I have an employer
We review your occupation, work history and visa position together with the employer’s proposed role. Willingness to sponsor is a starting point, not confirmation of eligibility.
Discuss your role and backgroundEMPLOYER-SPONSORED VISAS · FOR INDIVIDUALS
Your experience.
Your next step.
Have an employer, or still exploring opportunities? We review your background, work history and visa plans, then explain what needs assessing and preparing.
AQYR / INDIVIDUALS01 — 03
EXPERIENCESkills & records
EMPLOYERRole & circumstances
PLANApplication preparation
EXPERIENCE + ROLE + PLANADVISORY
YOUR STARTING POINT
Have an employer, or exploring opportunities?
Different starting points need different preparation.
I am looking for an employer
Start with your background, skills and goals. Where available roles and your experience align, we can explore employer connections. An introduction, job offer, sponsorship or visa outcome cannot be guaranteed.
Share your backgroundCommon employer-sponsored pathways
482 and 186 at a glance.
Compare the main pathways before reviewing your eligibility.
SKILLS IN DEMAND · SUBCLASS 482
482 · Skills in Demand
The Skills in Demand visa allows an approved employer to sponsor a suitably skilled professional for a nominated role. It is a temporary work visa, and the employer, position and applicant’s background are assessed as part of the process.
What the assessment considers
- The employer’s business, sponsorship status and obligations.
- Whether the nominated role and its terms align with the applicable requirements.
- The applicant’s relevant skills, qualifications, work history and supporting evidence.
How we can support
We can help coordinate the employer and professional sides of the matter—from role and candidate context through pathway assessment, information gathering and application preparation. A 482 matter may also sit within a longer-term plan, which should be considered against the individual facts and current rules.
EMPLOYER NOMINATION SCHEME · SUBCLASS 186
186 · Employer Nomination Scheme
The Employer Nomination Scheme is a permanent visa pathway involving an Australian employer’s nomination. The relevant stream and requirements depend on the applicant’s background, the role and the employer’s circumstances.
Two commonly discussed streams
- Direct Entry may be relevant for a professional seeking a permanent employer-nominated pathway without relying on a prior 482-to-186 transition. Specific criteria and exemptions need individual review.
- Temporary Residence Transition is a later permanent residence pathway for eligible 482 or former 457 primary visa holders, including qualifying bridging visa situations. It requires qualifying sponsored employment; it is not a starting route without that background.
How we can support
We can help examine the nomination context, role, professional history and available evidence, and coordinate the preparation across employer and applicant. Where a matter has complications or a less straightforward history, we can assess the issues before mapping possible next steps.
Visa names, criteria and processes can change. The summaries above are general information, not individual migration advice. Check the current Department of Home Affairs information or speak with a qualified professional about your circumstances.
PATHWAY COMPARISON
Compare the pathways.
482 is temporary. 186 DE can be direct; TRT follows eligible 482 or 457 employment.
A common sequence: 482, followed by qualifying sponsored employment, then employer nomination and a separate 186 TRT application. Meeting all TRT criteria is still required; permanent residence is not automatic.
| Overview | 482 | 186 DE | 186 TRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Temporary skilled work | Permanent | Permanent |
| Starting point | An employer-sponsored role | Employer nomination and DE eligibility; no prior 482 required | Eligible 482 / former 457 primary holder, or qualifying bridging visa holder |
| Key preparation | Employer, role and applicant requirements for the relevant stream | Nomination, skills assessment unless exempt, and applicant evidence | Nomination, qualifying sponsored employment and other TRT requirements |
482 · Skills in Demand
- Visa type
- Temporary skilled work
- Starting point
- An employer-sponsored role
- Key preparation
- Employer, role and applicant requirements for the relevant stream
186 · Direct Entry
- Visa type
- Permanent
- Starting point
- Employer nomination and DE eligibility; no prior 482 required
- Key preparation
- Nomination, skills assessment unless exempt, and applicant evidence
186 · TRT
- Visa type
- Permanent
- Starting point
- Eligible 482 / former 457 primary holder, or qualifying bridging visa holder
- Key preparation
- Nomination, qualifying sponsored employment and other TRT requirements
Check indicative visa processing times
Official statistics are indicative only, not a prediction for your case or an employer nomination processing time.
