Got a job offer in Australia? Turn it into a work visa properly.
Employer sponsorship is one of the most reliable routes into Australia, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Salary thresholds moved again on 1 July 2026, the occupation lists have been rewritten, and a nomination lodged a day late is assessed against the new figures. Get the detail right before your employer starts spending money.
- Subclass 482 Skills in Demand and subclass 186 ENS covered
- Stream selection, salary checks and sponsor eligibility
- Full PR pathway planning from 482 through to permanent residency
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Tell us your occupation, salary, current visa and what your employer has agreed to. We will tell you which stream you fall into, whether the numbers work, and what the realistic PR timeline looks like.
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The 2026 changes that affect sponsored applications
Salary thresholds are indexed every July, which means an arrangement that worked last year may not work this year. These are the changes catching employers and applicants out.
Core Skills Income Threshold rose to AUD 79,423
Up from AUD 76,515, an increase of roughly 3.9 per cent under the annual indexation formula. It applies to Core Skills nominations and to subclass 186 nominations.
Specialist Skills Income Threshold rose to AUD 146,576
Up from AUD 141,210. If the guaranteed earnings do not clear this figure, the nomination falls into the Core Skills stream regardless of how senior the role is.
The date of lodgement sets the threshold
A nomination lodged before 1 July is assessed against the old figure even if decided later. A contract signed in June does not preserve the old threshold if the nomination goes in during July.
Threshold and market rate both apply
The salary must clear the income threshold and the annual market salary rate for that role in that location, whichever is higher. Meeting the threshold alone is not enough.
186 transition reduced to two years
The Temporary Residence Transition stream now requires two years with the sponsoring employer rather than three, which pulled the PR timeline forward for most sponsored workers.
Indexation applies to extensions
A renewal is a fresh nomination assessed against the current threshold. Salaries that were compliant at first grant can fall below the floor by renewal if pay has not moved.
482 or 186, which one applies to you?
Both require an Australian employer to sponsor you, but they work differently in who qualifies, what they lead to and how long they take.
Skills in Demand visa
Australia's main temporary employer-sponsored work visa, which replaced the TSS visa on 7 December 2024. For most people this is step one, with a route to permanent residency through the 186 once the work requirement is met.
- Visa typeTemporary, generally up to four years
- RequiresAn approved sponsor and an eligible occupation for your stream
- SalaryMust meet the income threshold for your stream and the market rate
- FamilyPartner and dependent children can be included
- Work rightsFull rights, but tied to the sponsoring employer and nominated occupation
- PR pathwayYes, via the 186 after the required period
Employer Nomination Scheme
The 186 grants permanent residency directly through employer sponsorship. Most applicants arrive here from a 482 through the Temporary Residence Transition stream, once they have completed the required period with their employer.
- Visa typePermanent residency on grant
- Main streamTemporary Residence Transition, from a 482
- Work requirementTwo years full time with the sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation
- Direct EntryAvailable without a 482, with stricter skills assessment requirements
- Age limitGenerally under 45 at time of nomination, with limited exemptions
- CitizenshipPossible after meeting residence requirements as a PR
The streams of the subclass 482 explained
Which stream you fall into is decided mainly by your salary and your occupation, not by how experienced you are.
Specialist Skills stream
For high earners. If guaranteed earnings clear the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, the occupation list requirement falls away, though the role must sit within eligible ANZSCO major groups and trades are excluded.
- Threshold of AUD 146,576 from 1 July 2026
- No Core Skills Occupation List requirement
- Notably faster processing than other streams
- PR pathway via the 186
Core Skills stream
The workhorse of the system, and where most nominations sit. Your occupation must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List and the salary must clear the Core Skills Income Threshold as well as the market rate.
- Threshold of AUD 79,423 from 1 July 2026
- Occupation must be on the CSOL
- Processing has been slow relative to the specialist stream
- PR pathway via the 186
Labour Agreement stream
For employers holding a formal agreement negotiated with the Government, used where the standard lists do not cover a genuine shortage. Designated Area Migration Agreements sit here, as do the aged care arrangements.
- Terms set by the individual agreement
- No standard occupation list
- Concessions on salary or English may apply
- PR terms depend on the agreement
You will see an Essential Skills stream described online as though it is already operating. As things stand it remains under development, intended for lower-paid roles in sectors such as aged care, disability support and early childhood. In practice those roles are currently sponsored through the Labour Agreement stream. If someone has told you to apply under Essential Skills, ask which labour agreement their employer actually holds.
