Commonwealth of Australia · work sponsored · Leads to settlement
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 2 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled roles an Australian employer cannot fill locally.
- Processing time
- Varies by stream and sponsor readiness.
- Government fees
- AUD 4,015 main applicant VAC from 1 July 2026, plus employer-side sponsor, nomination and SAF costs.
- 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
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) for Commonwealth of Australia has a typical government cost of about A$4,015 and typical processing of 2 weeks – 8 weeks. Sources: official Commonwealth of Australia government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/australia/subclass-482-tss#answer
What is the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) in Commonwealth of Australia?
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is a sponsor-led Australia route. Indicative government fees are AUD 4,015 main applicant VAC from 1 July 2026, plus employer-side sponsor, nomination and SAF costs; indicative processing time is Varies by stream and sponsor readiness; typical duration is Up to 4 years; Hong Kong passport holders may be granted up to 5 years. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Department of Home Affairs on 1 July 2026.
Australia skilled-route cost and points layer
Australia skilled points, nomination and Skills in Demand cost answer
The route guide answers eligibility. This stack keeps the money and evidence layer beside it: skills assessment, nomination, sponsorship, salary thresholds and route-stage fees.
Calculator context
A points result does not guarantee an invitation, nomination or visa grant. It only says whether the profile clears the 65-point SkillSelect EOI floor. Skills assessment, occupation demand, state nomination, sponsorship, salary thresholds and post-invitation fees still need separate evidence.
| Australia route | Points or sponsor trigger | Mandatory paid-away baseline | Skills, nomination or salary dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 Skilled Independent | Points-tested SkillSelect route. The EOI floor is 65 points; there is no sponsor or state nomination bonus. | A$7,501-A$8,705 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment before the EOI can become usable. No fixed salary floor in the route model; invitation depends on occupation demand and invitation rounds. |
| Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated | Points-tested SkillSelect route plus state or territory nomination. Nomination can add 5 points after the state gate is met. | A$7,506-A$9,010 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment plus A$0-A$300 state or territory fee exposure. No employer sponsor or national salary floor; state criteria can add occupation, residence and funds declarations. |
| Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional | Points-tested regional route. State/territory nomination or eligible-relative sponsorship can add 15 points. | A$7,506-A$9,010 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment plus A$0-A$300 nomination or eligible-relative gate exposure. No upfront national salary floor; later subclass 191 context is income-evidence timing, not an upfront 491 fee. |
| Subclass 482 Skills in Demand | Sponsor-led route. It is not a points-tested SkillSelect invitation route. | A$10,381-A$13,335 | A$0-A$1,200 skills-assessment exposure where required by occupation, nationality or stream. A$420 sponsor fee, A$330 nomination fee and A$4,800-A$7,200 SAF levy are employer-side; A$79,423/yr CSIT or A$146,576/yr SSIT, plus AMSR where the stream requires it. |
| Comparator route | Route type | Paid-away baseline | Do not collapse these lines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore S Pass | Employer-sponsored pass with quota, levy and insurance duties. | SGD 16,405-SGD 18,205 | SGD 15,600 levy and SGD 600-SGD 2,400 insurance stay employer-side; SGD 39,600-SGD 45,600 salary evidence is not a visa fee. |
| New Zealand AEWV | Employer-accredited work route with job-check approval before the worker applies. | NZ$3,060-NZ$4,325 | NZ$775 accreditation and NZ$735 job check are employer-side; variable market-rate job evidence is not paid away. |
| New Zealand SMC | Residence route with points, skilled-employment evidence and post-invitation filing. | NZ$6,810-NZ$8,925 | NZ$0 EOI and NZ$6,450 resident-stage application; NZ$72,800-NZ$109,200 skilled-job pay evidence is not a fee. |
| Austria Red-White-Red Card | Points and employer-declaration route with AMS assessment. | €228-€363 | €218 application fee; €0 points and labour-market gate; €41,580 salary evidence remains a category condition. |
- Australia points calculator
- Subclass 189 guide
- Subclass 190 guide
- Subclass 491 guide
- 189 cost-to-complete
- 190 cost-to-complete
- 491 cost-to-complete
- Skills in Demand cost
- Skills in Demand fees
- Australia salary thresholds
- Singapore S Pass cost
- New Zealand AEWV cost
- New Zealand SMC cost
- Austria RWR cost
- Austria RWR calculator
- Cost-to-complete JSON feed
- How our skilled-route cost figures compare
Source dates: Australia cost and salary data checked 1 July 2026; comparator cost rows checked 1 July 2026. Latest source record in this cluster: 1 July 2026. This cluster supports retrieval and review, not ranking, traffic, AI-citation or market-share outcome claims.
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.
Recent changes to this route
- Australia: Skills in Demand thresholds indexed (1 Jul 2025, again 1 Jul 2026) and the MATES scheme for India1 July 2025
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.
- Australia replaces 482 TSS with the Skills in Demand visa7 December 2024
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.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian nationals are one of the largest subclass 482 cohorts, concentrated in ICT and engineering. Skills assessment thr…
British applicants
UK nationals benefit from the streamlined processing typical of low-risk passports. The Core Skills Occupation List post…
Filipino applicants
Filipino healthcare and trades workers are heavily represented on subclass 482. PRC credentials plus AHPRA registration …
Chinese applicants
Chinese subclass 482 / Skills in Demand applicants concentrate in IT and engineering at Australian subsidiaries of multi…
Pakistani applicants
Pakistani subclass 482 applicants concentrate in IT, engineering, and trades at Sydney/Melbourne employers. ACS (IT) or …
Nigerian applicants
Nigerian subclass 482 applicants are concentrated in healthcare (AHPRA-registered roles) and ICT. Document authenticatio…
Brazilian applicants
Brazilian subclass 482 applicants concentrate in IT, engineering, and senior hospitality management. CAPES-accredited Br…
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.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicant + sponsorNominate and apply for 482 ↗
The employer uses this page for sponsorship and nomination steps; the worker uses it for the visa application step.
Department of Home Affairs · verified
Fees and processing time
A typical Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) application runs about A$4,015 in government fees (single applicant, applicant visa charge only). A decision then typically takes 2 weeks – 8 weeks. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Related routes
Frequently asked questions
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.
If I don't have an Australian employer to sponsor me, what skilled visa can I use instead of the 482?+
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) requires sponsorship by an approved Australian Standard Business Sponsor. If you have no sponsor, the points-tested subclasses 189, 190, and 491 do not require employer sponsorship and are decided on a points test instead — subject to your occupation being on the relevant list and your points score.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in AustraliaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Department of Home Affairs
Last checked: 1 July 2026