Hiring overseas talent can be a critical strategy for businesses across Australia that may struggle to grow due to local skills shortages. The Temporary Skill Shortage visa subclass 482 opens a direct path for companies to bring overseas talent. Nevertheless, familiarising yourself with the specific 482 visa requirements is critical to doing this smoothly and successfully. This guide has you covered at every step of the way for meeting visa 482 requirements in 2025, whether you are a small startup or a large enterprise.
What is the TSS 482 Visa?
The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482) was officially replaced by the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa (still subclass 482) on 7 December 2024. This reform introduced several key changes, including a reduced 1-year work experience requirement, the introduction of a new Core Skills Occupation List, and a more streamlined pathway to permanent residency. Most medium-term occupation holders can now become eligible for PR after just two years on the SID visa, making the process faster and simpler.
Subclass 482, or more commonly known as the TSS 482 Visa, is an employer-sponsored visa allowing Australian employers to temporarily recruit foreign workers for up to four years. This visa fills real skill shortages, with over 450 eligible occupations. The 482 visa to permanent residency pathways will also be open to workers in the future, depending on the occupation and stream (short-term or medium-term).
Employers need to ensure full compliance with the 482 visa requirements for employer and support the applicant through every step of the process.
ALSO READ: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO 482 VISA PROCESSING TIME AFTER NOMINATION APPROVAL
Step 1: Gaining Sponsorship Approval
Your business needs to be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) before you are able to hire any foreign workers. Again, this is a large piece of the puzzle for requirements for 482 visa and allows your business to nominate roles and support employee applications.
Who can apply for SBS status?
- Sole traders, corporations, private trusts, government entities, educational institutions and others.
- Legal Australian & overseas businesses
- Companies with no compliance issues in their business history.
Documents you’ll need:
- ABN and ASIC registration
- Tax records, contract rentals, or employee lists
- Business Activity Statements and profit & loss reports
It is submitted through ImmiAccount, and the sponsorship cost is AUD 642.18. SBS is valid for businesses that are more than 12 months old for 5 years. If the business is new, then the validity period is 1 year.
A registered Migration Agent in Perth prepares your application according to all the 2025 updated requirements. To avoid any hassle, it is better to get assistance from them.
Step 2: Selecting and Justifying the Role You Want to Fill
The next important step after being approved as a sponsor is to nominate a genuine & real job role. Enter the 482 nomination requirements.
Occupation Eligibility
The nominated position must fall within the ANZSCO Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), and job duties must align with the listed occupation code. Don’t provide a generic rendition but demonstrate how the role complements your business functions.
Labour Market Testing (LMT)
For 482 requirements, the employer needs to show that they could not find someone to fill the position. This involves:
- This requirement states that you must have posted 2 or more ads that were valid for 4 months.
- Ads have to run a minimum of 4 weeks on national job sites.
- Advertising must contain job title, skills required, business name and salary (if less than AUD 147,394.66).
International trade agreements provide some exceptions to these, especially for citizens of places such as the UK and Japan.
Proving the Role is Genuine
Ensure that the nominated job:
- Aligns with your business activities.
- It is necessary for operations or growth.
- Was previously filled by an employee or is newly created due to expansion.
- Isn’t a placeholder role created purely for visa purposes?
This step requires clarity and documentation, as failing to justify why the role is needed can result in a refusal to nominate.
Step 3: Ensuring Your Candidate Qualifies for the 482 Visa
Once nominated, you will be ready to assist your candidate with the visa application process. This is where more than one visa 482 requirements need to be complied with by the employer and the worker.
Work Experience and Qualifications
Candidates must have:
- Work experience of a minimum of 2 years in the respective field (full-time work in that field).
- Credentials recognised as equivalent to Australian qualifications.
- At least a positive skills assessment (if the occupation needs this)
Review documents with a Migration Agent before proceeding, and always validate credentials and check for everything as mentioned above.
482 English Requirement
English language proficiency is a core 482 visa requirement. The 482 IELTS requirement is:
- IELTS score of at least 5.0 overall, with no band lower than 4.5.
