Australia Skills in Demand work visa

Skilled workers nominated for a position in Australia by an employer.

• Employer nomination

  You must be nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor. The employer must lodge a nomination application before you apply for the visa, and its nomination must be approved before the visa can be granted.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Skills for the job

  You must demonstrate that you have the skills and experience necessary to perform the nominated occupation; where a skills assessment is not mandatory, you must still provide other evidence of your relevant skills, qualifications and employment background.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Relevant experience

  You must have at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field. Part-time or casual work must be equivalent to at least 12 months of full-time work.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• English proficiency

  Primary applicants in the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams must meet the minimum English standard unless exempt. For an IELTS Academic or General Training test taken on or after 13 September 2025, the minimum is 5.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking; a test must be taken within 3 years before applying. Other accepted tests and exemptions are listed on the official English proficiency page. In the Labour Agreement stream, you must have English suitable for the occupation, and the agreement may specify requirements.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Health insurance

  You must maintain adequate health cover for the whole of your intended stay; it is a visa condition to maintain adequate health insurance while in Australia.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Health requirement

  You and any secondary applicants applying for a Skills in Demand visa must meet the health requirement.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Character requirement

  You and family members aged 16 or over who apply with you must meet the character requirement.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Do not pay for sponsorship

  You and any secondary applicants must not have engaged in conduct involving paying for visa sponsorship in the past 3 years, unless the Minister considers it reasonable to disregard the conduct.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian Government debt

  If you or any family member owes the Australian Government money, it must have been repaid or arrangements made to repay it.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Australian values statement

  You and any secondary applicant aged 18 or over must agree to or sign the Australian Values Statement.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Work in the nominated role

  You must work in your nominated occupation for your sponsor or, where permitted, an associated entity, unless exempt.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Core Skills occupationSometimes needed

  For the Core Skills stream, your nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Core Skills salarySometimes needed

  For the Core Skills stream, you must be paid the Annual Market Salary Rate for the occupation and no less than the Core Skills Income Threshold. That threshold is AUD79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Specialist Skills occupationSometimes needed

  For the Specialist Skills stream, the occupation must be in Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations major group 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Specialist Skills salarySometimes needed

  For the Specialist Skills stream, the nomination must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold. That threshold is AUD146,576 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Labour agreementSometimes needed

  For the Labour Agreement stream, your employer must have a labour agreement with the Australian Government in effect.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Skills assessment if requiredSometimes needed

  Some applicants must undergo a mandatory skills assessment. Where required, it must have been undertaken or commenced within the 3 years immediately before the visa application and must be commenced before the application is submitted.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Registration if requiredSometimes needed

  Where relevant, you must provide evidence that you hold, or will be able to meet, the Australian registration or licensing requirements for the place where you will work. Medical practitioners must provide evidence that the relevant medical board has recognised their qualifications and that they have, or will be given, medical registration.

  immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource

• Main applicant visa application chargeimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$4,015 per person
• Additional applicant aged 18 or overimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$4,015 per family member
• Additional applicant under 18immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$1,005 per family member
• Employer-paid nomination chargeimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$330 once
• Employer-paid Skilling Australians Fund levy: business with annual turnover below AUD10 million, for each year or part-year nominatedimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$1,200 a year
• Employer-paid Skilling Australians Fund levy: business with annual turnover of AUD10 million or more, for each year or part-year nominatedimmi.homeaffairs.gov.au · checked 4 days agoSource$1,800 a year

1. Get ready

   • Arrange an employer nomination

     Have your prospective employer lodge a nomination for the position and obtain its transaction reference number for your visa application.

     You’ll need: Nomination transaction reference number

   • Check your travel document

     Check that you have a valid passport or other travel document and renew it before applying if needed.

     You’ll need: Valid passport or other travel document

   • Arrange a skills assessment if required

     If a mandatory skills assessment applies to you, commence it before submitting the visa application.

     You’ll need: Skills assessment reference number, if required, Evidence of an assessment exemption, if claimed

   • Prepare your English evidence

     Take an accepted English test before applying if you need one, or prepare evidence that an exemption applies.

     You’ll need: English test result or evidence of an exemption

   • Gather your supporting documents

     Prepare evidence of identity, relevant skills and experience, health insurance, and any required health and character information.

     You’ll need: Passport identity pages, Relevant qualification certificates, Employment references, Curriculum vitae or resumé, Evidence of adequate health insurance, Required police certificates

2. Apply

   • Apply online and pay

     Use ImmiAccount to submit the visa application, attach the documents and pay the application charge.

     You’ll need: Nomination transaction reference number, Supporting documents, Payment

   • Respond to requests

     After applying, respond if the Department asks for more information.

     You’ll need: Any additional information requested

3. Visa

   • Check your visa grant

     If granted, read the grant notification and check the digitally linked visa and its conditions through VEVO.

     You’ll need: Visa grant notification letter, Passport

4. Settle in

   • Start your nominated job

     When you arrive

     If granted the visa while outside Australia, begin employment within 90 days of entering Australia and follow your visa’s work conditions.

     You’ll need: Visa grant notification letter

If eligible, a holder may apply for permanent residence; an employer may be able to sponsor them through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).

• Salary requirements to nominate a worker immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/gl…Official
• Cost of sponsoring immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• English proficiency (subclass 482) immi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial
• Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482) Core Skills streamimmi.homeaffairs.gov.auOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.