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  • 482 Visa Fees in Melbourne 2026: Employer & Applicant Cost Guide

    • 482 Visa Fees in Melbourne 2026: Employer & Applicant Cost Guide

482 Visa Fees in Melbourne 2026: Employer & Applicant Cost Guide

By Reviewed by MARA Registered Migration Agent · Updated September 2026

Key Takeaways

  • The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa was replaced with the new Skills in Demand (SID) visa from 7 December 2024 — most people still refer to the new visa as the “482” subclass visa as it retained the same subclass number.
  • The base visa application fee for the main visa applicant is low-to-mid $3,000s (to be confirmed with reference to the official pricing table).
  • The total real cost of the program (employer sponsorship approval, nomination fees, health checks, skills assessment and/or any migration agent fees plus the cost for the Skilling Australians Fund) often ranges from $7,000 to $15,000+ depending on the stream of interest and family size.
  • The visa is valid for up to 4 years and can lead to permanent residency via the Subclass 186 visa after 2 years with the sponsoring employer.
  • Sponsorship fees, thresholds and rules are determined nationally by the Department of Home Affairs, and not by city; however, depending on the provider, there may be variations in the assistance you can expect for sponsorship.

The 482 Skills in Demand visa application fee for the primary visa (currently in the low-to-mid $3,000s — please check before relying on this) plus any other visa costs on the employer (such as Standard Business Sponsorship approval, a nomination fee and fee for the Skilling Australians Fund levy). The total cost of an employer/Applicant combined is usually $7,000 to $15,000 per person, and higher.

What is the 482 Visa (Skills in Demand Visa)?

The Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa is Australia’s primary temporary visa for the employer sponsoring a skilled visa. It came into effect on 7th December, 2024 and superseded the previous Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa which was replaced with the 457 visa, but maintained the 482 subclass number, so many people and even employers still use the old TSS subclass number.

It lets an approved Australian employer to sponsor an overseas worker to undertake a legitimate position that could not be filled by an Australian. There are three streams:

  • Core Skills stream — the most common pathway, which includes occupations from the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
  • Specialist Skills stream — for jobs that require a higher level of income (above an established income benchmark) and a less complex occupation test.
  • Labour Agreement stream — for employers who are under a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government.

The visa is normally valid for 4 years and will be a pathway to permanent residency after 2 years of full-time employment with the sponsoring employer on the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186 visa).

How Much Does the 482 Visa Cost in 2026?

Below are all the figures, which should be checked against the official Visa Pricing Estimator prior to publishing (see the draft status note above):

Cost item Who pays Approximate range (AUD)
Base visa application charge (primary applicant) Applicant ~$3,000–$4,000 (verify exact figure)
Additional applicant for family members Applicant Additional charge per dependant
Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval Employer Charged once; SBS status generally valid for 5 years
Nomination application charge Employer Charged per nominated position
Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy Employer Mandatory training contribution, varies by business size and visa length
Skills assessment (if required) Applicant Approximately $1,000–$2,800 depending on occupation and assessing authority
Health examinations Applicant Varies by clinic and family size
Police clearance certificates Applicant Varies by country
Migration agent / legal fees (optional but common) Either Varies by provider and complexity
Total realistic cost: Most sources calculate that the total realistic cost of a visa is $7,000 to

$15,000 (plus the basic visa application fee) when all the mandatory charges are added in — significantly higher than the base visa application fee alone, which is the figure that most people search for but only part of the picture.

What Additional Costs Are Involved Beyond the Visa Application Charge?

Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval

All employers must be a Standard Business Sponsor before they are able to sponsor anyone. The charge is an employer-only charge, and is typically approved for 5 years.

Nomination application charge

An employer will be approved as a sponsor and then nominate the employer-sponsored visa position to be filled (this is not included in the approval of the employer or in the visa application, but rather per nominated position).

Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy

The contribution to training was required of the sponsoring employer, and was meant to be used for training Australian workers. The amount is dependent on the size of the business (small or larger business), and the duration of the visa being sponsored (short or long term).

Skills assessment

Essential skills for various jobs, especially in a Core Skills stream. It’s worth getting ahead of the game because assessing authorities like VETASSESS usually demand a $1,000 – $2,800 and it can take 60 – 90 days to process.

Health and character requirements

Must pass health examination, and obtain police clearance certificates from any country lived in for 12 months or more within the past 10 years.

Migration agent fees

Applicants and employers will partner with a MARA registered migration agent to deal with the sponsorship, nomination and visa process, although this is not a requirement, it is preferred as the 3 processes work together and mistakes in any one stage can cause delays in the others.

