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482 Visa Australia: Major Updates for 2025

See all articles482 Visa Australia: Major Updates for 2025
Work & Skilled
Senior Associate - Australian Migration Lawyer
July 28, 2025
minute read

If you are a skilled professional considering applying for a temporary work visa in Australia, you need to know about the significant news for 2025. The Australian Government has introduced major changes to its skilled migration program, aiming to strengthen the system and keep Australia competitive in the global labour market. The former 482 visa is now the Skills in Demand Visa, which operates under a new three-tier system. This new visa introduces updated requirements for both skilled workers and their sponsoring employers.

This article provides a detailed overview of the key changes, new eligibility conditions, and practical tips on how to prepare. We also explain where expert guidance from Australian Migration Lawyers can make all the difference in navigating this new landscape and helping you work in Australia.

Watch the video below to learn more about 482 visa:

Understanding the Skill in Demand Visa

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa, which replaces the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa, is a temporary visa that allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers from overseas. Successful applicants can live and work in Australia for up to four years, with a clearer, more defined visa pathway to permanent residency.

One of the most important updates is the reduction in the work experience requirement. As of late 2024, applicants now only need one year of relevant work experience, down from two years. This change opens the door for many talented individuals who were previously ineligible.

The new visa framework is structured into three distinct streams:

  • Specialist Skills Stream: For highly skilled professionals in critical sectors.
  • Core Skills Stream: For applicants with occupations listed on the new Core Skills Occupation List.
  • Essential Skills Stream: A proposed new stream focusing on lower-paid workers in essential sectors, which is still under development.

Navigating these streams to find where your occupation fits can be a complex task. The criteria for each stream are specific, and understanding the nuances is crucial for a successful application. Australian Migration Lawyers can provide a thorough assessment of your circumstances, help you understand the visa details, and guide you to the stream that best aligns with your qualifications and career goals. Contact our team for tailored support.

Updated Salary Requirements and Income Thresholds

A critical component of the new rules involves the updated salary thresholds. To ensure that overseas workers are paid fairly and to protect the local labour market, the Australian Government has increased the minimum salary requirements for the Skills in Demand Visa. As the new financial year begins on 1 July 2025, the new thresholds will be:

  • Core Skills Income Threshold: $76,515
  • Specialist Skills Income Threshold: $141,210
  • Labour Agreement Stream: $76,515

These figures represent a notable increase from previous years. For instance, the Core Skills income threshold was $73,150 for the 2024-2025 financial year and $70,000 for the year prior. The Specialist Skills threshold has also been adjusted upwards to attract top-tier talent.

These higher income thresholds signal Australia’s commitment to attracting experienced professionals while preventing the undercutting of local wages. Employers must be prepared to meet these salary levels, and applicants should ensure their offered remuneration aligns with the new requirements to be eligible. Australian Migration Lawyers can assist by reviewing employment contracts and ensuring that all salary and market rate obligations are satisfied before you proceed with your visa application.

Work Experience Requirements and the Permanent Residence Pathway

As mentioned, the work experience requirement for the former 482 visa was reduced to just one year in December 2024. This change is carried over to the new Skills in Demand Visa, making it more accessible for skilled workers who are earlier in their careers.

Crucially, the new system provides a clearer and more direct pathway to permanent residency. After holding a Skills in Demand Visa for two years and working for the same employer, eligible visa holders can apply for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa. This is a significant improvement, offering more certainty to those looking to build a long-term future in Australia.

Mapping out this visa pathway from a temporary visa to a permanent residency visa requires careful planning. A migration lawyer can help you create a clear timeline, ensuring you meet every requirement along the way to secure permanent residency as soon as you become eligible. Australian Migration Lawyers provides professional guidance throughout this entire process, from your initial application to achieving your long-term migration goals.

Stricter Employer Obligations and Compliance

The updated framework places increased responsibilities on sponsoring employers. The Department of Home Affairs is enforcing stricter compliance to protect both local and migrant workers.