PERSONAL PREPARATION
Connect your experience with the role.
Begin with an overview, not a collection of sensitive documents.
Your background and records
Occupation, qualifications, dated work history, skills-assessment or licensing information where relevant, English evidence and current visa circumstances.
Your employer and plans
If you have an employer, outline the role, location and proposed timing. If not, explain the type of work and locations you are considering so the discussion starts from realistic options.
HOW WE SUPPORT YOU
Understand the questions before applying.
Your records and the employer’s role need to be consistent.
Review your circumstances
Identify the occupation, work history, current visa position and plans, including any gaps or previous visa issues that need review.
Assess the role and pathway
Where an employer is identified, review the role and nomination context alongside your personal requirements. Discuss skills-assessment and English preparation where relevant.
Prepare and coordinate
Agree the work and document plan, coordinate with the employer and follow up on missing or inconsistent records. Subsequent visa steps need their own assessment.
APPLICANT QUESTIONS
Questions about your sponsored pathway.
Check your circumstances before choosing a pathway.
Why assess the role if the employer is willing to sponsor?
The proposed occupation, actual duties and employment terms matter alongside your background. We review them together so the preparation is based on the real role, not its title alone.
What are the main 482 Core Skills requirements?
This stream generally requires a nominated occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, suitable skills and at least one year of relevant work experience. , health and character requirements apply, with exemptions where available. Some applicants also need a skills assessment.
English scores at a glance — primary applicant
- IELTS
- At least 5.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking (Academic or General Training).
- PTE Academic
- Tests taken on or after 13 September 2025: listening 33, reading 36, writing 29 and speaking 24, each a minimum.
For earlier tests, IELTS requires overall 5.0 and each skill 5.0; PTE requires overall 36 and each skill 36. The test must normally be taken within three years before applying. Exemptions may apply; Labour Agreement requirements depend on the agreement.
The salary must satisfy the applicable market salary and income-threshold rules. We check the occupation, duties, work history and evidence together. Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams have different rules; these Core Skills criteria are not a checklist for every 482 application.
Can I apply for 186 Direct Entry without first holding 482?
Yes, if you meet the Direct Entry requirements. Applicants are generally under 45, have an eligible occupation, at least three years of relevant work experience, a suitable skills assessment before applying and . Age, skills-assessment and experience exemptions may apply in specific circumstances.
English scores at a glance — primary applicant
- IELTS
- At least 6.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking (Academic or General Training).
- PTE Academic
- Tests taken on or after 7 August 2025: listening 47, reading 48, writing 51 and speaking 54, each a minimum.
For PTE tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, each skill must be at least 50, subject to the applicable validity rules. Test results must normally be current within the three-year application window. Eligible citizenship and passport evidence can also establish Competent English; other approved tests are available.
Home Affairs: Competent English scores and accepted evidence
An eligible employer nomination, any required occupational registration, and health and character requirements also matter. We assess your evidence and the employer’s proposed role before recommending this permanent residence pathway.
Can 186 TRT be my first employer-sponsored application?
Not without the required temporary sponsorship background. You must hold 482 or former 457 as the primary applicant, or a qualifying bridging visa linked to that visa history. TRT generally requires at least two years of eligible full-time sponsored employment in Australia in the three years before applying, plus an employer nomination. Applicants are generally under 45 and need ; specified age exemptions may apply. Other criteria still apply.
English scores at a glance — primary applicant
- IELTS
- At least 6.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking (Academic or General Training).
- PTE Academic
- Tests taken on or after 7 August 2025: listening 47, reading 48, writing 51 and speaking 54, each a minimum.
For PTE tests taken on or before 6 August 2025, each skill must be at least 50, subject to the applicable validity rules. Test results must normally be current within the three-year application window. Eligible citizenship and passport evidence can also establish Competent English; other approved tests are available.
Home Affairs: Competent English scores and accepted evidence
Changing employers does not necessarily restart the qualifying period. Which employment counts depends on your visa and nomination history. We review those dates and records, together with the remaining skills, health and character requirements.
Does holding 482 mean I will automatically obtain 186?
No. A later permanent-residence pathway needs a separate assessment of the relevant stream, nomination and applicant requirements.
This is general information, not a complete eligibility assessment. Requirements and exemptions can change; use current Home Affairs guidance and advice on your circumstances.