1. What Is the Subclass 482 TSS Visa?
The Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa replaced the former Subclass 457 in March 2018. It is Australia's primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa for skilled overseas workers. The visa allows approved Australian employers to sponsor qualified overseas workers for positions they cannot fill with Australian workers or permanent residents.
The 482 is a three-step process involving three separate applications:
- Sponsorship approval — the employer applies to become an approved sponsor (if not already one)
- Nomination — the employer nominates a specific position and the overseas worker for that position
- Visa application — the worker applies for the 482 visa itself
All three steps must succeed for a 482 visa to be granted. A common misconception is that an approved sponsor can immediately sponsor any worker for any role — the nomination step separately tests whether the specific position and specific worker meet the 482 requirements.
2. Short-Term vs Medium-Term Stream
The 482 has two principal streams, determined by the occupation list the nominated position falls on. This distinction is the most important structural element of the visa — it determines the visa duration and, critically, whether a pathway to permanent residence is available.
| Feature | Short-Term Stream | Medium-Term Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation list | Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) | Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) |
| Visa duration | 2 years (3 years under a Labour Agreement) | 4 years |
| Can be renewed | Yes — but only once (from within Australia); subsequent renewal requires offshore application | Yes — no practical renewal limit |
| Path to PR via 186 ENS (Transition) | No — STSOL holders cannot use the 186 Transition Stream | Yes — after 2+ years in role (MLTSSL), eligible for 186 Transition Stream |
| Points-tested migration option | May be eligible for 189/190/491 if occupation and score qualify separately | May also be eligible for 189/190/491 — the 482 does not preclude this |
| Family members | Can be included; same work rights as primary applicant | Can be included; same work rights as primary applicant |
The distinction between STSOL and MLTSSL is critical for long-term planning. Workers in STSOL occupations who want permanent residence must pursue other pathways — typically the points-tested skilled visa system (189/190/491) — and cannot rely on the 186 Transition Stream. Workers in MLTSSL occupations have a clearer, employer-supported pathway to PR through the 186.
3. Employer Sponsorship Requirements
The employer sponsoring a 482 worker must be an approved standard business sponsor or operate under a labour agreement. Sponsorship approval is a separate application to DHA that assesses the employer's legitimacy, lawful operation, and compliance record.
Approved standard business sponsor criteria
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Lawfully operating business | The employer must be a legally constituted business that is lawfully operating in Australia. This is assessed based on ABN registration, financial viability, and trading history. |
| No adverse immigration history | Sponsors cannot have a history of non-compliance with immigration law, significant adverse court findings, or previous sponsor cancellations. |
| Training requirement | Sponsors must make a training levy contribution — the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy — paid at the time of nomination. The amount is $1,800 per year of the visa for businesses with an annual turnover below $10 million; $3,000 per year for larger businesses. |
| Labour market testing (LMT) | Before nominating a 482 worker, the employer must demonstrate that they advertised the position to Australian workers and could not find a suitably qualified Australian candidate. LMT typically requires at least 2 advertisements on Australian job boards for at least 4 weeks, conducted within the 4 months before lodging the nomination. |
Labour Agreement stream
Some employers sponsor workers under a Labour Agreement — a formal arrangement between the employer and the Australian Government that allows non-standard sponsorship terms. Labour Agreements can cover occupations not on the standard occupation lists, lower English requirements, or different remuneration arrangements. They are negotiated between the employer and DHA, and can take considerable time to arrange.
4. Occupation List Requirements
The nominated occupation must appear on either the STSOL or the MLTSSL. The occupation lists are maintained by DHA and updated periodically. Occupations are removed and added in response to workforce needs assessments conducted by the National Skills Commission and other advisory bodies.
How occupation lists work in practice
The occupation must be a genuine match to the work the 482 holder will actually perform. The Department assesses the nomination against the ANZSCO description for the nominated occupation. If the actual duties do not substantially match the nominated occupation's description, the nomination can be refused. This is a common reason for 482 nomination refusals — employers nominating an occupation that looks appropriate but does not actually reflect the duties of the role.
Key points about occupation list requirements:
- You cannot be nominated for a lower-skilled occupation than your actual role to circumvent the list requirements
- Your skills and qualifications must be relevant to the nominated occupation
- The salary offered must meet the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — currently $73,150 per year — and must match the market salary rate for the occupation in the location
- The position must be genuine — a position created primarily to facilitate a 482 visa, rather than meeting a genuine business need, will not be approved
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)
All 482 nominations must offer a salary at or above the TSMIT, currently set at $73,150 per year (as at March 2026). This threshold is reviewed annually. The nominated salary must also be consistent with what an equivalent Australian worker would be paid for the same role — the employer cannot pay an overseas worker less than a comparable Australian worker to make the sponsorship financially attractive.