Who Pays What — Employer vs Applicant?

Typically employer-paid:

  • Standard Business Sponsorship approval
  • Nomination application charge
  • Skilling Australians Fund levy

Typically applicant-paid:

  • Base visa application charge
  • Skills assessment
  • Health examinations and police checks
  • Additional applicant charges for any family members included

Often negotiated between employer and applicant:

  • Migration agent or legal fees
  • Relocation costs (not a visa fee, but frequently part of the overall conversation)

Generally, this division will be determined by a specific agreement in the employment contract, and it is best to make it clear from the beginning as to who is responsible for which cost.

Sponsoring a 482 Employee in Melbourne — What to Expect

The fees, thresholds and eligibility criteria for the 482 visa are determined nationally by the Department of Home Affairs, based on the business being located in Melbourne.The Department of Home Affairs (a Melbourne business) imposes the same government fees, thresholds and visa eligibility criteria as would a business based in Sydney or Perth. The real value of location comes with the support of the process:

Local migration agent access

Having a local migration agent registered in Melbourne by MARA (Migration Agents Registration Authority) can be beneficial to Melbourne employers as it can make it easier to meet up in person, to verify documents and to ensure ongoing compliance.

Industry concentration

Melbourne’s robust sectoral growth in occupations such as healthcare, IT, engineering and construction, has led to a higher number of employers sponsoring in occupations that are already recognised as having a nomination pathway.

Business registration and compliance

Victorian businesses still have to comply with the Standard Business Sponsorship criteria at a national level, but can ensure this covers other Victorian regulatory requirements through the assistance of a local consultant.

How Long Does the 482 Visa Take?

The speed at which the processing happens is largely dependent on the stream and if there is a need to conduct a skills assessment:

Specialist Skills Stream

Occupational list check may not be required for Specialist Skills stream, which may be able to be processed in just days after nomination.

Core Skills Stream

Core Skills stream (usually involves a skills assessment) is usually longer, and can take 6 to 14 months from start to finish from sponsorship application to visa grant, which includes SBS approval, nomination and visa processing (60-90 days to complete skills assessment alone).

One of the easiest ways to prevent needless delays is to begin the skills assessment step early; it’s often the longest of the steps.

Does the 482 Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?

Yes. Many visa holders are eligible to apply for permanent residence via the

Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa, as they are able to after 2 years of full-time employment with the sponsoring employer while holding a 482 visa. To compare the 186 visa to other points-tested visas (189, 190 and 491) see our guide to the best pathways to Australian PR.

Get Personalised 482 Visa Guidance

There are multiple moving parts and costs to sponsoring or applying for a 482 visa that aren’t always apparent from the get-go. Contact our registered migration agent in Melbourne; they can provide you with all the details you need and a realistic cost and time estimate.

Sources & Official References

Note: Please be aware that visa fees, visa pay thresholds and visa charges change periodically, usually on 1st July each year, and depend on stream and family size. The Base visa application fee (or any other fee mentioned in this article) is subject to review with the official Visa Pricing Estimator at time of publication and must be confirmed by a MARA-registered migration agent prior to this page going live.

482 visa employer sponsorship Melbourne Skills in Demand Visa Standard Business Sponsorship Subclass 186 Visa Fees
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The cost of the base visa application for the primary applicant is approximately $3,000-$5,000 (double check the current figure with the official Visa Pricing Estimator) but the total visa application cost, including employer sponsorship, visa nomination and the SAF levy, is often $7,000-$15,000 or higher.
The usual arrangement is that the employer pays for sponsorship and nomination and the SAF levy, and the applicant pays for the visa application charge, skills assessment and health/character checks — however this can be negotiated as a part of the employment contract.
It was rolled out from the 7 December 2024 and is now known as the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, but retains the same subclass 482 visa number.
No — visa fees and government charges are not city-specific but are established on a national basis. The price of local migration agent or legal assistance may vary.
This depends on the stream in which you apply: The Specialist Skills stream has nominations processed in days, while the Core Skills stream takes 6-14 months for visa processing, from sponsoring application to visa granted, if required to undertake a skills assessment.
Yes, after 2 years of being employed full-time by the sponsoring employer on the subclass 186 visa.
Yes — the employer will need to be approved by Standard Business Sponsorship which is usually for 5 years before they nominate a specific position.
While not a legal requirement, in the context of the three stages of sponsorship, nomination and visa, a migration agent registered with MARA can mitigate the risk of indefinite holding, delays and visa refusals, especially when applying for a visa as a Core Skills stream applicant that needs to be assessed for skills.