Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

482 Sponsorship

To sponsor someone for the 482 Visa (SID Visa), the business must first apply and be approved as a sponsor or have a labour agreement in place. In order to obtain approval, your business must:

• Be actively and lawfully operating (whether in or outside of Australia).
• If in Australia, have a commitment to employing local labour and engaging in non-discriminatory recruitment practices.
• Have no relevant adverse information regarding the business that affects your suitability as a sponsor, or it is reasonable to disregard this adverse information.
• Agree to comply with sponsorship obligations throughout the life of its sponsorship.

Once approved, sponsorships are generally valid  for five years.

If your standard business sponsorship has been approved, then you can apply for accredited status. An accredited sponsor will receive priority when the DHA processes their 482 or 494 visa  applications.

482 Nomination

The nomination application must satisfy certain criteria, including:

• Core Skills Stream – The sponsor must nominate the overseas worker in an occupation from the relevant Core Skills Occupation List. The base salary offered must meet or exceed the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) which is $76,515 per annum as of July 1, 2025.

• Specialist Skills Stream – Have nominated the visa applicant in an Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) listed occupation in Major Groups 1,2,4,5 or 6, where the nominated salary for the position meets the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) of AUD141,210 as of 1 July, 2025.

• Labour Agreement Stream – Be nominated to work in a specified occupation under the terms of a Labour Agreement.

• The position must be a genuine, full-time role that is  essential for your business operations.
• The nominee must be paid a salary that matches the market rate for the role.
• The employment terms for the nominee must be no less favourable than those offered to an equivalent Australian worker.
• If the occupation is not exempt, labour market testing must be conducted to demonstrate that the position cannot be filled by local workers.
• Contribute to the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. A business with a turnover of less than $10 million has to pay $1,200 per nomination per year for a SID visa. A large business with a turnover of more than $10 million will pay $1,800 per nominee per year.

482 Visa

The visa applicant must demonstrate that they satisfy certain criteria, including:

• The applicant must have the necessary qualifications and at least one year relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field.
• The applicant must have a relevant skills assessment if required and meet any required registration or licensing standards for the occupation.
• The applicant must satisfy English language requirements unless an exemption applies.
• The applicant meet health and character requirements.
• The applicant must maintain adequate health insurance coverage while in Australia.