AUD146,576 when an equivalent Australian worker would normally receive a higher salary for the same duties and location.

Possible Specialist Skills occupations include certain:

Chief executives and senior managers;
Technology executives;
Engineering managers;
Medical professionals;
Senior financial professionals;
University and research professionals;
Management consultants;
Legal professionals; and
Highly paid technology specialists.

Eligibility depends on the actual ANZSCO classification, duties and salary—not the impressive wording of the job title.

Subclass 482 Core Skills Stream

The Core Skills stream is the main employer-sponsored route for workers whose occupations appear on the Core Skills Occupation List.

The current CSOL contains 456 occupations across healthcare, engineering, information technology, education, construction, hospitality, agriculture, finance, administration and other industries.

From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD79,423 per year

However, AUD79,423 is not automatically the correct salary for every worker. The employer must normally pay the higher of:

The Core Skills Income Threshold; or
The Annual Market Salary Rate for the position.

For example, where Australian employees performing equivalent work earn AUD95,000, offering a sponsored worker AUD79,423 would not ordinarily satisfy the market-salary requirement.

Subclass 482 Labour Agreement Stream

The Labour Agreement stream is available when an employer has a formal agreement with the Australian Government.

Labour agreements may be used where standard employer-sponsored programs do not adequately address a demonstrated workforce shortage. Agreements can be:

Company-specific;
Industry-based;
Designated Area Migration Agreements;
Project agreements; or
Agreements operating under a special government initiative.

A labour agreement may provide access to occupations or concessions not available under the standard Core Skills stream. However, the employer and employee must comply with the specific terms written into that agreement. The visa may be granted for up to four years, depending on those terms.

Concessions should never be assumed. The agreement may specify its own age, salary, English, occupation or permanent-residence conditions.

Main Subclass 482 Requirements

A Subclass 482 applicant will generally need to satisfy the following requirements.

A Genuine Employer Nomination

The applicant must be nominated by an Australian employer for a genuine position.

The employer must usually be an approved Standard Business Sponsor or hold an applicable labour agreement. A standard sponsorship application currently costs AUD420.

The position cannot exist only on paper to help someone obtain a visa. The business must demonstrate a genuine need for the role and show that the duties align with the nominated occupation.

At Least 12 Months of Relevant Experience

The applicant normally needs at least one year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field.

The experience should be documented through materials such as:

Employer reference letters;
Payslips;
Bank statements;
Tax records;
Employment contracts;
Professional licences; and
Evidence of duties performed.

The Skills in Demand reform reduced the former TSS experience requirement to one year for most applicants.

Relevant Skills and Qualifications

The applicant must have the skills, qualifications and experience required to perform the nominated job.

Some occupations require a formal skills assessment before a visa can be granted. The relevant assessing authority depends on the occupation. Other applicants may qualify for an exemption or may be assessed through their qualifications and employment evidence.

A positive skills assessment does not replace mandatory professional registration. Doctors, nurses, electricians, teachers and other regulated professionals may still need approval from the appropriate Australian licensing or registration body.

English-Language Ability

Most primary Subclass 482 applicants must demonstrate the required level of English through an approved test unless an exemption applies.

Australia accepts approved secure-centre tests such as IELTS, PTE Academic, CELPIP General, OET, TOEFL iBT and other designated tests. Testing rules changed on 7 August 2025, so applicants must use the score table applicable to the date their test was taken. Fully online or at-home versions are generally not accepted.

The exact requirement can vary under labour agreements and special exemptions.

Health and Character Requirements

The applicant and accompanying family members must satisfy Australia’s health and character requirements.

This may involve:

Medical examinations;
Chest X-rays;
Police certificates;
Military-service records;
Identity documents; and
Additional checks requested by Home Affairs.

Medical and police-certificate costs are paid separately from the visa application charge.

Adequate Health Insurance

Subclass 482 visa holders are normally expected to maintain adequate health insurance unless they qualify for Medicare through a reciprocal arrangement or another eligibility category.