5. Applicant Requirements
The visa applicant (the overseas worker) must meet the following requirements:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Skills and qualifications | You must have the skills, qualifications, and work experience required for the nominated occupation. A positive skills assessment may be required for some occupations (particularly those assessed by a licensing authority or professional body). For many occupations, employer assessment of your qualifications combined with documented work experience is sufficient. |
| Work experience | At least 2 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation (or a related field) is generally required. For professional occupations, your qualifications may satisfy this requirement. |
| Age | No maximum age for the 482 visa itself (unlike the points-tested skilled visas). However, if you intend to transition to the 186 ENS, you must be under 45 at the time of the 186 application. |
| Health | Must meet health requirements; medical examination required if specified by DHA based on country of travel history. |
| Character | Must meet character requirements; police clearances from relevant countries required. |
6. English Requirements
The standard English requirement for the Subclass 482 is vocational English — an IELTS score of at least 5.0 in each of the four bands (listening, reading, writing, speaking), or the equivalent score in PTE Academic, OET, TOEFL iBT, or CAE. This is a lower threshold than the competent English standard required for the points-tested skilled visas.
| English Standard | IELTS Equivalent | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Vocational English | 5.0 in all four bands | 482 minimum standard |
| Competent English | 6.0 in all four bands | 189/190/491 minimum; some 482 occupations |
| Proficient English | 7.0 in all four bands | Adds 10 points on AU points test |
| Superior English | 8.0 in all four bands | Adds 20 points on AU points test |
Exemptions from English testing
English testing may be waived if:
- You are a passport holder from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, or New Zealand
- You have completed at least 5 years of full-time study in English, in a country where English is the official language, at a secondary or higher level
- The nominated occupation is covered by a labour agreement that includes an English exemption
Professional occupation requirements set by assessing authorities (such as AHPRA for nurses and doctors, or Engineers Australia for engineers) may impose higher English standards than the vocational minimum. Always check the occupation-specific requirements in addition to the visa subclass requirements.
7. Path to Permanent Residence via 186 ENS
For medium-term stream 482 holders (MLTSSL occupations), the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Transition Stream provides a direct pathway to permanent residence through the same employer.
186 Transition Stream eligibility requirements
- Must hold or have held a Subclass 457 or Subclass 482 (medium-term stream) visa
- Must have worked in the nominated occupation for the sponsoring employer for at least 2 years in the 3 years before the 186 is lodged (or 3 years for certain occupations)
- Must have the position nominated by the same employer (or a related employer under certain conditions)
- Must be under 45 years of age at the time of the 186 nomination (some exceptions apply for medical practitioners, academics, and certain scientists)
- Must meet the skills and English requirements for the 186 (competent English — IELTS 6.0 — is the standard for 186, higher than the vocational English minimum for 482)
- Health and character requirements must be met at the time of the 186 application
For a detailed breakdown of the 186 ENS transition process, see our 482-to-186 transition guide.
Short-term stream 482 and PR
Workers in STSOL occupations on a short-term 482 cannot access the 186 Transition Stream. Their options for PR typically include:
- The points-tested skilled migration system (189/190/491) if their occupation appears on the relevant skilled migration occupation list and they can achieve a competitive points score
- The 186 Direct Entry stream, if they have the required 3 years of work experience in the nominated occupation assessed as meeting a relevant skills assessment
- A labour agreement pathway, if one is available for their occupation and industry
- Other family or special category visas, depending on individual circumstances
8. Key Visa Conditions
The 482 visa comes with specific conditions that restrict the visa holder's work rights compared to permanent residents:
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Work for sponsor only | The primary 482 visa holder must work for the approved sponsor in the nominated occupation. Working for a different employer (other than in very limited circumstances) is a visa breach. Secondary applicants (spouse, children) have full work rights without restriction. |
| Occupy nominated position | The visa holder must work in the nominated occupation — not a different role, even for the same employer. If the role changes significantly, a new nomination may be required. |
| Notify DHA of certain changes | Changes to employment, changes in the employer's operations, or ceasing to work for the sponsor must be reported to DHA in certain circumstances. |
| 60-day buffer on job loss | If your employment with the sponsor ends, you have 60 days to either find a new sponsor and lodge a new 482 application, depart Australia, or apply for another visa. The 482 is not automatically cancelled upon job loss — but you cannot continue working without a valid sponsor and nomination. |
9. How to Apply — Three-Stage Process
Stage 1: Employer becomes an approved sponsor (if not already)
The employer lodges a sponsorship application in ImmiAccount. DHA assesses the employer's lawful operation, financial viability, and compliance record. Processing times vary — allow 2–8 weeks. Sponsorship approval is valid for 5 years and allows the employer to nominate multiple workers over that period.
Stage 2: Employer nominates the worker and position
The employer lodges a nomination application, specifying the nominated occupation, the worker they are nominating, and evidence that the position meets LMT, TSMIT, and market salary rate requirements. The nomination must also include evidence of the worker's qualifications and skills. Processing takes 4–12 weeks typically.
Stage 3: Visa application
The visa applicant lodges their Subclass 482 application in ImmiAccount. This can be lodged concurrently with the nomination in most cases (pipeline processing). The applicant must provide identity documents, English test results, skills evidence, health and character clearances, and evidence of work experience. Processing time from complete lodgement is typically 4–12 weeks for most cases.
Total expected timeline
A new 482 from initiation (sponsorship application) to visa grant typically takes 3–6 months end-to-end, assuming no complications with the employer's sponsorship, no issues with LMT, and complete documentation from the applicant. Renewals (where the employer is already an approved sponsor) are faster — typically 2–4 months from nomination to visa grant.