Skills in Demand 비자

What this visa is for#

The Australian Skills in Demand visa, subclass 482, is an employer-sponsored temporary work visa. It lets an approved employer sponsor a worker for a nominated position in Australia. Depending on the stream, it can be granted for 1-4 years.

This is a skilled visa in the employer sponsored, temporary category. It is used where an Australian business wants to fill a role with a skilled worker and the role is part of the nomination process.

This visa is linked to three parts of the process. First, the employer deals with sponsorship. Second, the employer lodges a nomination for the position. Third, the visa applicant lodges the visa application.

Because it is employer-sponsored, the visa is tied to the sponsoring business and the nominated occupation or role approved in the application. Conditions on the visa can affect work rights, travel and how long the holder can stay.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who have an Australian employer willing to sponsor them for a skilled position. It covers workers filling roles that an employer has nominated through the temporary skilled sponsorship process.

This visa is for people who need a temporary employer-sponsored work visa rather than an independent skilled visa. It is commonly used by overseas workers coming to Australia for a specific job, and by some people already in Australia who move onto an employer-sponsored temporary visa.

This visa is also for some family members of the main applicant. A partner and dependent children can often be included as additional applicants, either at the time of application or later if the rules allow.

The exact evidence needed can vary by stream, occupation, and where the applicant is applying from. In practice, the process usually involves identity documents, employment records, skills-related documents, health and character documents, and documents connected to the sponsoring employer and nomination.

What it costs#

The government visa application charge is set by the Department and is the same no matter who lodges the application, whether that is the applicant, a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

Current government charges listed for this visa are:

• Main applicant: $4,015
• Additional applicant 18 or over: $4,015
• Additional applicant under 18: $1,005

These are the government application charges only. They do not include professional fees charged by a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner for preparing and lodging the matter.

Professional fees are separate and can vary a lot. The price usually depends on the complexity of the case, how many family members are included, how much work is needed on the sponsorship and nomination side, and whether there are urgent deadlines or extra requests from the Department.

Government charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. A quote obtained earlier in the year may no longer match the charge payable at lodgement if the new indexed amount has started.

How long it takes#

Published processing guidance: Sponsorship and nomination first; commonly 1-4 months once lodged.

That wording matters because this visa is not only a visa application. The employer sponsorship and nomination steps need to be in place first, and delays at either of those stages can affect the overall timeline.

Actual time can vary for practical reasons. Delays are common where documents are missing, scans are unclear, health or police documents are not ready, or the Department asks for more information after lodgement.

Timing can also be affected by the employer side of the case. If business documents, nomination details, salary information or labour market evidence are not ready when needed, the process can slow down before the visa is even assessed.

What the process involves#

The process usually starts with the employer side, not the worker side. The business first needs to deal with sponsorship requirements, then lodge a nomination for the role. After that, the visa application is lodged for the worker and any family members included.

The nomination stage is about the position. It usually covers details like the role, the business, where the person will work, and the terms being offered for the nominated job.

The visa stage is about the applicant and any dependants. This usually involves identity documents, passport pages, civil documents, employment history, qualifications or licences if relevant, and health and character documents where required.

Applications are commonly lodged online through the Department's systems. Each document should be clear, complete and translated into English if the original is in another language.

After lodgement, the Department may grant a bridging visa if the application was made in Australia and the person held a visa that allows a valid onshore application. A bridging visa is a separate visa with its own conditions, and it does not automatically copy the rights of the previous substantive visa.

The Department can ask for more information after the application is lodged. This is often called a request for further information. The request will usually have a deadline, and missing the deadline can create serious problems for the application.

If the application is approved, the grant notice sets out the visa period and conditions. If family members are included, each person receives their own grant information and conditions.

What commonly goes wrong#

Incomplete evidence is one of the biggest practical problems. Applications are often delayed because identity documents, employment references, qualifications, relationship documents or police certificates are missing, inconsistent or too hard to read.

Documents expiring during processing is another common issue. Passports, police clearances, health examinations and some licences can go out of date while the matter is still being processed, which can trigger extra requests and extra waiting time.

People also miss important messages because they do not keep their contact details current. If a residential address, email address or phone number changes and the Department is not told, requests and notices can be missed.

Another common problem is assuming the employer side is simple. Sponsorship and nomination are separate steps, and errors in business information, role details or supporting evidence can hold up the whole matter before the visa stage moves forward.

Uploads can also cause trouble. A document may have been provided, but if it is cropped, upside down, password-protected, in the wrong place, or not translated properly, the Department may treat it as not usable.

Family member details also need to match across all documents and forms. Different spellings of names, different dates, old passports, and civil documents that do not line up can all lead to follow-up questions.

Onshore applicants sometimes assume a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa they held before. That is not how bridging visas work. Work rights, travel rights and other conditions depend on the bridging visa actually granted.

Timing mistakes are common near visa expiry dates. Leaving sponsorship, nomination, medicals, police checks or personal documents until the last minute can create pressure and increase the risk of invalid lodgement or missing evidence.

Some people also forget to report changes that happen after lodgement. A new passport, a new baby, a relationship change, a new address, or a change in employment circumstances can all need updating with the Department.

Frequently asked questions#

How long is the Skills in Demand visa valid for?#

It is an employer-sponsored temporary work visa, 1-4 years depending on stream. The exact period is set out in the visa grant and linked to the approved stream and application details.

Can family members be included in a subclass 482 application?#

Yes, this visa can include certain family members as additional applicants. The government charges listed separately for additional applicants 18 or over and additional applicants under 18.

How much is the government fee for a 482 visa?#

The listed government charge is $4,015 for the main applicant. It is also $4,015 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over, and $1,005 for each additional applicant under 18. The government charge is the same no matter who lodges it.

Can a 482 visa application be lodged while in Australia?#

Some applications are lodged in Australia and some are lodged outside Australia. Where a valid onshore application is possible and is lodged, a bridging visa may be granted, but the bridging visa has its own conditions.

Why is my 482 visa taking longer than expected?#

Processing can slow down when sponsorship or nomination is not finalised first, because the employer steps are part of the overall process. Delays also happen when documents are missing, documents expire mid-process, or the Department asks for more information after lodgement.

About this page. This is general information about how the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.