Applicants should compare Overseas Visitor Health Cover policies based on hospitalization, doctors’ fees, prescriptions, waiting periods, exclusions and family coverage.

Is There an Age Limit for Subclass 482?

There is no general maximum age requirement for the Core Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa.

Age can nevertheless become important when planning permanent residence. Most Subclass 186 applicants must be under 45 unless an exemption or labour-agreement concession applies.

A worker who enters Australia on a Subclass 482 visa at an older age should not assume that permanent residence will automatically become available later.

Eligible Subclass 482 Jobs in 2026

The Core Skills Occupation List contains hundreds of occupations, but being listed does not mean sponsorship is guaranteed.

Examples of occupations represented within Australia’s current employer-sponsored system include:

Registered nurses;
General practitioners;
Resident medical officers;
Software and applications programmers;
ICT business and systems analysts;
Accountants;
Engineers;
Construction project managers;
Motor mechanics;
Structural steel and welding trades workers;
Metal fitters and machinists;
Chefs and cooks;
Childcare workers;
Advertising and marketing professionals;
Mechanical engineering technicians;
Community workers;
Insurance professionals; and
Selected hospitality managers.

Recent Home Affairs program data showed substantial sponsored-worker activity in occupations including chefs, doctors, motor mechanics, software programmers, nurses, accountants, welders, cooks and ICT professionals. This reflects sponsorship activity, not a promise that every employer in those industries is recruiting overseas.

Before applying, the worker should confirm:

The exact ANZSCO code;
Whether the code is available for the intended stream;
Whether any occupation caveat applies;
The required skills-assessing authority;
The relevant salary threshold; and
Whether registration or licensing is mandatory.

Australia uses ANZSCO 2022 for the Skills in Demand visa and Subclass 186. Selecting an old or inaccurate occupation code can affect eligibility.

Employer Requirements for Subclass 482

The employer generally completes three stages:

Sponsorship approval;
Position nomination; and
Support for the worker’s visa application.

Standard Business Sponsorship

The employer must usually become a Standard Business Sponsor unless it already holds valid approval or uses a labour agreement.

The business must demonstrate that it:

Operates lawfully;
Has no relevant adverse information;
Can comply with sponsorship obligations;
Has a genuine need for the position; and
Will employ the worker under lawful Australian conditions.

Standard sponsorship approval generally lasts for a defined period and can be used to nominate more than one worker.

Labour Market Testing

Employers will normally need to test the Australian labour market before nominating an overseas worker.

The purpose is to show that the company could not find a suitably qualified and available Australian citizen or permanent resident. Employers must retain evidence of compliant advertising and recruitment.

Exemptions may apply under certain international obligations or labour-agreement arrangements.

Market Salary and Employment Conditions

A sponsored worker must generally receive terms no less favourable than those provided to an equivalent Australian employee.

The employer should document:

Base salary;
Guaranteed earnings;
Working hours;
Job duties;
Work location;
Applicable award or enterprise agreement;
Benefits and allowances; and
Evidence used to determine the market salary.

The income threshold does not override Australian workplace law. The employee must also receive any higher minimum pay required under an award, registered agreement or employment law.

Subclass 482 Visa Costs in 2026

From 1 July 2026, the standard Subclass 482 application charges are:

Applicant	Visa application charge
Main applicant	AUD4,015
Dependant aged 18 or older	AUD4,015
Dependant under 18	AUD1,005

Limited concessions apply to certain eligible nationalities and circumstances. Applicants should use the official Visa Pricing Estimator before submitting payment.

Example: Single Subclass 482 Applicant

A single worker may pay:

Visa application: AUD4,015;
Medical examination: Variable;
Police certificates: Variable;
English test: Variable;
Skills assessment, if required: Variable;
Health insurance: Variable; and
Migration-agent fee, if used: Variable.

The visa application fee alone should therefore not be treated as the total relocation cost.

Example: Couple With One Child

The visa application charges may total:

Main applicant: AUD4,015;
Adult partner: AUD4,015;
Child under 18: AUD1,005; and
Total application charges: AUD9,035.

