🇦🇺 Australia · Work Visa
Subclass 482 — Temporary Skill Shortage
Employer-sponsored temporary work visa allowing Australian businesses to fill skills gaps with overseas workers. Streams: Short-term (2 years, limited renewal), Medium-term (4 years, pathway to PR), and Labour Agreement (negotiated with Home Affairs). Most professional roles fall under the Medium-term stream.
- Scoring
- Employer-sponsored
- Timeline
- 1mo–4mo
- Est. cost
- $5K
- Category
- Work Visa
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Subclass 482, Temporary Skill Shortage, is Australia's main employer-sponsored work visa. A Department of Home Affairs-approved sponsor nominates you for a role in a skilled occupation, you apply for the visa, and if approved you can work in Australia for 2-4 years depending on the stream.
Three streams matter. Short-term (2 years, STSOL occupations, limited renewal), useful but a dead-end for PR. Medium-term (4 years, MLTSSL occupations), the important one because it leads to permanent residence via Subclass 186 ENS after 3 years with the sponsoring employer. Labour Agreement stream, for occupations covered by negotiated agreements with the Department.
The 2024 reforms tightened up some thresholds, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) rose to AUD 73,150 from 1 July 2024, and salary must meet both TSMIT and the market rate for the role. Processing is faster than most Australian PR routes (1-4 months for most cases). For tech and finance professionals on MLTSSL occupations, 482 → 186 has become the most common employer-sponsored PR pathway.
Is this visa for you?
A strong fit if you…
- You have a job offer from an Australian employer that holds (or can obtain) a Standard Business Sponsor licence, or your employer is willing to obtain one for you.
- Your role is on the MLTSSL (Medium-term stream) so you have a clear PR pathway to 186 after 3 years.
- You have 2+ years of relevant work experience and can document a positive skills assessment if your occupation requires one.
- Your salary is at least AUD 73,150 (TSMIT) and ideally well above, clear market-rate evidence makes the petition cleaner.
Look elsewhere if you…
- Your role is on STSOL only, with no PR path via 482. Short-term stream is 2 years with limited renewal, useful for a short stint but not a long-term Australia plan.
- Your employer doesn't have a sponsor licence and isn't willing to obtain one. The licence takes 4-12 weeks and AUD 420-1,725 in government fees plus legal costs.
- You're below 2 years of relevant experience. 482 requires demonstrable skilled experience in the nominated occupation.
Key requirements
- Approved sponsoring employer (Standard Business Sponsor)
- Nominated occupation on STSOL (Short-term stream) or MLTSSL (Medium-term stream)
- Minimum 2 years relevant work experience
- Skills assessment (for some MLTSSL occupations)
- English proficiency: IELTS 5.0 minimum (some roles higher)
Eligibility, in plain English
Sponsoring employer with valid sponsor licence
The Australian employer must hold an approved Standard Business Sponsor licence or be willing to apply for one. Sponsorship covers the employer for 5 years; individual nominations (per employee) happen within that period. Many established Australian companies already hold sponsor status.
Nominated occupation on a skills list
The role must be on either the MLTSSL (Medium-term stream, 4-year visa, PR pathway) or STSOL (Short-term stream, 2-year visa, limited renewal). The lists are updated periodically, verify your ANZSCO code's current list status before counting on the route.
Salary at TSMIT or above
Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) is AUD 73,150 from 1 July 2024 (up from AUD 70,000). Your salary must meet both TSMIT and the 'annual market salary rate' for the role, the comparable salary an Australian worker would earn in the same role. The employer must document the market rate evidence.
2+ years of relevant work experience
You need at least 2 years of relevant skilled work experience in the nominated occupation or a closely related one. Full-time experience counts; part-time and study experience generally don't.
Skills assessment (some occupations)
Some MLTSSL and STSOL occupations require a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority before nomination. Engineers Australia, ACS, ANMAC, and others handle different occupations. Check your ANZSCO code's specific requirements.
