Skills in Demand
Temporary · up to 4 years · no age limit
The fastest route into the Australian workforce. Work for your sponsor anywhere in Australia, then transition to permanent residency through the subclass 186.
Australian Employer Sponsored Migration
Employer Sponsored VisasYour Proven Path to PR Success
Subclasses 482 · 186 · 494
Visas built on a job offer, not a points score. When an approved Australian business sponsors you, there is no invitation round to wait for — and for the subclass 482, no age limit either.
✓ No points test
✓ No age limit (482)
✓ PR after 2 years (TRT)
✓ Family included
Three visas, one sponsorship system
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) all start the same way: an approved Australian employer nominates you for a genuine role through the Department of Home Affairs.
Employer Nomination Scheme
Permanent · from day one
Permanent residency immediately on grant — either directly (Direct Entry) or after two years working for your 482 sponsor (Temporary Residence Transition).
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional
Provisional · 5 years · regional Australia
Sponsored by a regional business, with a legislated pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 191 after three years — no second nomination required.
Which subclass fits your situation?
The right answer depends on three things: how quickly you need to start, whether the business is regional, and whether you meet the age and skills-assessment settings for a permanent visa now.
Choose the 482 when
- You have (or are close to) a job offer and want to start working as soon as possible
- You are 45 or over — the 482 has no maximum age limit
- You plan to reach permanent residency through the TRT stream after two years
Choose the 186 when
- You want permanent residency from the first day of the grant
- You are under 45 with a positive skills assessment and three years of experience (Direct Entry)
- You have already worked two years for your 482 sponsor (Temporary Residence Transition)
Choose the 494 when
- The sponsoring business operates in designated regional Australia — including all of South Australia
- Your occupation is open regionally but not in the major cities
- You want a PR pathway (subclass 191) that does not depend on a second nomination
No employer sponsor? Compare the points-tested skilled visas (189 · 190 · 491) — no sponsorship required.
482 streams & the salary thresholds
Every 482 nomination must meet a minimum salary set by the Department of Home Affairs. From 1 July 2026 the thresholds are:
| Stream | Minimum salary (from 1 July 2026) | Occupations |
|---|---|---|
| Core Skills | $79,423 — Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) | Occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) |
| Specialist Skills | $146,576 — Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) | Any occupation except trades, machinery operators, drivers and labourers |
| Essential Skills | Set by labour agreement | Lower-paid critical occupations in specific sectors |
The threshold is a floor, not the test itself: your guaranteed annual earnings must meet the CSIT or SSIT or the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the role — whichever is higher. Nominations are refused every week because the salary clears the threshold but falls short of the genuine market rate. The CSIT also applies to subclass 186 nominations.
Key eligibility requirements
An employer sponsored application is really two cases in one — the business must qualify as a sponsor, and you must qualify as the nominee. Both sides are assessed.
For you (the applicant)
- At least 1 year of full-time relevant work experience for the 482 (3 years for the 186 and 494)
- English: minimum IELTS 5.0 in each band (or PTE 36) for the 482, unless you hold an exempt passport
- A skills assessment where your occupation and passport combination requires one
- Health and character requirements for you and all family members
For the employer (the sponsor)
- Approved Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) — or we prepare the SBS application for them
- Labour Market Testing: the role advertised locally for at least 4 weeks before nomination
- A genuine, full-time position paying at least the threshold and the market rate
- The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy — payable by the business, never by you
How the process works
Three linked applications, lodged in sequence — we run all three so the employer's side and your side never fall out of step.
- SponsorshipThe business applies for (or we verify) Standard Business Sponsorship approval.
- NominationThe employer nominates the role: occupation, salary, Labour Market Testing evidence and the SAF levy.
- Visa applicationYour personal application: experience, English, skills assessment, health and character.
- GrantWe manage Department requests on both files until the decision.
From sponsorship to permanent residency
Every employer sponsored visa is designed with a permanent destination. The two routes:
482 → 186 (TRT stream)
- After 2 years of full-time work with your sponsoring employer — reduced from 3 years in November 2025
- No skills assessment required in most TRT cases; your work history with the sponsor is the evidence
- Permanent residency on grant, counting towards citizenship
494 → 191
- After 3 years on the 494, living and working in designated regional Australia
- Three ATO Notices of Assessment — no minimum income threshold, and no second nomination from the employer
- The same Subclass 191 pathway used by 491 holders — see our 191 guide
Strategy matters from day one: the stream you enter on, the way your employment is documented and even how your payroll is structured all affect the PR application two years later. We plan the permanent stage before lodging the temporary one.
