Employer-sponsored temporary work under Core Skills, Specialist Skills or Labour Agreement. The actual occupation, nomination, salary and agreement must satisfy the chosen stream. Skills assessment and English evidence depend on the applicable rules and exemptions; this visa is not an automatic permanent-residence grant.
Home Affairs: this visa is now called the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482); from AUD 4,015.00 (concessions apply in limited circumstances; additional applicant 18+ AUD 4,015.00).≈ $2,610
Home Affairs processing tool (updated 29 September 2026), core skills stream: 50% processed in 4 months and 90% in 9 months. Estimates, not a guarantee.
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Source-backed requirements
Eligibility
(3)Work experience
MandatoryNormally at least 12 months of relevant full-time work, or equivalent, in the last 5 years. Part-time/casual experience must meet the equivalent period; the Labour Agreement may specify different terms.
Verified officialEnglish language
DocumentConditionalMeet the English rules applicable to the stream unless a valid exemption applies; Labour Agreement concessions may differ. Verify the accepted test, date and score rather than using one universal IELTS threshold. For core and specialist skills, distinguish tests taken before 13 September 2025 from those on or after that date under LIN 25/082.
Verified officialSkills assessment
DocumentConditionalA relevant skills assessment is required only for specified applicants/occupations or when requested. Check the stream, assessment instrument and exemption; other applicants still need evidence of relevant skills.
Verified official
Qualification
(1)Sponsorship
MandatoryAn eligible employer must nominate the actual position under the chosen stream: Core Skills Occupation List for Core Skills, eligible ANZSCO group and income threshold for Specialist Skills, or the actual Labour Agreement terms.
Verified official
Preparation
(1)Health and character
DocumentMandatoryMeet the applicable health and character requirements and maintain adequate health insurance throughout your intended stay. Family applicants also need applicable health and character assessment and adequate health cover; follow the evidence requested for each person.
Verified official
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Immigration Documents & Forms
Source citations
Migration Regulations1994 — Schedule 1 skilled visa eligibility
Department of Home Affairs / Federal Register of Legislation
ReadfullPDFSchedule1items1137,1138and1241: primary age is assessed at invitation; eligible occupations and actual nomination or family sponsorship declarations are branch-specific. LaterOct2studentreform does not alter these scoped clauses. Full official C288 volume 1 PDF retrieved, with regulations 2.72,5.19 and 1.15C. Later student reform checked separately; no changes to reviewed employer clauses. Current dollar thresholds not verified by this review.
Migration Regulations1994 — skilled visa grant criteria
Department of Home Affairs / Federal Register of Legislation
Readfullstatutoryclauses189.222–224,190.212–216,491.211–217and491.612; suitable assessments and competent English are invitation criteria, actual scores must meet invitation and qualifying scores, nominations must remain effective, health applies to required family.191compliance and tax evidence are separate. LaterOct2studentreform does not alter these clauses. Initial graduate study windows, English evidence, AFP timing exception, insurance and regional branches; holiday passport, resources, children and public-interest criteria. Read with October student amendments, which leave these clauses unchanged. Full official C288 volume 2 retrieved. The later F2026L01347 instrument effective 2 October 2026 amends student application/visa provisions only; no changes to 482 or 186 reviewed clauses. Bounded statutory review, not case acceptance.
LIN 25/082 — subclass 482 English test rules
Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation
Full official September 2025 instrument retrieved: section4 exemptions; section6 current tests/scores; section7 pre-13 September2025 tests; section8 applications from commencement. No personal test result assessed.
IMMI 18/039 — subclass 482 mandatory skills assessment
Australian Government — Federal Register of Legislation
Latest register C02 dated 14 December2024 matched full official text. Sections5–7 occupation/authority/type, passport-applicant classes and exemptions; section8 application. No personal assessment accepted.
Official links
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