Skills in Demand Visa (Labour Agreement Stream) Subclass 482
This visa is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labour Agreement. It lets you live and work in Australia temporarily. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers.
Overview
Eligibility (per DOHA guidelines)
Step by Step (per DOHA guidelines)
Apply with Us
Overview
VISA STAY
Up to a maximum of 4 years, depending on the terms in the labour agreement.
Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.
COST
From AUD 4,015.00
Current as at 05/10/2026 · source: Department of Home Affairs
WITH THIS VISA
- work in Australia for up to 4 years for your sponsor 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
- have your employer sponsor you for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
Eligibility (per DOHA guidelines)
For applicants
The visa applicant must meet these requirements, as published by the Department of Home Affairs.
Be working under a labour agreement
The nominated occupation must be the subject of a labour agreement between the Commonwealth and the nominator. See the labour agreement under which you will be working.
Have at least 1 year of work experience
Unless otherwise specified in the Labour Agreement, you have gained at least 12 months relevant full-time work experience, or equivalent, within the last 5 years. Work carried out on a part-time or casual basis must be equivalent to at least 12 months full-time work.
Be nominated
You must be nominated.
Meet our health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.
Meet our character requirement
You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.
Have a level of English language suitable for your occupation
Have the level of English language suitable for the nominated occupation. English language requirements equivalent to the subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa will generally apply unless the labour agreement provides an English language concession.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must confirm you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when you agree to or sign an Australian Values Statement.
Have adequate health insurance
You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.
You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa. Your cover should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.
See what we consider adequate health insurance.
See more about health insurance for overseas visitors.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian government
If you or any family members (including those who don't apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.
In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused see Limitations on applications in Australia.
If applying for a visa from outside Australia see Can I go to Australia.
If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.
For employers (sponsors)
The sponsoring employer must meet these requirements, as published by the Department of Home Affairs.
Step by Step (per DOHA guidelines)
Before you apply
You will need to have health examinations and you might want to get help with your application.
Organise health exams
You will need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply or you can wait until we tell you to have them.
Find out the examinations you need and how to arrange them before you apply
Get help with your application
Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:
You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.
Gather your documents
You will need to provide identity, character, skills and proof English language competence documents.
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide accurate information.
Identity documents
We need proof of your identity. If you cannot prove your identity:
- we will refuse your visa application
- we might not grant you another visa for 10 years
- we might not grant any family members you listed on your application a visa for 10 years
Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.
Also provide proof of change of name, if this applies.
Documents that prove a change of name include:
- a marriage or divorce certificate
- change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
- documents that show other names you have been known by
- deed poll certificate
- statutory declaration if the differences are small
Skills and occupation documents
- For SID skills assessment by Trades Recognition Australia, you must have the skills assessment reference number. Your application is not valid if it is not provided.
- For the occupations of Project and Program Administra tor or Specialist Manager not elsewhere classified, we need the reference number for your VETASSESS Skills Assessment. Your application is not valid if it is not provided. We do not accept VETASSESS Qualifications-only assessment for Temporary Graduate visas (subclass 485).
- Qualification certificates (professional and educational).
- Registration, licence or professional membership, if you need it to work in Australia. Documents from the relevant authorities must show that you hold, or can get the registration, licence or membership. The documents must specify:
- the type of registration or licence held
- the name and contact details of the authority.
- References from previous employers must cover a period long enough to show the needed skill level and experience. See the length of experience needed for your occupation on the Australian Bureau of Statistics website. References should be on the employer's letterhead and have:
- the name, title and contact details of the referee
- details of your position and the dates of service.
- Your curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé should cover at least the last 5 years and shows:
- full employment and educational history
- dates and positions held
- the name, title and contact details of referees
- that you meet the 1 year work experience if this applies.
English language skills documents
Show us you have the level of English language required by the labour agreement
If you are an existing subclass 457 or 482 visa holder who is seeking to change employer, you may also have to show your prospective standard business sponsor evidence of your English language proficiency.
Health insurance
You will need to provide evidence of adequate health insurance for you and any secondary applicants for the duration of your stay in Australia.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreement.
Character documents
Provide an Australian police certificate if you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16.
We only accept complete disclosure National Police Certificates issued by the Australian Federal Police. We do not accept standard disclosure certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police.
For immigration purposes, Australian police certificates are valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Also provide:
- an overseas police certificate from every country, including your home country, where you spent a total of 12 months or more in the last 10 years since you turned 16
- if required, penal check letters are available by contacting espd@homeaffairs.gov.au and include the words “Front end load – Penal Check Letter” in the subject line of your email.
- military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country
Further information is available at: Character requirements for visas
We will tell you if you also need to complete and provide the following forms:
Partner documents
Provide:
- identity documents
- character documents
- documents about other relationships, if applicable.
Provide either:
- your current marriage certificate or
- enough documents to prove you are in a de facto relationship with your partner.
