Australia · Work
Australia Skills in Demand · Labour deal
First stay: 4 yrs
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) - Labour Agreement stream
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Skills in Demand · Labour deal is a work route for Australia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- AUD 4,015 ≈ $2,790 · +3 more
- First stay
- 4 yrs
Cost, time and long term
Government feesAUD 4,015 ≈ $2,790 · +3 more
- AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790)Base application charge, main applicant.
- AUD 3,290 (≈ $2,290)Base application charge for a primary applicant holding a Pacific-regional passport (concession from 1 July 2026).
- AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790)Additional applicant charge for each family member aged 18 or over.
- AUD 1,005 (≈ $700)Additional applicant charge for each family member under 18.
Permanent residenceAfter 2 years of residence
Holders can move to the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream if, in the 3 years before applying, they held a 482 or 457 visa for at least 2 years and worked full time for an approved sponsor in that occupation for at least 2 years.
CitizenshipAfter 4 years of residence
Citizenship by conferral needs 4 years lawfully in Australia, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, with no more than 12 months' total absence in the 4 years and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
You can be inside or outside Australia when the visa is granted, as long as you are not in immigration clearance.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Australia
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The nominated occupation is covered by a labour agreement between the Commonwealth and the employer.
- The applicant has at least 12 months of relevant full-time work in the last 5 years unless the agreement says otherwise.
- The employer nominates the applicant.
- The applicant meets the English level in the labour agreement; the 482 level applies unless a concession is given.
What you must show1
- The base application charge is AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790) for the main applicant.
Documents1
- Adequate health insurance is held for the whole stay.
Steps1
- The employer's nomination is lodged and approved before or with the visa application.
After you arrive1
- The holder works for the sponsor and can study without government assistance.
When you become tax resident
How Australia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 4 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
Residence is determined by the resides, domicile, 183-day and Commonwealth superannuation tests.
- Foreign-source income
Temporary residents
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
- Special regime
Temporary resident exemption · Tax relief
All tax rules for Australia Tax records checked
Full official text
Temporary work visa for workers recruited by an employer that is party to a labour agreement with the Australian Government. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790) · Base application charge, main applicant. 2
- A fee of AUD 3,290 (≈ $2,290) · Base application charge for a primary applicant holding a Pacific-regional passport (concession from 1 July 2026). 2 1
- A fee of AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790) · Additional applicant charge for each family member aged 18 or over. 2
- A fee of AUD 1,005 (≈ $700) · Additional applicant charge for each family member under 18. 2
Requirements
- The nominated occupation is covered by a labour agreement between the Commonwealth and the employer. 1
- The applicant has at least 12 months of relevant full-time work in the last 5 years unless the agreement says otherwise. 1
- The employer nominates the applicant. 1
- The applicant meets the English level in the labour agreement; the 482 level applies unless a concession is given. 1
- The base application charge is AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790) for the main applicant. 2
- Adequate health insurance is held for the whole stay. 1
- The employer's nomination is lodged and approved before or with the visa application. 1 2
- The holder works for the sponsor and can study without government assistance. 1
Stay
- Stay follows the period the employer nominates, up to 4 years depending on the labour agreement; Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.
- First stay: up to 48 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Open to all nationalities.
Work
Work for the sponsoring employer for the stay period; study is allowed without government assistance.
Family
Partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants; each pays the additional applicant charge.
Official sources
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): Labour Agreement stream · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-07-01
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Skills in Demand · Labour deal and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand · Labour deal | – | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Employer Nomination 186 | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | – | – |
| Employer Regional 494 | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | 5 yr | Limited |
| Skills in Demand · Core | Needs income of AUD 79k+ a year ≈ $55k | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Skills in Demand · Specialist | Needs income of AUD 147k+ a year ≈ $102k | 4 yr, renewable | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Skills in Demand · Labour deal?
A fee of AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790). Base application charge, main applicant. A fee of AUD 3,290 (≈ $2,290). Base application charge for a primary applicant holding a Pacific-regional passport (concession from 1 July 2026). A fee of AUD 4,015 (≈ $2,790). Additional applicant charge for each family member aged 18 or over. A fee of AUD 1,005 (≈ $700). Additional applicant charge for each family member under 18.
How long can I stay on the Skills in Demand · Labour deal?
Stay follows the period the employer nominates, up to 4 years depending on the labour agreement; Hong Kong passport holders may stay up to 5 years.
Can I work on the Skills in Demand · Labour deal?
Yes. Work for the sponsoring employer for the stay period; study is allowed without government assistance.
Can I bring my family on the Skills in Demand · Labour deal?
Partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants; each pays the additional applicant charge.
Does the Skills in Demand · Labour deal lead to permanent residence in Australia?
Time on the Skills in Demand · Labour deal counts toward permanent residence in Australia, which the rules allow after 2 years of residence. Time on the Skills in Demand · Labour deal counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 4 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Skills in Demand · Labour deal holders in Australia?
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income: Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Temporary resident exemption for most foreign-source income
Tax relief
Details
- On: Most foreign-source income (exempt)
- Who: Hold a temporary visa
Temporary residents who are Australian tax residents generally do not pay Australian tax on most foreign-source income; Australian-source income stays taxable.
Taxed on
Most foreign-source income (exempt); Australian-source income and capital gains on taxable Australian property remain taxable.
Who it applies to
- Hold a temporary visa.
- Neither the individual nor their spouse (if any) is an Australian resident under the Social Security Act 1991 (not an Australian citizen, permanent resident or protected Special Category visa holder).
Exclusions
- Income from employment or services performed overseas while a temporary resident can still be taxed in Australia, depending on facts and any tax treaty.
- Not available to someone who has at any time after 6 April 2006 been an Australian resident without a temporary visa and with an Australian-resident spouse.
Tax residence
A temporary resident can be an Australian resident or a foreign resident for tax purposes; the four statutory residency tests (resides, domicile, 183-day, Commonwealth superannuation) decide residence separately.
Visas
Requires a temporary visa; no particular subclass carries the exemption itself.
Other taxes
Foreign tax paid on income declared may qualify for a foreign-source income tax offset; foreign-source income and deductions are converted to AUD.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Australia
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): Labour Agreement stream · Department of Home Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- Migration Regulations 1994 (compilation current at 1 July 2026): Part 1 definitions, Schedule 1 visa application charges · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 (points system notes: pass marks set by ministerial instrument under section 96) · Federal Register of Legislation · checked 2026-10-10
- Australian Citizenship Act 2007, section 22 (general residence requirement) · Federal Register of Legislation, Australian Government · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.