Subclass 482 vs 186: Temporary vs Permanent Employer-Sponsored Visa

The subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) and subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) are Australia's two main employer-sponsored visa pathways. One is temporary, the other is permanent. The 482 costs from AUD4,015 for the main applicant; the 186 costs AUD6,140 for the main applicant. But the real difference? The 482 can be your stepping stone to the 186 — or you can skip straight to the 186 if you qualify.

Understanding which visa fits your situation can save you years of waiting and thousands of dollars in unnecessary applications. Let's break down the comparison.

Quick Comparison Table

Understanding the 482 (Skills in Demand) Visa

The subclass 482 replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage visa and was restructured under the Skills in Demand (SID) framework from December 2024. It's a temporary work visa that lets you work for your sponsoring employer for up to 4 years.

Core Skills Stream

• Salary threshold: AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026) per year
• Occupation list: Must be on the Core Skills Occupation List
• Skills assessment: Required only for some occupations (Trades Recognition Australia or VETASSESS)
• Duration: Up to 4 years
• PR pathway: Yes, via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the 186 after 2+ years

Specialist Skills Stream

• Salary threshold: AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026) per year
• Occupation list: Any ANZSCO occupation in Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 (not Major Groups 3, 7 or 8)
• Skills assessment: Only if your occupation requires one
• Duration: Up to 4 years
• PR pathway: Yes, via TRT stream of the 186 after 2+ years

Labour Agreement Stream

• For: Specific industries or regions with Labour Agreements
• Terms: Set by the individual agreement
• PR pathway: Your employer may be able to sponsor you for the 186, depending on the agreement

The Specialist Skills stream is particularly attractive for high-earning professionals. If your salary is at or above AUD146,576 (from 1 July 2026), you're not restricted to a specific occupation list. Any ANZSCO occupation in Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 qualifies; trades, machinery operators and labourers do not. This opens doors for professionals in niche fields that don't appear on standard occupation lists.

Understanding the 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) Visa

The subclass 186 grants permanent residency from day one. You get full Medicare access, unrestricted work rights (once granted, you're not tied to any employer), and the right to live in Australia indefinitely.

Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) Stream

This is the most common pathway from 482 to permanent residency:

• Requirement: Usually 2+ years of full-time work for an approved sponsor while holding a 482 (or 457) visa, in the 3 years before you apply
• Skills assessment: Not required at the time of application (Home Affairs can still ask for one)
• Age limit: Under 45 (with exemptions)
• Salary threshold: Must meet the current threshold
• Cost: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
• Processing: 50% of applications processed within 21 months and 90% within 25 months

The TRT stream rewards loyalty and stability. You've proven you can work in Australia, your employer wants to keep you, and the transition to PR is relatively straightforward.

Direct Entry Stream

For applicants who haven't held a 482 or want to skip the temporary visa stage entirely:

• Skills assessment: Required (positive assessment from relevant body)
• Age limit: Under 45 (with exemptions)
• Nomination: Employer must nominate you
• Salary threshold: Must meet the annual market salary rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold, AUD79,423 (from 1 July 2026)
• Cost: AUD6,140 for the main applicant
• Processing: 50% of applications processed within 21 months and 90% within 25 months

Direct Entry suits people who are already in Australia on other visas (e.g., student visa graduates) or offshore applicants whose employers want to hire them permanently from the start.

Labour Agreement Stream

Similar to the 482 Labour Agreement stream, but for permanent residence. Terms are dictated by the specific Labour Agreement between the employer (or industry) and the Australian Government.

The 482 to 186 Pathway: How It Works

The most common employer-sponsored immigration journey looks like this:

1. Employer becomes an approved sponsor (Standard Business Sponsorship)
2. Employer nominates you for a specific position
3. You apply for the 482 visa (from AUD4,015 for the main applicant)
4. You work full-time for 2+ years for an approved sponsor
5. Employer nominates you again for the 186 TRT stream
6. You apply for the 186 visa (AUD6,140 for the main applicant)
7. PR granted — you're now a permanent resident

Total cost to you: AUD $4,015 + $6,140 = AUD $10,155 in visa fees alone (plus skills assessment, health checks, English tests, and any agent fees)

Total timeline: About 4 to 5 years from initial 482 application to 186 PR grant at current processing times

Can You Switch Employers During This Process?

On a 482 visa, you can change employers. Your new employer must be an approved sponsor and nominate you. The 2-year clock does not reset: the law counts full-time work for any approved sponsor while you held a 482 or 457, within the 3 years before you apply for the 186.

If you've already done 18 months with your first employer and switch, those 18 months still count, as long as they fall within that 3-year window. Your new employer must be the one that nominates you for the 186.

When to Go Direct to 186

Skipping the 482 makes sense in certain situations:

You Qualify for Direct Entry

If your employer is willing to nominate you directly for the 186, and you meet the Direct Entry requirements (skills assessment, age, salary), there's no reason to spend 2+ years on a temporary visa first. You'll save the 482 visa fee (from AUD4,015 for the main applicant) and 2 years of time.

Your Employer Offers It

Some employers — especially large corporations and healthcare organizations — routinely sponsor 186 Direct Entry because they want permanent, committed employees. If the offer is on the table, take it.