Medical examinations, police certificates and health insurance remain additional.

Employer Sponsorship Costs for Subclass 482

The employer may pay:

Employer expense	Amount
Standard Business Sponsorship	AUD420
Subclass 482 nomination	AUD330
SAF levy for businesses below AUD10 million turnover	AUD1,200 per sponsored year
SAF levy for businesses with AUD10 million or more turnover	AUD1,800 per sponsored year

The Subclass 482 nomination charge is AUD330. The Skilling Australians Fund contribution is calculated according to business turnover and the proposed sponsorship period.

Two-Year Sponsorship Example

For an employer with annual turnover below AUD10 million:

Sponsorship: AUD420;
Nomination: AUD330;
SAF levy: AUD2,400;
Total direct employer government charges: AUD3,150.

For an employer with turnover of AUD10 million or more:

Sponsorship: AUD420;
Nomination: AUD330;
SAF levy: AUD3,600;
Total direct employer government charges: AUD4,350.

Legal, recruitment and administrative expenses are additional.

The business may not need to pay a new sponsorship fee for every employee when it already holds valid sponsor approval.

What Is the Subclass 186 Visa?

The Employer Nomination Scheme visa grants permanent residence to qualifying skilled workers nominated by an Australian employer.

A successful applicant can generally:

Live in Australia permanently;
Work and study without temporary visa restrictions;
Enrol in Medicare;
Sponsor eligible relatives;
Travel under the visa’s travel facility; and
Apply for Australian citizenship after meeting the applicable requirements.

The main Subclass 186 streams are:

Direct Entry;
Temporary Residence Transition; and
Labour Agreement.

Subclass 186 Direct Entry Stream

The Direct Entry stream may suit a worker who has not spent the required period working for the sponsoring employer on an eligible temporary sponsored visa.

Applicants generally must:

Be under 45 when applying, unless exempt;
Be nominated by an Australian employer;
Have at least three years of relevant experience;
Obtain a positive skills assessment unless exempt;
Have competent English;
Meet health and character requirements; and
Be nominated in an eligible occupation.

The Department confirms that Direct Entry applicants generally need at least three years of relevant experience and a positive skills assessment.

The employer must offer a genuine permanent position expected to remain available for at least two years after the visa is granted.

Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition Stream

The Temporary Residence Transition stream provides a permanent-residence pathway for qualifying workers who have already worked in eligible sponsored employment in Australia.

An applicant will usually need to:

Hold or have held an eligible sponsored temporary visa;
Be nominated by the current sponsoring employer;
Have completed at least two years of eligible full-time sponsored employment;
Be under 45 unless exempt;
Have competent English unless exempt;
Meet health and character requirements; and
Continue in the nominated position.

Most TRT applicants are not required to select an occupation from a separate occupation list. Eligibility is generally based on the occupation connected to the applicant’s recent temporary sponsored visa.

The reduction of the TRT employment requirement from three years to two years expanded the permanent-residence pathway for temporary sponsored workers.

Subclass 186 Labour Agreement Stream

The Labour Agreement stream applies where the employer’s agreement with the Australian Government provides a permanent-residence pathway.

The agreement determines important conditions, which may include:

Eligible occupations;
Minimum employment period;
Age concessions;
English concessions;
Salary concessions;
Skills and experience requirements; and
Regional employment obligations.

The standard age requirement is usually under 45, although the agreement may provide a different limit.

English Requirement for Subclass 186

Most Subclass 186 applicants need competent English unless an exemption applies.

For IELTS tests, competent English generally means at least 6 in each of the four components. Equivalent scores apply to other approved tests. Different score tables apply to tests taken before and after 7 August 2025.

Adult secondary applicants who do not demonstrate the required functional English may face an additional second instalment of the visa application charge.

Subclass 186 Costs in 2026

The main applicant visa charge is: From AUD6,140

Additional charges apply for each accompanying family member. Medical examinations, police certificates, translations, English tests, skills assessments and professional fees are separate.