Employers now face more rigorous obligations, including:

  • Genuine Need: They must provide substantial evidence of their financial stability and a genuine need for overseas workers to fill skill shortages.
  • Labour Law Compliance: They must adhere strictly to Australian labour laws, offering fair wages and proper working conditions for full-time employment.
  • Labour Market Testing (LMT): Employers must demonstrate that they have made genuine efforts to hire Australian workers first. The requirements for LMT are now more stringent.
  • Workforce Training: Sponsors must contribute to the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, which is an investment in training the local workforce.

With new compliance checks and tougher penalties for breaches, it is essential for sponsors to get everything right from the start.

Application Process Changes and Mandatory Skills Assessments

The visa application process itself has undergone changes. Processing now prioritises applications for roles in critical sectors like healthcare and education, which are listed on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL). This means faster processing times for applicants in those fields.

Documentation standards have also been tightened. Applicants must now provide more comprehensive proof of their work experience and qualifications. Furthermore, some roles now require a mandatory skills assessment, even for applicants from countries that were previously exempt. A skills assessment is a formal evaluation to confirm that an applicant has the necessary skills and qualifications for their nominated occupation. This is a crucial step that must be completed correctly.

Updated Costs and Fees for the Visa Application

Understanding the full cost of a visa application is essential for proper planning. The current costs include:

  • Primary applicant fee: $3,210
  • Each dependent applicant fee (> 18 y/o): $3,115
  • Each dependent applicant fee (< 18 y/o): $805
  • Sponsorship fee: $420
  • Nomination fee: $330
  • Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy:
    • $1,200 per sponsored worker per year (for businesses with an annual turnover under $10 million)
    • $1,800 per sponsored worker per year (for businesses with turnover exceeding $10 million)

Additional costs may also apply, such as:

  • Skills assessments
  • English language tests
  • Health checks
  • Police clearances

Want an estimate of your 482 visa costs? Use our free Fee Calculator to get a clear breakdown

Changing Employers on a 482 Visa

The new system offers greater flexibility for visa holders who wish to change employers. If you are on a Skills in Demand Visa, you can move to a new employer provided they lodge a valid nomination application on your behalf. You generally have up to 180 days after ceasing employment to find a new sponsor.

Importantly, the Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that visa holders who have lodged a valid nomination to transfer to a new employer will maintain their work rights, even if processing times are extended. This provides much-needed stability and flexibility for skilled workers nominated by a new employer.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Process

Whether you are an employer or a visa applicant, here is how you can effectively navigate these recent changes:

  • Start Early: Given the stricter compliance checks and potentially variable processing times, it is wise to begin the application process well in advance.
  • Meet All Requirements: Employers should conduct thorough labour market testing, offer competitive salaries, and maintain detailed records. Applicants must ensure their documentation is complete and accurate.
  • Prepare Your Documents Thoroughly: Gather all necessary evidence of your work experience, your skills assessment outcome, English language test results, and police checks before lodging your application.
  • Explore All Pathways: Depending on your occupation and circumstances, it may be worth considering alternative visas, such as the Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) or the Subclass 407 (Training Visa). These may offer different opportunities, particularly for those willing to work in regional Australia, including areas like South Australia.
  • Align with Priority Sectors: If your occupation is in healthcare, education, or another priority sector, you may benefit from faster processing and more direct pathways to permanent residency.
  • Seek Professional Help: Every applicant's situation is unique. Obtaining trusted legal advice early on is the best way to avoid costly delays, errors, or a potential visa refusal. Australian Migration Lawyers can work with you step-by-step to ensure your visa application is accurate, compliant, and professionally prepared.

Stay Ahead of the Changes

Australia’s skilled migration framework is continually evolving to meet the country's economic needs. Staying informed and seeking expert advice from a qualified migration lawyer gives both employers and skilled workers the best chance to succeed under this new system.

If you need support navigating the Skills in Demand Visa or any other Australian visa option, Australian Migration Lawyers is here to help you secure your future in Australia

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