Chinese applicants · Commonwealth of Australia
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) for Chinese citizens
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled roles an Australian employer cannot fill locally.
This page covers the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) specifically for Chinese applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to China. The general eligibility criteria apply to everyone.
- Processing time
- 2 weeks – 8 weeks
- Government fees
- A$4,015
- Typical duration
- Up to 4 years; Hong Kong passport holders may be granted up to 5 years.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
No nationality-specific treaty frameworks apply to this combination.
Consular processing: Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou
Tourist entry vs. this route
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into Commonwealth of Australia. The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
Key figures for Chinese applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Salary you must earn
A$79,423/yr
Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT, formerly TSMIT)
Verified 1 July 2026 · Home Affairs - salary requirements
Government cost
A$4,015
Single applicant, applicant visa charge only
Add AUD 4,015 per adult additional applicant and AUD 1,005 per child additional applicant. A AUD 700 subsequent temporary application charge may apply by applicant history.
Verified 1 July 2026 · Home Affairs - current visa pricing table
How long it takes
2 weeks – 8 weeks
Home Affairs publishes 50th and 90th percentile windows per stream. Short-term / Medium-term Skills Shortage typically resolves at 2–8 weeks; accredited sponsors see faster outcomes.
Verified 1 June 2026 · Home Affairs — Global visa processing times
Time to permanent residence
Arrival on 482 → 186 ENS after 2 years (Specialist Skills Pathway) or 3-4 years (Core Skills) → PR → citizenship after 4 years from arrival (minimum 12 months as PR).
Leads to Permanent Resident, then Australian citizenship.
Visa overview
The Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) was rebuilt into the Skills in Demand visa from 7 December 2024. The current streams are Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement. Core Skills cases must use an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List and meet both AMSR and CSIT; Specialist Skills cases use the higher SSIT and occupation-major-group limits.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Sponsorship by an approved Australian Standard Business Sponsor.
- ✓Nominated skilled position by an approved sponsor: CSOL for Core Skills, Specialist Skills major-group rules, or a Labour Agreement nomination.
- ✓Pay that meets the Annual Market Salary Rate and the relevant income threshold: CSIT or SSIT.
- ✓At least 1 year of relevant work experience for Core and Specialist Skills; Labour Agreement rules can vary by agreement.
- ✓Skills assessment where required for the occupation.
Common blockers
- !Salary below the route-specific threshold.
- !Occupation not on the relevant list.Department of Home Affairs ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Sponsor and nomination approvals.
- ·Skills assessment certificate.
- ·English test (IELTS, PTE).Department of Home Affairs ↗
Application pathway
Sponsor becomes approved
Employer obtains Standard Business Sponsor status.
Nomination of position
Employer lodges the role nomination, pays the nomination fee and applicable SAF levy, and documents AMSR plus the relevant income threshold.
Visa application
Worker lodges application with skills, English, health evidence.
Transition to permanent residence
Via 186 ENS Temporary Residence Transition or Direct Entry.
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 1 July 2025In force 1 July 2025
Australia: Skills in Demand thresholds indexed (1 Jul 2025, again 1 Jul 2026) and the MATES scheme for India
The subclass 482 income thresholds are indexed annually. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, Home Affairs lists CSIT at A$79,423 and SSIT at A$146,576; the MATES early-professionals scheme for India is running its annual ballots.
Australian Department of Home Affairs - 7 December 2024In force 7 December 2024
Australia replaces 482 TSS with the Skills in Demand visa
Australia launched the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, replacing the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) framework with Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement streams.
Australian Department of Home Affairs
Other Commonwealth of Australia routes covered for Chinese applicants
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
Points-based permanent residence visa for skilled workers without employer or state sponsorship.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
State-nominated permanent residence visa providing a 5-point SkillSelect boost.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
Employer-nominated permanent residence for workers sponsored through Direct Entry, TRT, or Labour Agreement streams.
Partner visa (subclass 820/801, 309/100)
Residence visa for spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens.
