482 Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – Labour agreement stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) – Labour agreement stream
Stay	Up to 4 years (5 years for Hong Kong passports)
Cost	From AUD4,015.00
Eligibility timing	12 months relevant work experience within past 5 years
Work rights	Work only for nominating sponsor in nominated occupation
Study	Allowed without government assistance
Medicare	Reciprocal healthcare agreements apply for certain countries
Travel facility	Multiple entries while visa is valid
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Include eligible family members as secondary applicants
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport; no physical label

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Purpose

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Labour agreement stream allows skilled workers nominated by employers with an active Labour Agreement to live and work in Australia temporarily. Labour agreements are established between the Australian Government and employers.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for this stream, applicants must:

• Nomination: Be nominated to work in a specified occupation under an active Labour Agreement between the Commonwealth and the nominator.
• Work Experience: Have gained at least 12 months of relevant full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time/casual work) within the last 5 years, unless otherwise specified in the Labour Agreement.
• Skills Assessment: Provide a relevant skills assessment if required for the occupation:
  • For Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), provide the skills assessment reference number.
  • For Project and Program Administrator or Specialist Manager not elsewhere classified, provide the VETASSESS Skills Assessment reference number (subclass 485 Qualifications-only assessments are not accepted).
• English Proficiency: Meet the minimum English language requirements suitable for the nominated occupation, unless a concession is specified in the Labour Agreement.
• Health and Character: Meet standard health requirements and character requirements (applicable to all applicants and family members aged 16 and older).
• Health Insurance: Maintain adequate health insurance for the full duration of stay in Australia.
• Australian Values: Sign or agree to the Australian Values Statement (for applicants aged 18 and older).
• Government Debt: Have repaid or arranged to repay any outstanding debt owed to the Australian Government by the applicant or family members.
• Previous Refusals/Cancellations: Immigration history is considered; past visa cancellations or refusals may affect eligibility.

Stay and Validity

• Standard Stay: Up to a maximum of 4 years, depending on the terms of the labour agreement and the nomination period.
• Hong Kong Passport Holders: May stay up to 5 years. Current temporary skilled visa holders from Hong Kong are eligible for an extension of 5 years in addition to time already spent in Australia.
• Travel Time: Time spent outside Australia does not extend the validity period of the visa.

Cost and Concessions

• Base Visa Charges:
  • Primary applicant: AUD4,015.00
  • Additional applicant (18 years and over): AUD4,015.00
  • Additional applicant (under 18 years): AUD1,005.00
• Pacific Island and Timor-Leste Concession: Starting 1 July 2026, lower visa application charges apply to primary applicants holding a valid passport from:
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Kiribati
  • Nauru
  • Palau
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • Samoa
  • Solomon Islands
  • Timor-Leste
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu (Family members are also eligible for the lower rate based on the primary applicant's passport).
• Additional Costs: Applicants must cover costs for English language tests, health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.

Family Provisions

• Applicants who have not held a subclass 457 or 482 visa: May include members of the family unit in the application.
• Applicants who currently hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa: May include:
  • A member of the family unit, or
  • A person granted a subclass 457 or 482 visa as a family member who is a spouse/de facto partner, an unmarried dependent child under 23, a child aged 23+ reliant due to disability, or a dependent child of a dependent child.
• Sponsorship Consent: Secondary applicants must be included in the employer's nomination or provide written evidence that the sponsor agrees to secondary sponsorship.
• Subsequent Entrants: Family members cannot be added to an existing application once submitted. They must lodge a separate subsequent entrant application if applying after submission or after the visa is granted.

Conditions and Obligations

• Employment Start Date: Must commence work within 90 days of arrival in Australia (if granted outside Australia) or within 90 days of the visa grant date (if granted in Australia).
• Work Limitations: Must work only in the nominated occupation and only for the sponsor who holds the labour agreement.
• Cessation of Employment: If laid off or employment ceases, the visa holder has up to 180 days to find a new employer nomination or make arrangements to depart Australia.
• Compliance: The primary visa holder and family members must abide by all attached visa conditions and obey Australian laws.

Pathways to Permanent Residence

• Employers can sponsor visa holders for permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
• Current and future temporary skilled visa holders from Hong Kong may have a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years.

Document Checklist

• Identity Documents: Current passport pages (photo, personal details, issue/expiry dates) and evidence of any name changes.
• Skills and Qualifications: Qualification certificates, CV/resumé covering at least the last 5 years, employer references on company letterhead, mandatory licensing/registration details, and required skills assessment reference numbers.
• English Proficiency: Test results or documentation meeting stream requirements.
• Health Cover: Evidence of adequate health insurance for all applicants.
• Character Documents:
  • National Police Certificate (complete disclosure) from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) if resident in Australia for 12+ months in the last 10 years (valid for 12 months from issue).
  • Overseas police certificates from every country resided in for 12+ months in the last 10 years since turning 16.
  • Military service or discharge records (if applicable).
  • Form 80 and Form 1221 if requested.
• Relationship and Dependant Documents:
  • Marriage certificates or evidence of de facto relationship (joint finances, joint leases, shared address).
  • Birth certificates or family books listing both parents for children under 18.
  • Form 1229 and identity documents for non-accompanying parents of minors.
  • Form 47a and financial dependency evidence for dependants aged 18 and over.
• Document Preparation Rules:
  • Non-English documents must include NAATI-accredited translations (within Australia) or professional translations containing full translator details (outside Australia).
  • Scans and photos must be clear, full-colour copies; certified copies are not required.

Application Steps

1. Location at Application: Apply online from inside or outside Australia (not in immigration clearance). If applying within Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B, or C.
2. Prepare Documentation: Complete required health examinations and assemble all supporting evidence.
3. Lodge Online: Create or sign in to ImmiAccount, complete the online form, attach scanned documents, and pay the visa application charge.
4. Appoint Assistance (Optional): Use Form 956 for immigration assistance or Form 956A for an authorised recipient.
5. After Submission:
   • Maintain a lawful visa status while waiting for a decision.
   • Notify the Department of any incorrect details using Form 1023 or update changes to personal circumstances in ImmiAccount.
6. Visa Decision: Written notification of the decision will include the grant number, conditions, and visa validity start date. If refused, reasons and review rights will be provided; application fees are non-refundable.

Important Warnings

• Accurate Information: Providing false, misleading, or fraudulent identity information can lead to visa refusal and a potential 10-year ban on new visa grants for the applicant and listed family members.
• Do Not Cancel Existing Visas: Applicants in Australia should not request cancellation of their existing visa to move to a Bridging visa, as doing so leads to unlawful status and cancels Bridging visa eligibility.
• Travel Arrangements: Do not confirm travel bookings to Australia until written notification of visa grant is received.