Before lodging, applicants should use the official pricing estimator because family composition, concessions and second-instalment requirements can change the total.

Employer Costs for Subclass 186

The employer-side charges generally include:

Employer expense	Amount
Subclass 186 nomination	AUD540
SAF levy for business below AUD10 million turnover	AUD3,000
SAF levy for business with AUD10 million or more turnover	AUD5,000

The nomination and SAF levy are generally paid by the employer.

Small-Business Example

For an employer with turnover below AUD10 million:

Nomination: AUD540;
SAF levy: AUD3,000;
Total direct government nomination charges: AUD3,540.

Large-Business Example

For an employer with turnover of AUD10 million or more:

Nomination: AUD540;
SAF levy: AUD5,000;
Total direct government nomination charges: AUD5,540.

These totals exclude migration-agent, legal, recruitment and internal compliance costs.

Can the Employer Make the Worker Pay Sponsorship Costs?

Workers should be cautious when an employer or recruiter demands payment for:

A job offer;
Sponsorship approval;
Nomination;
The SAF levy; or
A guaranteed visa.

Australian law contains protections against employers transferring certain sponsorship and recruitment costs to sponsored workers. Migrant workers are also entitled to the same basic workplace protections as other employees in Australia. Only the Department of Home Affairs—not the employer—can grant, refuse or cancel a visa.

A request for a worker to secretly reimburse the SAF levy or purchase a nomination is a major warning sign.

Processing Times in 2026

Processing times depend on the visa stream, occupation, employer, applicant location and whether the application is decision-ready.

Home Affairs reported median processing times for May 2026 of approximately:

70 days for the temporary skilled visa category; and
9 months for the permanent skilled visa category.

These are broad program-level medians rather than guarantees for an individual Subclass 482 or 186 application.

The government has also identified decision-ready targets of approximately seven business days for the Specialist Skills stream and 21 business days for the Core Skills stream. Missing documents, health checks, character information or employer evidence can produce longer processing.

From 25 July 2026, updated skilled-visa processing priorities favour law-enforcement and defence occupations first, followed by selected construction, healthcare and teaching applications. Applicants already in Australia generally receive higher priority than comparable offshore applicants.

Changing Employers on a Subclass 482 Visa

A Subclass 482 visa is normally connected to the sponsoring employer and nominated occupation.

However, a worker who stops working for the sponsor may have up to 180 consecutive days to:

Find another approved sponsor;
Apply for another visa; or
Make arrangements to leave Australia.

The total period away from sponsored employment cannot normally exceed 365 days across the visa’s validity.

The worker should not assume that a new job automatically transfers the existing sponsorship. The new employer may need to lodge and secure a new nomination before the worker can continue under the intended arrangement.

Common Reasons for Refusal

A Subclass 482 or 186 application may be refused because:

The position is not genuine;
The occupation code does not match the duties;
Salary falls below the applicable threshold;
Market-salary evidence is inadequate;
Labour market testing is defective;
The employer is not an eligible sponsor;
Work experience cannot be verified;
A required skills assessment is missing;
English requirements are not met;
Health or character requirements are not satisfied;
Documents contain inconsistencies;
The employer has adverse compliance information; or
False or misleading documents are submitted.

Job titles alone do not determine eligibility. A “project manager,” “consultant” or “engineer” title must be supported by duties that genuinely match the nominated ANZSCO occupation.

How to Avoid Australian Sponsorship Scams

Be suspicious when an employer, agent or recruiter:

Sells a sponsorship certificate;
Guarantees visa approval;
Requests the SAF levy from the worker;
Offers a job without an interview;
Refuses to disclose the employer’s ABN;
Uses only a personal email address;
Demands payment into an individual bank account;
Promises permanent residence immediately after arrival;
Offers a salary that will not actually be paid;
Asks for fake experience letters; or
Provides a contract with different duties from the advertised job.

