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Australia Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa Subclass 482 — Complete Guide
The Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa lets an approved Australian employer sponsor a skilled overseas worker for a temporary period — it's the visa that replaced the old 457 route, and a lot of the confusion around it comes from people assuming it still works the same way, or assuming every TSS visa leads to permanent residency. It doesn't. Which stream you're on, and which occupation list your role sits on, decides that almost entirely.
This guide walks through the three TSS streams and how differently they behave, who's eligible on both the worker and employer side, the full application process, realistic costs, processing time, and exactly which pathway actually leads to PR.
The Three TSS Streams Explained
Most guides treat the TSS visa as a single product. It isn't — and if PR is anywhere on your radar, the stream you end up on matters more than almost anything else in this process.
| Stream | Visa length | Occupation list | Leads to PR? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short-Term stream | Up to 2 years (4 years in some cases via international trade obligations) | Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL) / Core Skills Occupation List | No direct pathway — renewal possible onshore in limited cases |
| Medium-Term stream | Up to 4 years | Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) / Core Skills Occupation List | Yes — via Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) after 2–3 years |
| Labour Agreement stream | Set by the specific labour agreement | Occupations specified in the agreement | Varies by agreement, often includes a PR pathway |
Who Is Eligible?
Worker requirements
- Must have a genuine job offer from an approved Australian sponsor — either a standard business sponsor or one approved via a labour agreement
- The nominated occupation must sit on the relevant skilled occupation list for the chosen stream
- Must have at least 2 years of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a closely related field
- Must meet skill level requirements — a formal skills assessment is required for some occupations
- Must meet English language requirements — Competent English, with exemptions available for certain nationalities and qualifications
- Must meet health and character requirements
Sponsor requirements (the Australian employer)
- Must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, or hold an approved labour agreement
- Must pay at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)
- Must commit to training obligations for Australian workers via the Skilling Australians Fund levy
- Must, in most cases, complete Labour Market Testing (LMT) demonstrating no suitable Australian worker was available for the role
How to Apply — Step by Step
Secure a genuine job offer
From an Australian employer willing to sponsor you — this route depends entirely on having this in place first.
Employer becomes an approved Standard Business Sponsor
If not already approved — this is a separate application the employer must complete.
Employer completes Labour Market Testing
Where required, demonstrating the role couldn't reasonably be filled by a local worker.
Employer nominates the specific position
Confirming occupation, stream, and salary all meet requirements.
Complete a skills assessment if required
Some occupations require this before the nomination can proceed.
Gather your documents
Passport, qualifications, work experience evidence, and English test results.
Lodge the TSS visa application via ImmiAccount
Submitted online once the nomination is in place.
Pay the visa application charge
The Skilling Australians Fund levy is paid separately by the employer, not the applicant.
Undergo health and police clearance checks
Standard requirements across most Australian skilled and sponsored visas.
Track your application via ImmiAccount
While waiting for a decision.
Once granted, your visa is tied to the sponsor
Generally restricted to the sponsoring employer and the nominated occupation.
Costs and Fees
| Fee type | Amount (2026, AUD) |
|---|---|
| Visa application charge (main applicant, Short-Term) | Approx. $1,600–$1,900 |
| Visa application charge (main applicant, Medium-Term) | Approx. $3,000–$3,600 |
| Additional applicant charge (partner/dependants) | Approx. $1,000–$1,800 per person |
| Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy (paid by employer) | $1,200–$1,800 per year of visa, depending on business size |
| Skills assessment (if required) | Approx. $300–$1,000 |
| Health examination | Approx. $300–$500 per person |
| Total estimated cost — applicant side, Medium-Term, single applicant | Approx. $3,300–$4,100 |
For managing salary transfers in AUD once you're working in Australia, Wise is worth using to move money at the real exchange rate rather than through standard bank transfers.
Processing Time
| Stage | Typical timeframe |
|---|---|
| Sponsor approval (if not already approved) | 4–8 weeks |
| Nomination decision | 1–4 months |
| Visa application decision (after nomination approved) | 1–5 months, varies significantly by occupation and stream |
| Total time from job offer to visa grant | Often 4–9 months overall |
You can track progress via ImmiAccount throughout, and you may be asked for further evidence of your work experience or qualifications. Once granted, visa conditions typically restrict you to working only in the nominated occupation, with the sponsoring employer — this isn't a general work permit.
Path to Permanent Residency
This is the question most people searching for TSS visa information actually want answered, so it's worth being direct about it.
- Medium-Term stream holders can apply for the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (Temporary Residence Transition stream) after working for their sponsor for at least 2–3 years — this qualifying period has shifted in recent years, so verify the current figure before planning around it
- Short-Term stream holders generally have no direct PR pathway through this visa alone. Moving toward PR from here usually means pursuing a separate route — skilled independent visa, state nomination, or a fresh employer sponsorship under the Medium-Term or Labour Agreement stream
- Labour Agreement stream PR pathways depend entirely on the specific terms of that agreement — there's no single rule that applies across all labour agreements
Because of this split, negotiating for — or specifically confirming — a Medium-Term stream occupation is critical for anyone treating the TSS visa as a stepping stone toward Australian permanent residency rather than a purely temporary arrangement.
Common Mistakes and Problems
| Mistake | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| Accepting a Short-Term stream role assuming it leads to PR | Confirm the stream and occupation list before accepting — ask the employer directly which stream applies to your role |
| Not checking the employer's sponsor approval status before starting | Confirm the employer already holds, or is actively applying for, Standard Business Sponsor status early |
| Underestimating skills assessment timeframes | Start the assessment as early as possible, running it in parallel with job searching rather than after |
| Assuming the visa allows working for any employer | TSS visas are tied to the sponsoring employer and nominated occupation — changing employer requires a fresh nomination |
| Not confirming who pays the SAF levy and other employer costs | Get this in writing with the employer before accepting — the SAF levy is legally the employer's responsibility |
| Letting the job end without a transition plan | If employment ends, there's typically only a short period to find a new sponsor or pathway — plan ahead rather than reacting |
Frequently Asked Questions
The TSS visa (subclass 482) replaced the 457 visa and introduced the three-stream structure, stricter labour market testing requirements, and the Skilling Australians Fund levy — none of which existed under the old system.
It depends entirely on the stream. Medium-Term stream holders have a genuine pathway via Subclass 186 after 2–3 years. Short-Term stream holders generally do not have a direct pathway through this visa alone.
Not freely. The visa is tied to your specific sponsoring employer and nominated occupation, so changing employer requires a new nomination and often a new visa application.
From job offer to visa grant, the total process often takes 4–9 months, covering sponsor approval, nomination, and the visa application itself.
The employer, not the applicant. This is legally the sponsor's responsibility and should never be passed on to the worker.
Not for every occupation, but many require one. Check the specific requirement for your nominated occupation early, since assessments can take months to complete.
You typically have a short period to find a new sponsor or transition to a different visa pathway. It's worth having a plan in place before this situation arises rather than after.
Yes, eligible dependants can be included in the application, with an additional applicant charge payable for each partner or dependant.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The stream and occupation you're sponsored under matters far more than the "TSS visa" label itself — especially if permanent residency is the actual goal. Occupation lists and PR pathway requirements shift periodically, so it's worth checking immi.homeaffairs.gov.au again closer to when you accept an offer, not just when you first start researching.
Bookmark this page and confirm your exact stream and occupation with your sponsoring employer before accepting anything in writing.
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