English proficiency
Required level varies by occupation. Most require IELTS 5.0 in each component (or PTE 36, OET B). Some occupations (especially health and education) require higher, IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. Native English speakers from US, UK, Canada, NZ, Ireland are exempt.
PR pathway: Medium-term stream → 186 ENS
After working for the same sponsor on a Medium-term stream 482 for 3 years, you become eligible for Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Temporary Residence Transition stream), permanent residence. This is the main reason MLTSSL roles are prized over STSOL.
How the application actually goes
- 01
Sponsor obtains or maintains SBS status
The Australian employer applies for or renews Standard Business Sponsor status with Home Affairs. Licence lasts 5 years. Processing typically 4-12 weeks; many large employers already hold status.
4-12 weeks if new
- 02
Nomination application
Sponsor lodges a nomination application for the specific role, with evidence of market salary rate, role description, and labour market testing if required (some MLTSSL roles are exempt). Nomination fee is AUD 330; Skilling Australians Fund levy is AUD 1,200-1,800 per year of nomination.
1-4 weeks
- 03
Skills assessment (if required)
Some occupations require a positive skills assessment before the visa application. Process and fees vary by assessing authority, typically 4-12 weeks and AUD 500-1,500.
4-12 weeks if required
- 04
Visa application
Lodge the 482 visa application with supporting documents, pay the visa application fee, and submit biometrics. Processing is typically 1-4 months for Medium-term stream; Short-term can be faster.
1-4 months
- 05
Travel to Australia and start work
On grant, enter Australia and start the role. Visa is tied to the sponsoring employer, changing jobs requires a new nomination from the new sponsor. Family can come along (separate dependant fees and applications).
2-4 years validity
- 06
Transition to 186 ENS after 3 years
After 3 years working for the same sponsor on Medium-term 482, apply for Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream for permanent residence. Skills assessment is not required for TRT (one of the major advantages over Direct Entry).
Year 3+
What it costs
Sponsor licence (if new)
Employer pays
AUD 420
Nomination application fee
Employer pays, per nomination
AUD 330
Skilling Australians Fund levy
Employer pays
AUD 1,200-1,800/year
Visa application fee (primary, Medium-term)
AUD 3,210
Visa application fee (Short-term)
AUD 1,455
Dependant fees
Per dependant
AUD 850-3,210 each
Skills assessment (if required)
AUD 500-1,500
Legal/migration agent (often employer paid)
AUD 3,000-7,000
Total typical employer cost (4-year primary)
AUD 10,000-18,000
Common pitfalls
- Filing for STSOL when MLTSSL is needed. STSOL gives 2 years with very limited renewal options and no PR pathway via 482-186. If long-term Australia is the goal, only Medium-term stream gets you there.
- Salary below TSMIT or below market rate. Both tests have to be met. Salary at TSMIT (AUD 73,150) but below market rate (say AUD 95,000 for the role) gets refused. Salary above market rate but below TSMIT also fails.
- Missing labour market testing requirements. Some occupations require the sponsor to advertise the role in Australia for 28 days and document why local candidates weren't suitable. Skipping or rushing LMT causes nomination refusals.
- Treating sponsor obligations lightly. Sponsors commit to training Australian workers (or paying the SAF levy), to record-keeping, and to reporting changes. Sponsor compliance issues can cascade and curtail visas.
- Forgetting the visa is tied to the sponsoring employer. Changing jobs requires a new nomination from a new sponsor. The old visa effectively ends.
- Underestimating the 3-year clock for 186. The TRT stream requires 3 years with the same sponsor in the same occupation. Job changes reset the clock.
Consider these instead
AU
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent
If your points score is 80+ and your occupation is on MLTSSL, 189 is independent PR without an employer tie, usually the better destination if you can clear the points.
Read more →
AU
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
If you have 3+ years of relevant experience and a sponsor offering Direct Entry, 186 ENS Direct Entry skips the 482 step and goes straight to PR.