Applicants should independently verify:

The employer’s Australian registration;
The business website and physical address;
The identity of the recruiter;
The employment contract;
The occupation code;
The salary;
The visa stream; and
Any migration agent’s registration.

Which Visa Is Better?

Choose Subclass 482 When:

You have a genuine Australian job offer;
You meet the one-year experience requirement;
You are not yet eligible for Direct Entry permanent residence;
You are over 45 but still eligible for temporary sponsorship;
The employer wants to assess the employment relationship first; or
You intend to qualify for a later TRT pathway.

Choose Subclass 186 Direct Entry When:

You meet the age requirement;
You have at least three years of relevant experience;
You can obtain the required skills assessment;
Your occupation is eligible;
The employer is offering a genuine permanent position; and
You want permanent residence immediately.

Choose the 482-to-186 Pathway When:

Direct Entry is not currently available;
You can first work for the employer on Subclass 482;
You expect to complete two years of eligible sponsored employment;
You will remain within the age limit or qualify for an exemption; and
The employer is willing to nominate you for permanent residence later.

A Subclass 482 visa does not guarantee a Subclass 186 visa. The employer must remain willing and eligible to nominate, and the worker must satisfy the rules in force when the permanent application is submitted.

Final Verdict

Australia’s employer-sponsored visa system offers valuable opportunities, but it requires genuine employment, verifiable skills and substantial financial commitment.

The Subclass 482 visa is usually the most accessible option for a skilled worker entering Australia through employer sponsorship. The worker normally needs a qualifying job, at least one year of relevant experience, sufficient English and a salary meeting the applicable market rate and income threshold.

From 1 July 2026:

The Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD79,423;
The Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD146,576;
The main Subclass 482 application fee starts at AUD4,015; and
The main Subclass 186 fee starts at AUD6,140.

The Subclass 186 visa is the stronger option for long-term security because it grants permanent residence. Direct Entry applicants usually need three years of relevant experience, a positive skills assessment, competent English and an age below 45. Temporary Residence Transition applicants usually need at least two years of qualifying sponsored employment.

Before accepting sponsorship, both employer and worker should confirm the occupation code, salary, market rate, skills assessment, permanent-residence pathway and responsibility for each expense.

A legitimate sponsored job should never require an applicant to purchase a nomination or pay for a guaranteed visa. The strongest applications are based on a real business need, lawful employment conditions, accurate documents and a carefully selected immigration pathway.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Australian 482 visa in 2026?

The main applicant fee is AUD4,015. An adult dependant also pays AUD4,015, while a dependant under 18 pays AUD1,005.

What is the minimum salary for a 482 visa?

The Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD79,423 from 1 July 2026. The Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD146,576. The employer must also satisfy the Annual Market Salary Rate.

Can I get a 482 visa without a job offer?

No. You must generally be nominated for a genuine position by an eligible Australian employer.

Is there an age limit for the 482 visa?

There is no general maximum age for the standard Core Skills stream, although age can affect a later Subclass 186 application.

How much experience is required for Subclass 482?

Most applicants need at least 12 months of relevant experience in the nominated occupation or a related field.

Does Subclass 482 lead to permanent residence?

It can. Qualifying workers may later be nominated for Subclass 186 through the Temporary Residence Transition stream or another eligible pathway.

How much experience is required for Subclass 186?

Direct Entry applicants normally need at least three years of relevant experience. TRT applicants normally need at least two years of eligible sponsored employment.

Is a skills assessment mandatory?

It is mandatory for many Subclass 186 Direct Entry applicants and selected Subclass 482 occupations. Exemptions may apply.

Can a Subclass 482 holder bring family members?

Yes. An eligible partner and dependent children can normally be included, subject to application fees and individual health and character requirements.

Can my employer cancel my Australian visa?

No. An employer can end employment or withdraw sponsorship, but only the Department of Home Affairs can cancel a visa.

This article provides general educational information and does not create a migration-agent-client or lawyer-client relationship. Visa fees, salary thresholds, occupation lists and processing rules may change. Verify the latest requirements with the Australian Department of Home Affairs before applying.