Documents that prove your de facto relationship include:
- joint bank account statements
- billing accounts in joint names
- joint leases or mortgages
- documents that show you have lived at the same address as your partner.
Dependants under 18 documents
For every dependant under 18 years old who is applying with you, provide:
- the pages of their current passport showing their photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates (if your child is under 5 years old you can include them in the application without a passport)
- copies of birth certificates or the family book showing the names of both parents of all your dependent children
- copies of the adoption papers, if applicable
- character documents, if applicable.
Parental responsibility documents
You must get consent for the child to come to Australia from anyone who:
- has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
- is not coming to Australia with the child.
They must complete either:
- Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years
- a statutory declaration giving their consent for the child to visit Australia on this visa.
Include a document with the signature and photo of the person who completed the form or declaration, such as a:
- passport
- driver’s licence.
Dependants over 18 documents
For every dependant 18 years old or older who is applying with you, provide:
- identity documents
- documents about their other relationships, if applicable
- character documents.
Proof of dependency
Where you need to prove that a person is dependent on you, provide:
- a completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over
- proof of your relationship with the dependent such as a birth certificate or adoption papers
You must also prove this person has been financially dependent on you for at least 12 months before you apply. You could provide:
- proof they live with you
- their tax records
- proof they are currently studying
Tell us you are getting help
To nominate someone to:
- receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.
Prepare your documents
Translate
Have all non-English documents translated into English.
Provide original and translated documents in your application.
Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters .
Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:
- full name
- address and telephone number
- qualifications and experience in the language they are translating
These details must be in English.
Note: You do not need to have any documents certified.
Scan or photograph
Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in colour.
The scans and photos must be clear.
If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.
Attach
Attach a document only once, even if you are using it to show more than one thing.
Learn more about attaching documents.
Apply for the visa
You apply for this visa online.
Apply in ImmiAccount
- Log in or create an ImmiAccount
- Attach documents
- Pay the application fee. We will not process your application until you pay the fee.
- Note the transaction reference number.
Each family member must have their application charge paid and documents attached to their application.
After you apply
We will let you know when we have received your application and documents. See what you can and must do after you apply.
Status updates
We can’t give updates on applications within the standard processing time.
We might ask for more information. You can check if we need more information from you in ImmiAccount. We are not obligated to request further information or documents and can make a decision on the information provided.
Travel after you apply
Do not arrange to travel to Australia until we let you know, in writing, that we have granted you the visa.
Attach more information
If you didn't send us all documents when you applied, send them via ImmiAccount as soon as possible.
We might also ask you to provide more information. We are not obligated to request further information or documents and can make a decision on the information available.
Stay lawful
If you are in Australia, make sure you stay lawful by holding a valid visa while we process your application. You must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, Bridging B or Bridging C visa for your visa application to be processed.
If you were in Australia when you applied for this visa, you may have been granted a Bridging visa. If your current visa expires before we decide on your application, the Bridging visa will start. You can stay in Australia on the Bridging visa while we process your new visa application.
Do not ask us to cancel your current visa. If your visa is cancelled, you will:
- be staying in Australia unlawfully
- not be eligible for a Bridging visa.
Learn more about travelling on your visa.
Learn about visa expiry
Add family
Refer to Include other family members for details of family members who can be included in your visa application.
You can't add family members to your visa application after it has been submitted.
If you have submitted your visa application and we are processing it, certain family members that were not included in your visa application can submit a subsequent entrant application.
Alternatively, if we have granted you a visa, certain family members may apply to join you in Australia later as a subsequent entrant.
Mistakes on your application
Let us know as soon as you can.
Help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence – complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration advice – complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.
For more information see Who can help you with your application.
Tell us if things change
Tell us if things change after you apply but before we've made a decision.
Things you need to let us know about include:
- changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
- changes to your marital or de facto status
- the birth of a child
- you want to withdraw your application
See how to tell us if your situation changes.
Visa outcome
We will let you know our decision about your visa application in writing.
We will tell you:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions
Keep a copy of the decision with you when in Australia.
If we refuse your visa we will let you know in writing. We will tell you why we refused and whether you have a right to a review of the decision.
We will not refund the application charge if we refuse your application.
Apply with Us
Start your migration journey today
Send us an enquiry today to get started on your visa application.
Sponsor
As the sponsoring employer, you must have a labour agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Are My Visa Conditions?
Conditions attached to this visa include that you work in Australia only in the occupation you were nominated for, and only for the nominator who has a labour agreement with the Commonwealth.
See which visa conditions might be attached to this visa.
You and your family must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
You must begin your employment within 90 days of:
- entry to Australia if you are outside Australia when we grant the visa
- the visa grant date if you are in Australia when we grant the visa
Do You Have Any Further Questions?
We understand that you may have specific questions about your own unique situation, so if there is anything you need to know that is not addressed on this website, do not hesitate to contact us.
