How much does a 482 (Skills in Demand) visa cost in 2025?
The visa fees for a Skills in Demand Visa (subclass 482) vary depending on the stream you apply under and have been updated recently.
From 1 July 2025, the visa application charges (VACs) are:
- $3,210 for the main applicant,
- $3,210 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over, and
- $805 for each applicant under 18.
Fees index every 1 July.
If you apply in Australia and you’ve previously applied onshore for certain temporary visas, you may also pay the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (STAC) of $700 per person. If you apply outside Australia, STAC doesn’t apply.
Streams have changed. The 482 is now the Skills in Demand visa with three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement.
Employer costs (separate to the visa charge)
- Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS): $420 (one-off, typically valid 5 years).
- Nomination charge: $330 for each position you nominate.
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy:
- Turnover < $10m: $1,200 per visa year
- Turnover ≥ $10m: $1,800 per visa year
The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy is paid up-front at nomination and can’t be passed on to the worker. $1,200 per visa year if your annual turnover is under $10m, or $1,800 per visa year if turnover is $10m+.
Example: a small business (turnover < $10m) nominating a worker for 2 years pays $330 + (2 × $1,200) = $2,730 at nomination, plus the $420 SBS if they’re not already an approved sponsor.
Note: There may be a payment surcharge if you pay by Card or PayPal payments in ImmiAccount, current rates are published by Home Affairs.
SID 482 visa fees
From 1 July 2025 the fees are the same across all streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement.
- Primary applicant: AUD $3,210
- Additional applicant 18+: AUD $3,210
- Additional applicant <18: AUD $805
Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (STAC)
If the subclass 482 SID visa is lodged in Australia, an additional fee called a subsequent temporary application charge of $700 may be payable (for each applicant).
Note that the subsequent temporary application charge is not payable if the SID visa application is lodged outside Australia.
In addition to the above SID 482 Visa Fees, there are costs associated with:
- Applying to become an approved business sponsor – this is an application made to the Department of Home Affairs by the Australian business to obtain the sponsor status; this status allows the business to sponsor the overseas skilled professional under 482 visa or 494 visa
- Nominate the employee for a position within the business in line with a designated ANZSCO code
How to sponsor an employee for a 482 visa
Sponsoring under the 482 is still a three-step path:
Become (or be) an approved sponsor → SBS application.
Nominate the role (and pay SAF + $330 nomination charge).
Lodge the visa for the worker and any dependants (pay VACs, STAC may apply if lodged onshore).
The sponsorship process is complex and it requires a lot of supporting documents. Visa Lounge Australia assists both employers and employees with their Australian work visa applications and provide migration advice on the full suite of employer-sponsored visas.
We have prepared a step-by-step 482 visa process on how to sponsor an employee for a work visa and you can read it here.
Is my employee eligible for a SID 482 (Skills in Demand) visa?
Australia’s migration laws can be quite complex and each case is different. It is highly recommended that you seek professional advice if you are interested in sponsoring an existing employee or a candidate for your business, this will save you a lot of time, stress and money in the long run.
For example, the nomination and SAF levy are usually non-refundable if a nomination is refused and while refunds may be possible this is only in limited, and often exceptional, circumstances.
Quick check — they’re likely eligible if:
- The role fits a stream: it’s on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), meets the high-salary Specialist Skills settings, or sits under a Labour Agreement.
- You’re approved to sponsor (Standard Business Sponsor) or you have a labour agreement in place.
- Pay meets the rules: at least the annual market salary rate and the stream’s threshold (CSIT/SSIT).
- Experience: most applicants need 12 months’ relevant experience in the job (usually in the last 5 years).
- English: they meet the minimum English test scores or qualify for an exemption.
- Licensing/skills: any skills assessment and registration/licensing required for the occupation is sorted.
- You’ve done labour market testing (where required) or an exemption applies.
- Full-time work: employment is full-time unless an exemption applies.
If you’re ticking most of those boxes, we can do a quick pre-assessment and confirm the right stream (Core, Specialist, or Labour Agreement) before you spend money.
Need help with your visa application?
Speak with our migration team about sponsoring overseas talent and the full cost picture of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) fees for you and your worker included.
We guide employers through Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) from eligibility to approval, then manage nominations end-to-end.
For candidates, we structure evidence, complete forms and submit decision-ready applications (no guarantees—just careful work).
For up-to-date advice on employer sponsorship, and a clear breakdown of 482 costs for both employer and employee, book a confidential consultation with a registered migration agent in Brisbane.
2 Comments
M. Mathivanan
23/03/2025 at 01:37 -Hou much fees for Australia’s e visa of sub class 482
Maddie Phillips
25/03/2025 at 02:15 -Hello, thank you for your inquiry regarding 482 visa; depends on the type of fees, professional fees or government lodgement fees; also it depends on each case and the employer/applicant profiles and circumstances; we can provide a quote after we have a proper consultation , we understand the specifics of each case and determine the eligibility for a visa, thank you.