Visa 482 does not guarantee permanent residence and requires employer sponsorship to transition to 186. You can apply for Direct Entry without waiting two years, but most employers prefer the temporary transition pathway, and changing employers does not reset the two-year count if the work was in the same position.
Direct Entry or transition pathway: when to apply
On 482 you can apply for direct entry to 186 at any time, without needing to work for two years. Direct entry requires: age under 45, a positive skills assessment, three years of relevant full-time experience (including experience gained in Australia or overseas after obtaining your qualification) and nomination for a suitable occupation from the MLTSSL list.
However, many employers prefer the transition pathway with two years of experience on 482, as they believe it contributes to employee retention. Additionally, they are often reluctant to pay the fee (SAF) for 482 and then pay it again immediately for 186. The employee can propose this option, but the final decision rests with the employer.
Skills assessment: when it is mandatory and when it is not
The requirement for skills assessment depends on the pathway and occupation. Most 482 applicants do not undergo it. It is only mandatory for certain professions and depending on citizenship: chefs, cooks, motor mechanics, electricians, carpenters, but only from certain countries. For example, a chef from India must undergo an assessment, while a chef from Italy does not. A project or programme administrator requires VET assessment regardless of passport.
For the transition pathway (482 → 186) assessment is not required, as the two-year experience on 482 already confirms competence. For Direct Entry, assessment is mandatory and must be obtained before submitting an application. Exceptions are applicants with Australian qualifications and those who already hold 482 in the same position.
Employer change: experience credit and conditions
The two years of experience for the transition pathway do not necessarily have to be spent with one employer. You can work one year with employer A, then the second year with employer B, and both years will be credited. This change resulted from a decision by the Labor government; previously two years with one employer were required.
However, there are important conditions. The work must be performed on 482 in the occupation for which the applicant was nominated. The 186 nomination must be submitted by the employer at which the applicant is working at the time of application, and that employer must have an approved nomination. If the applicant changes employers, they need a new 482 nomination from the new employer.
Minimum salary and market rate
There are two salary requirements. First is the Core Skills Income Threshold. From 1 July 2026, this is $79 423 per year, not including superannuation (which must be paid separately). Second is the market rate salary: what is paid to an Australian performing the same work in the same location.
The applicant must meet both thresholds. If the threshold income is $79 423, but the employer pays an Australian engineer in the same position $100 000, the sponsored engineer must receive $100 000. If the minimum salary is an obstacle, you can check if the occupation is available under DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement). Most DAMAs offer a discount to the threshold income: 10% or in some cases even 15%.
Employer refuses sponsorship: what to do
Visa 482 does not guarantee a path to permanent residence. After two years expire, you need to find an employer willing to nominate the applicant for 186. Employers may refuse for various reasons: unwillingness to incur additional expenses, changes in staffing needs, changes in hiring strategy.
If the current employer does not offer permanent visa sponsorship, you should start looking for other employers willing to sponsor 186. The two-year experience is not wasted: another employer can nominate the applicant for 482, and then they can apply for 186 with that employer. If the applicant has a positive skills assessment, the Direct Entry pathway can be chosen. It is important to find out early from the employer whether they intend to sponsor permanent status, so that if necessary you can start looking for alternatives.
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