You're on Another Visa with Pathway Options

If you're on a subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate) or another visa with work rights, your employer can potentially nominate you directly for the 186 rather than going through the 482 first.

Salary Thresholds Explained

Salary thresholds are often the most confusing aspect of employer sponsorship. Here's how they work in 2026:

What Counts as "Salary"?

The salary threshold is based on guaranteed annual earnings, which includes:

• Base salary
• Guaranteed allowances and bonuses

It does not include:

• Superannuation
• Non-monetary benefits
• Discretionary bonuses
• Overtime (unless guaranteed)

If your base salary is AUD $75,000 with a guaranteed $5,000 annual allowance, your guaranteed earnings total AUD $80,000, which meets the AUD $79,423 Core Skills threshold. But if that $5,000 is a discretionary bonus, your guaranteed earnings are only $75,000, and you won't qualify.

Age Limits and Exemptions

The 186 visa has a general age limit of under 45 at the time of application. However, exemptions apply if you:

• Are nominated by an Australian university as an academic at Academic Level B, C, D or E
• Are nominated as a scientist, researcher or technical specialist at ANZSCO skill level 1 or 2 by a government science agency or an Australian university
• Are nominated under a labour agreement that sets a different age limit
• Hold a 444 or 461 visa and have worked for the nominating employer, in the nominated position, for at least 2 of the last 3 years

For the TRT stream, other exemptions are set by a legislative instrument made by the Minister; see the Home Affairs 186 page for details.

The 482 doesn't have a strict age limit for the applicant, but the sponsor obligations and the pathway to 186 mean age still matters if your long-term plan includes permanent residency.

Processing Times (2026)

These are Home Affairs processing times and they update monthly. When checked on 28 October 2026, the 482 was processed much faster than the 186, which makes sense: the 186 grants permanent residency, and Home Affairs says it is "receiving a high volume of applications" for it. Direct Entry and TRT took about the same time.

Which Visa Is Right for You?

Choose the 482 if:

• Your employer isn't ready to commit to permanent sponsorship
• You want to "test drive" life in Australia before committing
• You don't meet Direct Entry requirements (e.g., skills assessment isn't ready)
• You're under the age threshold now but want to start the process
• Your employer has Standard Business Sponsorship but hasn't done Direct Entry nominations before

Choose the 186 Direct Entry if:

• Your employer will nominate you directly
• You have a positive skills assessment already
• You're under 45 and meet all criteria
• You want permanent residency immediately
• You want Medicare access from day one
• You don't want to be tied to one employer for 2+ years

Consider the 189 Instead if:

• You don't have employer sponsorship
• You have a points score well above the 65-point minimum
• You want complete employer independence from day one
• You're in a high-demand occupation

Real Cost Comparison: 482+186 vs 186 Direct Entry

If you can go Direct Entry, the savings in both money and time are substantial. But many applicants don't have that option — their employer offers the 482 first, and the TRT pathway is the realistic route to PR.

Employer Obligations

Both visas place obligations on the sponsoring employer, which is worth understanding:

• Pay market salary: The nominated salary must be at or above the relevant threshold
• Ensure equivalent terms: Conditions must be no less favorable than for Australian workers
• Keep records: Employers must maintain records and make them available to the Department
• Pay travel costs: If sponsorship ends, the employer may need to pay reasonable travel costs for the employee to leave Australia
• Cooperate with monitoring: The Department can audit sponsors

These obligations protect you as a sponsored worker. If your employer isn't meeting them, you can report this to the Department of Home Affairs or seek advice from a migration agent or Fair Work.

FAQ

Can I change employers on a 482 visa?

Yes, but your new employer must be an approved sponsor and must nominate you. You'll receive a new 482 visa tied to the new employer. Changing employers does not reset the 2-year clock for TRT eligibility: full-time work for any approved sponsor while on a 482 counts, within the 3 years before you apply for the 186.

What happens if I'm made redundant on a 482 visa?

Home Affairs says you have up to 180 days to find a new employer or make other arrangements (such as applying for a different visa). Under condition 8607 you can only work for the business that nominated you, so you cannot start with a new employer until Home Affairs has approved the change. If you can't find new sponsorship, you may need to leave Australia or apply for a bridging visa while sorting out your options.

Is the 186 age limit strictly enforced?

The general rule is under 45 at the time of application, but exemptions exist. Academics, some scientists, some 444 or 461 visa holders, and people covered by exemptions set by legislative instrument or a labour agreement can be exempt. If you're close to 45, timing matters — lodge your application before your birthday. Consult a migration agent to check if an exemption applies to your situation.

Do I need to stay with my employer after getting the 186?

Your PR visa has no employer condition, and your work rights are unrestricted. But for the Direct Entry stream, Home Affairs says: "We expect that you will work for your nominating employer for at least 2 years if your visa is granted." You also agree to start that job within 6 months of the grant.

Can my employer withdraw their nomination after I've applied?

Yes, an employer can withdraw a nomination at any time before the visa is granted. If this happens, Home Affairs says it can't grant you the visa. This is one reason why a strong employer relationship matters throughout the sponsorship process, and why some applicants prefer the 189 independent pathway if they have sufficient points.