482 Visa Requirements (Eligibility, Documents & Criteria 2026)
The 482 visa in Australia is now known as the Skills in Demand (SID) visa.
This employer-sponsored visa lets approved Australian employers hire overseas workers when they can't find a suitable local worker for the role.
For many international students and skilled workers, the subclass 482 visa can become an important step toward building long-term work opportunities in Australia.
Depending on your stream and eligibility, it may also create pathways toward permanent residency.
This guide explains the latest 482 visa requirements in Australia in simple terms.
At IDP, we help international students and skilled migrants plan beyond just their visa application. From choosing courses aligned with workforce demand to meeting English requirements, employer-sponsored pathways, and long-term study-to-PR opportunities, we can help you better understand your options in Australia.
What are the requirements for the 482 visa in Australia?
To apply for the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), you generally must:
be sponsored by an approved Australian employer
work in an eligible occupation
have at least 1 year of relevant work experience
meet English language requirements
meet salary threshold requirements
satisfy health and character requirements
complete a skills assessment if required for your occupation
Quick overview of 482 visa requirements
Requirement | General Requirement |
Sponsorship | Approved Australian employer |
Work experience | Usually at least 1 year |
English | IELTS or equivalent unless exempt |
Salary | Must meet stream salary thresholds |
Occupation | Must match eligible stream criteria |
Health and character | Required |
Skills assessment | Required for some occupations |
What is the Skills in Demand (SID) visa subclass 482?
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa.
This visa allows approved Australian employers to sponsor overseas workers for skilled jobs when they cannot find suitable Australian workers for the role.
Depending on your stream, you may stay in Australia for up to 4 years. Hong Kong passport holders may stay for up to 5 years.
With this visa, you may:
work in Australia
study in Australia
travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid
include eligible family members
potentially apply for permanent residency if eligible
What changed from the old TSS visa?
The new Skills in Demand visa introduced several updates to employer-sponsored migration in Australia.
These changes include:
new visa stream structure
updated salary thresholds
generally lower work experience requirements
clearer pathways toward permanent residency for eligible applicants
The 482 visa now includes:
Core Skills stream
Specialist Skills stream
Labour Agreement stream
Subsequent entrant pathway for eligible family members
Core eligibility requirements for the 482 visa
The 482 Skills in Demand visa has different streams. Most streams share several general eligibility requirements. In most cases, applicants need an approved employer sponsor, relevant work experience, English language proficiency, and an eligible occupation that matches their background and job duties.
Below are the main eligibility requirements that commonly apply across most 482 visa streams.
Be sponsored by an approved employer
You cannot apply for the 482 visa without employer sponsorship.
Your employer must:
be an approved sponsor or applying to become one
nominate a genuine skilled position
meet sponsorship obligations set by the Australian Government
The employer must also submit a nomination application before your visa can be granted.
Have an eligible occupation
Your nominated occupation must match the requirements of your visa stream.
This may involve:
the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
eligible ANZSCO occupation groups
labour agreement occupations
Your job duties, qualifications, and work experience must closely match the nominated occupation.
Why choosing the right occupation matters
When applying for the 482 visa, your nominated occupation must closely match the actual work you will be doing in Australia.
The Department of Home Affairs will compare:
your job title
daily tasks and responsibilities
qualifications
work experience
against the official occupation description linked to your visa application.
For example, if you apply as a Software Engineer but your work experience primarily involves basic IT support tasks, the Department may determine that your background does not align with the nominated occupation.
Even small mismatches between your job duties, qualifications, and chosen occupation can lead to delays or visa refusal.
Meet the work experience requirement
Most applicants generally need at least 1 year of relevant work experience completed within the last 5 years.
This experience may include:
full-time work
part-time work equivalent to full-time experience
casual work equivalent to full-time experience
internships or placements in some cases
apprenticeships
The work experience must be closely related to your nominated occupation.
Can internships count toward the 482 visa?
In some cases, yes. Relevant internships, clinical placements, apprenticeships, or formal industry training may help contribute toward the required work experience if they match the nominated occupation requirements.
Meet English language requirements
Most applicants must meet minimum English language requirements unless exemptions apply.
Accepted tests can include:
PTE Academic
TOEFL iBT
Cambridge English
OET for eligible healthcare occupations
What IELTS score do you need for the 482 visa?
The required IELTS score depends on your stream and personal circumstances.
Some applicants may need:
an overall IELTS score of 5.0
minimum band scores in each section
English exemptions may apply to some passport holders or applicants who meet specific conditions.
Meet salary requirements
Your employer must offer a salary that meets Australian migration salary requirements.
For many applicants, this means meeting:
the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)
the Specialist Skills Income Threshold if applying under that stream
the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR)
Why market salary rate matters
The Australian Government checks whether the salary offered matches what Australian workers are normally paid for similar roles.
Unrealistically low salary offers may lead to visa refusal.
Meet health and character requirements
Applicants generally must complete:
health examinations
police clearance checks
You may also need adequate health insurance while staying in Australia.
Family members included in the application must also meet health and character requirements.
Complete a skills assessment if required
Some occupations require a formal skills assessment.
Skills assessments are completed by approved assessing authorities such as:
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA)
VETASSESS
Do all 482 applicants need a skills assessment?
No. Skills assessments are only required for some occupations and nationalities.
However, the Department may still request one during assessment.
It is important to begin any required skills assessment before lodging your visa application.
482 visa requirements per stream
Understanding the correct stream is important because each stream has different occupation and salary requirements.
Core Skills stream
The Core Skills stream is the main employer-sponsored pathway for many skilled occupations in Australia.
To qualify, your occupation must usually appear on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Your employer must also pay you at least the required salary threshold and market salary rate.
You generally must:
work in a CSOL occupation
have at least 1 year of relevant experience
meet English requirements
satisfy salary requirements
work for your sponsor or associated entity
Specialist Skills stream
The Specialist Skills stream is designed for higher-skilled and higher-salary occupations.
This stream usually applies to workers in eligible ANZSCO major groups who meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
You generally must:
work in an eligible ANZSCO occupation group
meet the Specialist Skills salary threshold
have at least 1 year of relevant experience
meet English requirements
Labour Agreement stream
The Labour Agreement stream is for workers sponsored by employers who have a labour agreement with the Australian Government. These agreements are usually created to help industries facing ongoing workforce shortages hire overseas workers when standard sponsorship pathways may not fully meet their needs.
To qualify for this stream, you generally must:
be nominated under an approved labour agreement
work in an occupation specified in the agreement
have at least 1 year of relevant work experience within the last 5 years
meet English language requirements unless exemptions apply
complete a skills assessment if required for your occupation
work only for your sponsoring employer
Subsequent entrant pathway
The subsequent entrant pathway allows eligible family members of subclass 482 or subclass 457 visa holders to apply separately and join the primary visa holder in Australia.
This may apply if:
you got married after the original visa application
a child was not included in the first application
a family member now wants to join the primary visa holder in Australia
How IDP helps with your 482 visa journey
The 482 Skills in Demand visa can be more than a temporary work visa. For many international students and skilled workers, it can become part of a longer-term pathway in Australia.
It may help open opportunities for employer sponsorship, professional work experience, and future permanent residency.
Understanding the right stream, occupation requirements, English requirements, and documents early can make the process easier.
IDP can help you understand how your study, career, and migration plans may connect. Our counsellors can guide you on IELTS preparation, study pathways, and employer-sponsored opportunities in Australia.
We can also help you explore future PR pathways and long-term study or work options so you can plan your next steps with more confidence.