The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is the main employer-sponsored temporary work visa. It replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in December 2024 and lets an approved Australian employer sponsor a skilled worker for a nominated occupation.
It runs in three streams: Core Skills for most eligible occupations, Specialist Skills for high-earning roles paying A$146,576 or more, and a Labour Agreement stream for employers with a negotiated agreement. The primary applicant visa charge is A$4,015.
Time spent working in Australia on a 482 can count towards permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), so it is often the first step on an employer-sponsored route rather than the destination.