Not sure Commonwealth of Australia is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer work sponsored routes that Chinese nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Chinese citizens eligible for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)?+
Eligibility for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is set by Department of Home Affairs and is not nationality-restricted. See the criteria below for the published requirements.
Where do Chinese applicants typically file the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)?+
Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Department of Home Affairs — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Chinese applicants need a tourist visa for Commonwealth of Australia as well?+
Chinese nationals require a visa for any entry into Commonwealth of Australia. The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is one of the routes available; tourist entry is a separate application.
How much does the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) cost for a Chinese applicant?+
Government fees for the worked example (Single applicant, applicant visa charge only) total about A$4,015. Add AUD 4,015 per adult additional applicant and AUD 1,005 per child additional applicant. A AUD 700 subsequent temporary application charge may apply by applicant history. Figures from Home Affairs - current visa pricing table, verified 1 July 2026. Treat these as indicative — confirm the current schedule on the official source before budgeting.
What salary do Chinese applicants need for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)?+
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT, formerly TSMIT) floor is A$79,423/yr, effective 1 July 2026 (Home Affairs - salary requirements). Your occupation's published going rate may bind higher — whichever is greater applies.
How long does the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) take to process from China?+
The typical published decision window is 2 weeks – 8 weeks. Chinese applicants usually file via Beijing / Shanghai / Guangzhou, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: Home Affairs — Global visa processing times, verified 1 June 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Commonwealth of Australia?+
Arrival on 482 → 186 ENS after 2 years (Specialist Skills Pathway) or 3-4 years (Core Skills) → PR → citizenship after 4 years from arrival (minimum 12 months as PR). The route leads to Permanent Resident, then Australian citizenship. See Home Affairs — Australian citizenship for the qualifying-residence rules.
Is the TSS visa the same as the Skills in Demand visa?+
The subclass number (482) is the same but the visa was renamed and restructured on 7 December 2024. Streams, thresholds, and pathway-to-PR rules changed. Treat pre-December-2024 guidance with care.
What are the three streams of the Skills in Demand visa?+
The current streams are Specialist Skills, Core Skills, and Labour Agreement. Specialist Skills uses the higher Specialist Skills Income Threshold and is limited by ANZSCO major-group exclusions. Core Skills uses the Core Skills Occupation List and the Core Skills Income Threshold. Labour Agreement cases depend on the negotiated agreement terms.
Does the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa lead to permanent residence?+
Yes, it can. The main pathway is to the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream, which requires 2 years of employment with the sponsoring employer. The December 2024 reforms broadened the TRT pathway. Some Specialist Skills holders may also be eligible for the Direct Entry stream of subclass 186 with a skills assessment.
How long does the Skills in Demand visa process take?+
The process has three stages: (1) Sponsor approval — typically 1–3 months if the employer is not already approved; (2) Nomination — typically 1–4 months depending on occupation and stream; (3) Visa application — typically 2–6 months. In total, plan for 4– 12 months from starting the process to arriving in Australia. Specialist Skills stream applications tend to be faster. A skills assessment (where required) can add 3–6 months and should be started early.
Can my family join me on a Skills in Demand visa?+
Yes. Your partner (spouse or de facto) and dependent children can apply as secondary applicants. Family members pay separate visa application charges. Check the current Home Affairs stream page for any conditions that apply to your sponsor, occupation or agreement.
What is the minimum salary for the Skills in Demand visa?+
For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD 146,576. The salary must also meet the Annual Market Salary Rate; clearing the threshold alone is not enough if the market rate for the role is higher.
How much does the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa cost?+
Home Affairs lists the main applicant visa application charge at AUD 4,015 from 1 July 2026, with AUD 4,015 per adult dependant and AUD 1,005 per child. Employer-side costs include the AUD 420 sponsor application if the employer is not already approved, the AUD 330 nomination fee, and the Skilling Australians Fund levy. Home Affairs says sponsor, nomination and SAF costs cannot be transferred to the worker or family.