- Equivalent scores in tests like PTE, TOEFL, or CAE are accepted.
However, if you are from any English-speaking countries or have studied in English for at least 5 years, you will be exempt. Health records comprise chest x-rays and evaluations done by permitted doctors. Police clearance certificates are also needed for character checks. These help guarantee the candidate is fit to work and reside in Australia.
Step 4: Understanding Employer Commitments After Visa Grant
Once your employee arrives, your role as a sponsor doesn’t end. Fulfilling all 482 visa requirements for the employer is essential to maintain compliance.
Visa Conditions
- Sponsored employees must only work in the approved occupation.
- Employers must notify the Department of any role changes or terminations.
- Workers can’t be unemployed for more than 60 consecutive days.
- Health insurance coverage must be maintained at all times.
Breaching these 482 visa condition clauses can lead to cancellation of both the visa and your sponsorship.
Step 5: Paying the Right Salary and Meeting Compliance Costs
Compensation is a crucial part of the 482 visa salary requirements. Employers must pay at least the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the role and ensure it exceeds the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) of AUD 73,150 (2024–25).
You’ll also need to pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy, based on company size:
| Business Type | Annual SAF Levy |
| Turnover < AUD 15.29M | AUD 1,200 per year |
| Turnover > AUD 15.29M | AUD 1,800 per year |
This cost cannot be passed on to the visa applicant. It’s part of your obligation under the visa subclass 482 program.
Step 6: Keeping Track and Reporting: Your Legal Duty as a Sponsor
Ongoing compliance with 482 visa requirements includes:
- Keeping employment records for at least two years.
- Retaining evidence of salaries, hours worked, and job duties.
- Reporting employment terminations within 28 days.
- Updating the Department with business changes (address, contact info, structure).
Failing to meet these 482 requirements may result in penalties or cancellation of your ability to sponsor.
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482 Visa Requirements for Accountants
The role of Accountant remains in high demand across Australia. To meet 482 visa requirements for accountants, ensure:
- The role aligns with the ANZSCO code 221111.
- The applicant has a degree in accounting and a minimum of 2 years’ work experience.
- Skills assessments are completed through CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or IPA.
- English proficiency meets or exceeds the 482 IELTS requirement standards.
Accountants are typically eligible under the medium-term stream, which opens the door to the 482 visa to PR requirements.
How to Transition from a 482 Visa to Permanent Residency
A growing number of businesses aim to support their employees’ 482 visa to permanent residency transition. Here’s how you can help:
- Ensure the employee works in a medium-term stream occupation.
- Support the applicant through the ENS (Employer Nomination Scheme) or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) after three years of full-time work.
- Maintain fair employment terms and demonstrate genuine business need.
This transition enhances employee loyalty and helps businesses secure long-term skilled talent.
Why Work with a Migration Agent or Immigration Consultant?
Because fulfilling every single requirement for the 482 visa can be quite complicated, a lot of employers collaborate with professionals to guide them through the process. A Migration Agent Perth can:
- Take care of your SBS registration and paperwork
- Align with all 482 nomination requirements
- Support for salary benchmarking and LMT processes
- Anticipate any inquiries or requests the Department may have
Applying through a registered Migration Agent raises the chance of approval and saves employers from costly mistakes.
Conclusion
Having the proper structure in place and with the proper guidance on how to deal with sponsorship, nomination, and employee management, one can meet the 482 visa requirements in 2025. Employers need to be aware of all the details of the visa 482 requirements, salary obligations, and compliance needs. Given the changing nature of the visa subclass 482, engaging the services of a skilled Migration Agent Perth will help guarantee your success in the long term.
FAQ
Wondering how long the 482 visa processing time takes in 2025?
482 visa processing time:
As of mid-2025, applications under the new Skills in Demand (SID) stream are being processed much faster than older Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visas. The Core Skills Stream sees 90% of applications finalized within about 3 months, while the Specialist Skills Stream is even quicker, with 90% completed in under 70 days. However, older 482 visa applications lodged before December 2024 may still take up to 9 months or more, depending on case complexity, missing documents, or external checks.