Our professional fees
Fixed fees, payable in two instalments. Consultation fees are credited towards our agreement if you engage us.
| Service | AUD (incl. GST) |
|---|---|
| Initial consultation & assessment — online | $190 |
| Face-to-face consultation — Melbourne or Adelaide | $290 |
| Standard Business Sponsorship — 482 / 494 * | $1,950 |
| Employer Nomination — 482 / 186 / 494 * | $3,750 |
| Visa application — Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) | $3,300 |
| Visa application — Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) | $3,900 |
| Visa application — Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) | $3,300 |
* Sponsorship and nomination costs must by law be met by the employer and cannot be passed on to the visa applicant. Professional fees only. Government Visa Application Charges, the SAF levy, skills-assessment authority fees, English tests, health checks and police clearances are additional — current government charges are confirmed in your consultation and on the Department of Home Affairs website. See our full fee schedule.
Government costs — who pays what
Employer sponsored costs are split by law: some charges belong to the business and cannot be passed to you. Figures below apply from 1 July 2026.
| Charge | 482 | 186 | 494 | Paid by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Application Charge (primary applicant) | $4,015 | $6,140 | $6,140 | Applicant |
| Family members | Additional charges apply per person | Applicant | ||
| Standard Business Sponsorship application | $420 — one approval covers all nominations | Employer | ||
| SAF levy — small business (turnover under $10m) | $1,200 / year of visa | $3,000 one-off | $3,000 one-off | Employer — cannot be passed on |
| SAF levy — other business | $1,800 / year of visa | $5,000 one-off | $5,000 one-off | Employer — cannot be passed on |
A nomination application fee also applies for the 482 and 186 (none for the 494). Additional applicant costs: charges for family members, skills assessment, English tests, health examinations and police clearances. Processing times vary by stream and change monthly — current published times are confirmed in your consultation and on the Department of Home Affairs website. You can calculate the exact charge for your own family composition with the official Visa Pricing Estimator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the 482, 186 and 494 visas?
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is a temporary visa of up to four years sponsored by an approved employer. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is permanent residency from day one. The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) is a five-year regional visa with its own pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 191.
How much do I need to earn for a 482 visa?
From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) is $79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) is $146,576. Your guaranteed annual earnings must meet the threshold for your stream or the Annual Market Salary Rate for the role — whichever is higher.
Can I get permanent residency from a 482 visa?
Yes. Through the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the subclass 186, you can apply for permanent residency after two years of full-time work with your sponsoring employer — reduced from three years in November 2025. This is the most common PR route for 482 holders.
Does the 482 visa have an age limit?
No — the subclass 482 has no maximum age limit, which makes it a key strategy for skilled applicants aged 45 or over who are excluded from the points-tested visas. The subclass 186 and 494 generally require you to be under 45 at the time of application, with limited exemptions.
Who pays the SAF levy — the employer or me?
The employer, always. The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy must be paid by the nominating business and it is a breach of sponsorship obligations to pass this cost on to you. For the 482 it is $1,200 or $1,800 per year of the visa depending on business turnover; for the 186 and 494 it is a one-off $3,000 or $5,000.
What happens if I lose my job on a 482 visa?
You do not have to leave immediately. You can remain in Australia for up to 180 consecutive days — and up to 365 days in total across the life of the visa — to find a new sponsoring employer, and you have work rights during that period. We help 482 holders manage a sponsor transfer correctly.
Do I need a skills assessment for an employer sponsored visa?
It depends on the visa. For the 482, a skills assessment is only required for certain occupation and passport combinations. For the 186 Direct Entry stream and the 494, a positive skills assessment from the designated authority is generally mandatory. We confirm exactly what applies to your occupation in your assessment.
Have a job offer — or hunting for a sponsor?
Tell us your occupation, experience and where you stand with the employer — we will tell you honestly which subclass and stream is realistic, and what the business needs to do on its side.
The information on this page is general in nature and does not take your personal circumstances into account. It is not migration advice. Sam Lotfollahi · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 0901704 — verify on the OMARA register.