Skills in Demand Visa (GK482)
The 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa was replaced by the 482 Skills in Demand visa on 7 December 2024.
Changes in this visa subclass allows for all streams to have a clear route to Permanent Residency via the Employer Nomination Visa (ENS) Subclass 186 visa (subject to meeting the relevant applicable criteria). The main changes to the 482 visa are summarised as:
- One visa application fee structure across all streams.
- Visa term of up to 4 years, for all streams
- Applicants only need to demonstrate equivalent to a minimum of one-year full time work experience in the nominated occupation in the 5 years immediately before application.
- New Core Skills Occupation list (CSOL) applies to this visa subclass – this has changed from the previous Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), Medium and
Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and the Regional Occupations List (ROL)
The 482 remains the primary choice for Australian employers seeking to sponsor temporary skilled workers. The ability to include family members to the application has not changed. Its primary purpose is to aid businesses encountering challenges in sourcing qualified skilled workers from the domestic job market.
If you have a skilled occupation and have an Australian employer willing to sponsor you, this may be the option for you.
To be eligible for this visa, amongst other criteria, you’ll need:
- An Australian employer willing to sponsor you.
- Meet health and character requirement
- English language requirements
- Hold appropriate health insurance.
This visa involves a three step process:
To be able to nominate overseas employees for positions in their business, the employer must make an application and be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)
Once the employer is approved as an SBS, they can make an application to nominate the prospective employee. The Sponsoring employer must demonstrate have a genuine position that needs to be filled, and were unable to find a suitably skilled Australian worker through the required job advertisements.
The business needs to show that you will be paid at least the salary that is offered an employee who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident doing the equivalent role and at the same location.
As a prospective worker, you will need to lodge the visa application. Demonstrate that they have the skills and/or qualifications required for the position and meet language, health and character requirements.
This visa has three streams:
The SSP Pathway is for highly skilled migrants with a minimum salary $141,120 per annum plus super.
Is available for a wider range of occupations which will include registered nurses, trades workers and certain machinery operators listed on the CSOL.
Individuals sponsored under this pathway will need to meet the Core Skilled Threshold (CST) salary requirement which will be indexed annually and is currently $76,515, plus superannuation.
Is available if your prospective employer has a Labour Agreement in place with the Australian Government. This stream is available to skilled workers who will earn under $73,150 per annum and is dedicated to address the skill shortages faced across a range of industries and in particular the care and support economy.