Skilled Worker Visas
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Commonwealth Acts of Parliament, federal regulations, and official government guidance.
What is this right?
Australia offers several employer-sponsored visa pathways for skilled workers. The most common are the subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa, the subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) visa, and the subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa for permanent residency.
The subclass 482 lets you work in Australia for up to 4 years if your occupation is on an approved skills list. Your employer must be an approved sponsor and must pay you at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). Short-term stream occupations allow stays of up to 2 years, while medium-term stream occupations allow up to 4 years with a pathway to permanent residency.
The subclass 186 is a permanent visa. You can apply through the Direct Entry stream (skills assessment required) or the Temporary Residence Transition stream (after working for your employer on a 482 visa for at least 2 years). Nomination by your employer is required for all streams.
All employer-sponsored visas require your employer to meet sponsorship obligations, including paying market salary rates and not recovering visa costs from you.
When does it apply?
- You are a skilled worker with qualifications and experience in an occupation on Australia's Skilled Occupation List.
- An Australian employer has offered you a genuine position and is willing to sponsor you.
- You meet the skills assessment requirements from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation.
- You meet English language requirements (usually IELTS 5.0 overall or equivalent for the 482, higher for the 186).
What should you do?
- Check whether your occupation is on the Short-term, Medium-term, or Regional Occupation List at the Department of Home Affairs website.
- Get a skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority before applying.
- Ensure your employer is an approved sponsor — they must apply for Standard Business Sponsorship first.
- Keep records of your employment conditions, pay slips, and contract to verify your employer meets their obligations.
- Apply for permanent residency through the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream once you have worked for your nominating employer for 2 years on a 482 visa.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't pay your employer to sponsor you — this is illegal and can result in cancellation of both the sponsorship and your visa.
- Don't work for a different employer than the one listed on your visa without first obtaining approval or a new nomination.
- Don't let your visa expire without applying for renewal or a new visa — overstaying makes you an unlawful non-citizen.
- Don't accept below-market wages — your employer must pay at least the TSMIT and the annual market salary rate.
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