For sponsored workers · Subclass 482
The 482 Skills in Demand visa, for people who work with their hands.
The 482 is the temporary sponsored visa most tradespeople start on. It lets you work for the business that sponsors you for up to four years, and it is the usual first step to permanent residence through the 186. Here is how it works for trades, in plain English.
The basics
Three streams, one that matters for trades.
The 482 has three streams: Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement. The Specialist Skills stream excludes trades and technician occupations, so almost every tradesperson is nominated under the Core Skills stream. That stream has two gates: the occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List, and the salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold.
What the Core Skills stream asks of you
| Occupation | On the Core Skills Occupation List. Trades commonly listed include Carpenter, Joiner, Bricklayer, Plasterer (Wall and Ceiling), Painter, Wall and Floor Tiler, Plumber (General), Electrician (General), Metal Fabricator, Welder (First Class), Fitter (General), Motor Mechanic (General), Panelbeater, Chef and Cook. List current as at 7 November 2025; confirmed on the day for your matter. |
|---|---|
| Salary | Guaranteed annual earnings at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold, and at least the market rate for the role. Threshold from 1 July 2026: $79,423, indexed each July. |
| Experience | At least 12 months full-time (or equivalent) in the occupation or a related field within the previous five years. |
| Skills assessment | Required for some trade occupations where you hold a passport from a listed country, unless exempt. Assessed by Trades Recognition Australia. |
| English | Set scores in each component of an approved test, or an exemption. See English for trades. |
| Health and character | Medical examinations and police certificates as required. |
| Visa length | Up to four years, matching the period proposed in the nomination. Holders of some Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passports can be granted five. |
Chef and cook: a special note
Chef and Cook are both listed, but with conditions: the position cannot be in a limited-service restaurant or involve mass production in a factory setting. Many hospitality refusals turn on this. The venue, the menu and the role all matter.
Processing priority for construction
Under Ministerial Direction 121 (effective 19 September 2026), 482 applications relating to the construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing and resources sectors, or to Australia’s law enforcement and defence interests, sit in the first priority group. Specialist Skills stream applications come next, then applicants who were in Australia when they applied, then offshore applicants, then everyone else. That helps construction employers and their workers, but it rewards complete files; an incomplete application loses the benefit.
What we do before lodging a 482. Match the duties to the right listed occupation (not the title). Check the salary against the threshold and the market rate. Confirm whether a skills assessment is required for your passport and occupation. Check your English result against the current scores. Then sequence the sponsor, nomination and visa applications so none waits on another.
Google reviews
482 clients on how their matters were run.
Dhanesh M.I am extremely grateful to Solve Migration for their excellent support throughout my 482 visa application process. … They were always available to answer my questions, provided clear advice, and kept me informed throughout every stage of the process.
Cathness D.Solve Migration helped me with my 482 visa. My case was pretty complicated and honestly seemed impossible to get approved, but my case manager Shabna did such an amazing job! She was super helpful and supportive all throughout, and now my visa has been granted!
Lucas K.Pia was knowledgeable, approachable, and always went the extra mile to ensure I understood every step. She made a complex process feel straightforward and manageable. Any questions I had were answered promptly and clearly, and her attention to detail gave me complete confidence that my application was in safe hands.
Reviews are of Solve Migration, the firm behind Trade Visa, and are shown as written by clients on Google. Rating as at 18 October 2026. Every matter is different and no outcome is guaranteed. Read all reviews on Google.
FAQ
Common questions
General information only. Figures change: we confirm the current rule for your matter in your SolvePlan.
Which stream do tradespeople use?
The Core Skills stream. The Specialist Skills stream excludes trades and technician occupations, so for carpenters, electricians, chefs, mechanics and fabricators the question is whether the occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List and whether the salary meets the Core Skills Income Threshold.
Does my employer have to pay me a minimum salary?
Yes. The guaranteed annual earnings must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold or the market rate for the role, whichever is higher. The threshold is indexed every July. From 1 July 2026 it is $79,423.
How much work experience do I need?
At least 12 months of full-time work (or the equivalent) in the occupation or a related field, within the five years before you apply. The experience has to be shown, not stated: payslips, references, contracts, tax records.
Do I need a skills assessment?
It depends on your occupation and the passport you hold. For some trade occupations, applicants from listed countries must hold a current skills assessment from Trades Recognition Australia before the visa can be granted, unless an exemption applies. See Skills recognition.
What happens if I lose my job?
Your visa does not end immediately. You can stop working for your sponsor for up to 180 consecutive days at a time, and no more than 365 days in total across the visa. In that window you can be out of work, or work for another employer, including in a different occupation, while you look for a new sponsor or prepare to leave Australia. Get advice before you resign or accept another offer.
Can this lead to permanent residence?
Yes, through the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream after at least two years working in your occupation on the 482, or through the 186 Direct Entry stream if you already meet its requirements.
Ready to check your 482?
A SolvePlan settles the occupation, the salary, the experience and the English in one session, and sets out the order of applications in writing.