Key requirements for the 482 and 186
These visas are assessed from three directions at once. You, your employer and the occupation all have to qualify. Full eligibility guide.
Applicant requirements
- Skills and qualifications matching the nominated occupation
- Relevant recent work experience, generally at least one year full time
- English proficiency, commonly IELTS 5.0 overall for Core and Specialist streams
- Health and character requirements
- Skills assessment for certain occupations and for 186 Direct Entry
- Generally under 45 at nomination for the 186
Employer and sponsor requirements
- Must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor
- Business actively and lawfully operating in Australia
- Must pay the Skilling Australians Fund levy
- Salary offered must meet the relevant threshold and market rate
- Must demonstrate the position is genuine
- Ongoing sponsorship obligations after grant, including record keeping
Occupation requirements
- Occupation must be eligible for your stream, the CSOL for Core Skills
- Your actual duties must match the nominated ANZSCO code
- The position cannot be created purely to support a visa
- For the 186 transition, the same occupation as held on the 482
- Specialist stream excludes trades, machinery operators and labourers
Salary requirements
- Specialist Skills stream, AUD 146,576 from 1 July 2026
- Core Skills stream, AUD 79,423 from 1 July 2026
- The annual market salary rate applies as a separate test
- Guaranteed earnings exclude superannuation, bonuses and in-kind benefits
- The same rules apply again at the 186 nomination stage
From work visa to permanent residency
A 482 is the beginning for most people rather than the destination. Here is how the standard transition runs. Read about the fastest PR pathway for 482 holders.
Get sponsored on a 482
An approved sponsor nominates you in an eligible occupation, at a salary that clears both the threshold and the market rate for that role and location.
Work two years with the same employer
Full time, in the nominated occupation. The requirement was reduced from three years to two, which brought the PR timeline forward considerably. Changing employer or role restarts the clock.
Employer lodges the 186 nomination
Under the Temporary Residence Transition stream. This is a fresh nomination assessed against the current threshold, not a conversion of your existing visa.
You lodge the 186 application
While your 482 is still valid. Letting the 482 lapse first creates problems that are difficult and sometimes impossible to fix. Full 482 to PR guide.
Permanent residency granted
You hold permanent status, with work rights no longer tied to the sponsoring employer, though obligations and expectations around remaining with them for a reasonable period still apply.
The 186 Direct Entry stream allows some applicants to obtain permanent residency without first holding a 482. It requires a positive skills assessment and generally three years of relevant work experience, and it is approved less often than the transition route. It is worth exploring if you are already highly experienced and your employer is willing to nominate you directly.
Mistakes that derail 482 and 186 applications
These come up repeatedly, and nearly all of them are preventable if caught before lodgement.
The employer is not an approved sponsor
Plenty of employers are willing to sponsor but have never been through Standard Business Sponsor approval, and some assume it happens automatically. Without it, nothing can proceed.
The occupation is not on the right list
A job title is not an ANZSCO code. The code has to appear on the correct list for your stream, and applicants often discover the mismatch only after the employer has started spending money.
Salary below the threshold, or below market
These are two separate tests and both must be met. Packages built up with superannuation, bonuses or in-kind benefits to reach the number are generally not counted the way applicants expect. How salary rules work.
Changing employer or role too soon
Your work rights are tied to the sponsoring employer and the nominated occupation. Moving without a new nomination in place breaches your conditions, and a role change can quietly reset your transition period.
Missing the 186 lodgement window
The 186 must be lodged while the 482 is still valid. Missing it by even a few days creates complications that are expensive and sometimes impossible to resolve.
Ageing out of the 186
The age limit generally applies at nomination. People on long 482 arrangements lose track, and by the time the employer is ready to nominate, eligibility has gone. Work backwards from your 45th birthday.
How our free work visa assessment works
From checking your employer's eligibility to mapping the PR timeline, here is what happens after you send the form.
Tell us your situation
Occupation, salary, current visa status, employer details and what you are trying to achieve.
We review your case
Occupation eligibility, salary position against both tests, sponsor status and which stream fits.
We come back to you
Within 24 hours on business days, with a clear breakdown of your options and the right next step.
Move forward with a plan
You and your employer proceed knowing the numbers work, without costly surprises later.
Situations we see most often
If one of these describes you, mention it in your message so we can look at the dates properly.