Read more →
AU
Subclass 485 — Temporary Graduate
If you just graduated from an Australian institution, 485 Temporary Graduate gives 2-4 years of unrestricted work without needing a sponsor, useful as a runway to find a 482 role.
Read more →
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Short-term and Medium-term 482?
Short-term (STSOL occupations): 2 years, limited renewal, no PR pathway via 482-186. Medium-term (MLTSSL occupations): 4 years, renewable, leads to PR via Subclass 186 ENS after 3 years with the sponsoring employer. Medium-term is the strategically important one for long-term Australia plans.
What's TSMIT and how does it affect me?
Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, currently AUD 73,150 (from 1 July 2024). Your nominated salary must be at or above TSMIT AND at the market rate for the role. Salary below TSMIT can't be sponsored even if it matches the market rate.
How long does 482 take to process?
Medium-term stream: 1-4 months typically. Short-term: similar. Premium processing isn't formally available but priority occupations and complete applications often process faster.
Can I change jobs on 482?
Yes, but the new employer must nominate you (and hold a sponsor licence). The old visa effectively ends when nomination changes, the new sponsor's nomination becomes the basis for your continued status. The 3-year clock for 186 ENS TRT resets with each new sponsor.
Does my family come on 482?
Yes. Spouse/partner and dependent children apply as dependants with full work and study rights in Australia. Each dependant has separate visa fees.
Do I need a skills assessment for 482?
Depends on the occupation. Some MLTSSL roles require a positive skills assessment before nomination (engineering, IT, accounting, nursing). Others don't. Check your ANZSCO code's specific requirements, your migration agent or the assessing authority website will confirm.
What's the path to PR from 482?
The main pathway is 482 Medium-term → Subclass 186 ENS Temporary Residence Transition after 3 years with the same sponsor. TRT doesn't require a new skills assessment and has no age limit (unlike Direct Entry 186 which caps at 45). After 186 grant you're a permanent resident; citizenship after 4 years on PR.
Other Australia visas
Permanent Residency
Subclass 189 — Skilled Independent
Points-tested permanent residence visa for skilled workers. No employer sponsor or state nomination required — candidates lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect and receive an Invitation to Apply based on their points score. Nomination-free, globally competitive.
Permanent Residency
Subclass 190 — Skilled Nominated
Points-tested permanent residence visa requiring a nomination from an Australian state or territory government. State nomination adds 5 points to your score; each state publishes its own occupation lists and requirements for nomination.
Permanent Residency
Subclass 491 — Skilled Work Regional (Provisional)
Five-year provisional visa for skilled workers nominated by a state/territory to live and work in a regional area of Australia. Regional nomination adds 15 points — significantly boosting scores. After 3 years of regional residence and work, eligible to apply for permanent residence via Subclass 191.
Permanent Residency
Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS)
Permanent residence visa for skilled workers nominated by an approved Australian employer. Three streams: Direct Entry (skills assessment + experience), Temporary Residence Transition (3 years on 482 with same employer), and Agreement stream (Labour Agreement). Leads directly to permanent residence.
Permanent Residency
Subclass 124 — Distinguished Talent
Permanent residence visa for individuals with an internationally recognised and distinguished record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in their field. No employer sponsor or state nomination required. Covers arts, sport, academia, and the professions. A recommending organisation provides the mandatory recommendation.
Business / Investor
Subclass 188 — Business Innovation & Investment (Provisional)
Provisional visa for business owners and investors with significant capital, nominated by a state or territory. Streams include Business Innovation (own/manage a business), Investor (AUD 1.5M+), Significant Investor (AUD 5M+), and Entrepreneur. Leads to permanent residence via Subclass 888.
Ready when you are
Find your immigration path.
Pick where you're headed. We score you against every visa we cover in that country.
1 of 4 selected.
Show me my matches, free→