Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

work in Australia for your sponsor for up to 4 years, or up to 5 years if you are a Hong Kong passport holder

study (you won't receive government assistance)

travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid

if eligible, apply for permanent residence

This is a temporary visa. You can stay for the period your employer nominates you for, up to a maximum of 4 years, or up to 5 years if you are a Hong Kong passport holder.

Labour Agreement stream: up to a maximum of 4 years, depending on the terms in the labour agreement.

Subsequent Entrant stream: you can stay for as long as your visa is valid.

Stay longer: if your visa is expiring and you want to keep working for your existing employer, your employer must submit a new nomination and you must apply for a new visa — you can't extend this visa. Your employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).

You can include other family members ('secondary applicants') in your application — who you can include depends on whether you currently hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa.

If you have not previously held a subclass 457 or 482 visa: your family members are your partner, your (or your partner's) dependent child or stepchild, and the dependent child or stepchild of that child.

If you currently hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa and are applying for a subsequent SID visa: the rules are more specific — see the official page for the exact criteria, since this varies by circumstance.

You must include secondary applicants in the main applicant's nomination, or provide written evidence the sponsoring employer agrees the secondary applicant can be a secondary sponsored person. Secondary applicants must meet health and character requirements.

You can't add family members to your application after you submit it. Family members not included can apply separately as a Subsequent Entrant, either while your application is being processed or after you're granted the visa.

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply, but not in immigration clearance.

If applying in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa, or a Bridging visa A (010), B (020), or C (030).

You can be in or outside Australia when a decision is made.

Applications are prioritised under Ministerial Direction No. 119 — as of this page's last verification, applications generally lodged in October 2025 (all other applicants) and later are being processed, with earlier priority given to law enforcement/defence, healthcare/teaching, and construction occupations (both July 2026). Use the DHA visa processing time guide tool for an indication specific to recently decided applications — it is a guide only, not specific to your application.

Actual processing times vary based on whether you lodged a complete application, how quickly you respond to requests for more information, how long required checks take, and how long external agencies (health, character, national security) take to respond.

You and your family must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.

You must begin your employment within 90 days of entering Australia (if outside Australia when granted) or the visa grant date (if in Australia when granted).

You can usually only work for the business that sponsored you — if your sponsor is an Australian business, you can also work for one of its associated entities; if an overseas business sponsor, only that business, not an associated entity (some occupations are exempt).

If you've been laid off, you have up to 180 days to find a new employer or arrange to leave Australia.

You must tell the Department if your phone number, email, address, passport, employer, employment status (including promotions and hour changes), or relationship status changes, or if you have a child.

See your visa grant letter or use VEVO for your exact conditions.

You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you want while the visa is valid.

Time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa.

We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport. Your grant notification letter will contain your visa grant number, which you can use to check your details via VEVO.