The employer wants to sponsor but is not an approved sponsor yet
Very common, and usually solvable. The business needs to be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor before a nomination can be lodged, which takes time and paperwork the employer may not have budgeted for. Knowing this early prevents an offer quietly falling apart.
The salary cleared the threshold last year and no longer does
Thresholds are indexed each July. A package that was compliant at first grant can sit below the floor at renewal if pay has not moved. This surfaces at exactly the wrong moment, when a renewal or a 186 nomination is due.
The 45th birthday is close and the 186 has not been lodged
The age limit generally bites at nomination. If you are on a 482 and approaching 45, the sequencing between your work requirement and your birthday becomes the single most important thing to get right, and it needs planning months ahead.
Work visa questions we get asked most
Can I apply for a 482 visa without a job offer?
No. The 482 is employer sponsored, so you need a genuine job offer from an approved Australian sponsor before anything can be lodged. There is no independent or points-tested route into this visa. If you do not have an offer, a skilled independent pathway such as the 189, 190 or 491 may suit you better. Skilled visa help.
What salary do I need for a 482 in 2026?
For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD 146,576. You must also be paid at least the annual market salary rate for that role in that location, and the higher of the two applies. Guaranteed earnings exclude superannuation, bonuses and in-kind benefits. Confirm current figures with the Department of Home Affairs before relying on them, since they are indexed annually.
How long does it take to get PR from a 482?
The Temporary Residence Transition stream requires two years of full-time work with your sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation, reduced from three. Adding nomination and visa processing, a realistic end-to-end timeline from 482 grant to permanent residency is commonly three to four years, though it varies with processing times and how cleanly the paperwork is prepared.
Can I change employers while on a 482?
Yes, but not freely. A new employer must be an approved sponsor and must lodge a new nomination before you start work with them. Working for an unapproved employer, even briefly, breaches your visa conditions. Changing employer also generally restarts your two-year clock for the 186 transition, which is the part people most often overlook.
What is the SAF levy and who pays it?
The Skilling Australians Fund levy is a mandatory employer contribution when sponsoring a worker on a 482 or 186. The amount depends on business size and visa length. It is paid by the employer, and it is unlawful for an employer to pass that cost on to the visa holder. If an employer asks you to cover it, that is a serious warning sign about the arrangement generally.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. A partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants, with work and study rights in Australia. They must meet health and character requirements, and including them from the outset is considerably simpler than adding them later.
What happens if my sponsorship is withdrawn or my visa is refused?
Your options depend on your circumstances and, critically, on how much time you have. You may be able to find a new sponsor, move to a different visa, or seek review of a refusal. The window is shorter than most people expect, so if you are onshore treat this as urgent rather than something to work through slowly. Options after a visa refusal.
Does the Essential Skills stream exist yet?
Not as a live stream. It has been announced and is intended for lower-paid roles in sectors such as aged care, disability support and early childhood education, but it remains under development. Those roles are currently sponsored through labour agreements instead, which set their own salary and English concessions. If you are being told you qualify under Essential Skills, ask which labour agreement your employer holds.
Related guides worth reading
Employer Sponsored Visa Australia: Full Eligibility Requirements
Everything you and your employer need to satisfy before a sponsorship application is lodged.
Read article →Fastest PR Pathway for 482 Visa Holders in Australia
The strategies that move 482 holders to permanent residency faster than the standard route.
Read article →482 Visa to PR Australia: Pathway and Eligibility Guide
Step by step through the transition from temporary sponsorship to permanent residency.
Read article →How Salary Rules Are Impacting 482 and 186 Applicants
The pay rate thresholds explained, and what the annual indexation means for your application.
Read article →Can You Leave Your Employer After Getting the 186 Visa?
What your obligations are to the sponsoring employer once permanent residency is granted.
Read article →Employer Sponsorship and the 482: Process and Requirements
A plain English guide you can send to your employer so they understand what is involved.
Read article →Have a job offer? Make sure it actually works
Employer sponsorship is reliable when the details are right and expensive when they are not. Get your free assessment before your employer starts the process.
About this page
Aussie Migration Guide is an independent Australian migration information platform. It is not a registered migration agency, not a law firm and not affiliated with the Department of Home Affairs. Nothing on this page constitutes legal or migration advice.
Income thresholds, occupation lists and processing times change regularly, and thresholds are indexed each July. Always confirm current figures with the Department of Home Affairs, and obtain advice from a MARA-registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner before lodging a nomination or application.