For Employers · Published 2026-10-05 · Updated 2026-10-05
How to Sponsor a Hotel or Hospitality Manager on a 482 Visa
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
You can sponsor a hospitality manager on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa if the role fits an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List: Hotel or Motel Manager (ANZSCO 141311), Licensed Club Manager (141411) or Accommodation and Hospitality Managers nec (141999). Your business must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor, and the salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026) and the market rate. The catch for restaurants: Cafe or Restaurant Manager (141111) is not on the Core Skills list, so a standalone restaurant or cafe needs a different route, such as the regional subclass 494 visa.
This guide covers the hospitality-manager specifics. For the full employer process, see our pillar guide on how to sponsor an overseas worker on a 482 visa. For kitchen roles, see how to sponsor a chef and how to sponsor a cook.
Which manager occupations qualify?
| Occupation | ANZSCO | 482 Core Skills | 186 Direct Entry | Regional 494 | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel or Motel Manager (hotelier, publican, resort or duty manager) | 141311 | Yes | Yes (VETASSESS) | Yes | Not if the position predominantly involves low-skilled tasks |
| Licensed Club Manager | 141411 | Yes | Yes (VETASSESS) | Yes | None |
| Accommodation and Hospitality Managers nec (e.g. reception centre, hostel, guest house, backpackers, casino duty manager) | 141999 | Yes | Yes (VETASSESS) | Yes | None |
| Cafe or Restaurant Manager (food and beverage manager, restaurateur) | 141111 | No | No | Yes | n/a |
The nominated occupation has to match the tasks the person will actually perform under the ANZSCO description. A hotel’s general manager is 141311. A restaurant manager is 141111, even inside a larger group, and putting that role under 141999 to reach the Core Skills list is a mismatch that invites refusal.
The hotel manager caveat
The legislation excludes Hotel or Motel Manager where “the position predominantly involves responsibility for low‑skilled tasks”. Home Affairs words it as excluding any position that predominantly involves responsibility for low-skilled tasks. In practice, the role should be genuinely managerial: running the property’s operations, staff, budget and service standards. A role that is mostly front desk, housekeeping or bar work with a “manager” title is the kind of position this caveat is aimed at.
What if I run a restaurant or cafe?
Because Cafe or Restaurant Manager (141111) is not on the Core Skills Occupation List, there is no 482 Core Skills or 186 Direct Entry route for it. Options to explore:
- Regional businesses: 141111 is on the occupation list for the subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa, which also leads to permanent residence through the subclass 191.
- State nomination: 141111 is on the STSOL, so a candidate may be able to apply for a 190 or 491 visa if a state or territory nominates them.
- Labour agreements: a business covered by a suitable labour agreement may be able to nominate occupations that are not on the list.
- Kitchen leadership: if the role is really running the kitchen, it may fit Chef instead, which is on the Core Skills list (with its own caveats).
What does it cost to sponsor a hospitality manager?
Employer-side government costs (indexed and subject to change):
- Standard Business Sponsorship: around $420, usually valid for around five years, with unlimited nominations.
- Nomination: around $330 per position.
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: $1,200 per year of the visa if your annual turnover is under $10 million, or $1,800 per year otherwise, paid upfront at nomination. It can never be recovered from the worker.
On salary, you must pay at least A$79,423 and the annual market salary rate for the role in your location. For reference, the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 sets a minimum annual salary of $63,617 for managerial staff in hotels (from 1 July 2026), below the threshold, and Jobs and Skills Australia reports median full-time earnings for hotel and motel managers of $1,827 a week. Use our 482 sponsorship cost calculator for the government costs.
Does the manager need a skills assessment?
For the 482, a skills assessment is not mandatory for these manager occupations, but Home Affairs can request one. VETASSESS is the assessing authority, and a positive VETASSESS assessment is required for the 186 Direct Entry stream. VETASSESS assesses Hotel or Motel Manager against a qualification at AQF Diploma level or higher plus highly relevant management employment, and says the applicant must be responsible for managing all divisions or aspects of a motel or hotel’s operations. The 482 applicant also needs at least one year of relevant work experience.
Do I have to advertise the job in Australia first?
Usually, yes. Labour market testing generally requires two advertisements, running for at least four weeks, within the four months before you lodge the nomination. If the salary is below A$96,400, the ad must show it. Some nationals are exempt under international trade obligations.
Keeping your manager long term
After at least two years of sponsored employment in the three years before applying, you can generally nominate the manager for the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream (permanent residence), in the same occupation as the most recent 482 nomination. See our subclass 186 visa guide for the full criteria.
Is this general advice?
This is general information, not personal migration advice. Occupation lists, caveats, thresholds and fees change, and the right pathway depends on your business and the candidate. Before you advertise or lodge anything, speak with a registered migration agent (LifeinAus, MARN 1795282).
Sources & last checked: verified 5 October 2026 against the Migration (Specification of Occupations—Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2024 (Hotel or Motel Manager 141311 with applicable circumstance 5; Licensed Club Manager 141411 and Accommodation and Hospitality Managers nec 141999 with none; Cafe or Restaurant Manager 141111 not listed), the Subclass 186 occupations instrument (assessing authority VETASSESS), the 494 occupations instrument, the skilled occupation lists instrument (STSOL), the Department of Home Affairs salary requirements and labour market testing pages, VETASSESS, the Fair Work Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020 and Jobs and Skills Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sponsor a hospitality manager on a 482 visa?
Yes, if the role matches an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List. Hotel or Motel Manager (ANZSCO 141311), Licensed Club Manager (141411) and Accommodation and Hospitality Managers nec (141999) are all on the list. Hotel or Motel Manager carries one caveat: it cannot be used for a position that predominantly involves responsibility for low-skilled tasks. The salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026) and the market rate.
Can I sponsor a restaurant or cafe manager on a 482 visa?
Not under the Core Skills stream. Cafe or Restaurant Manager (ANZSCO 141111) is not on the Core Skills Occupation List and is not listed for the 186 Direct Entry stream. Routes that can work include the regional subclass 494 visa (141111 is on its occupation list), state or territory nomination for a 190 or 491 visa, or a labour agreement if one covers your business. Relabelling a restaurant manager as a different occupation to fit the list is a refusal risk, because the nominated occupation must match the actual duties.
Does a hospitality manager need a skills assessment?
For the 482, a skills assessment is not mandatory for these manager occupations, but Home Affairs can ask for one. VETASSESS is the assessing authority, and a positive VETASSESS assessment is required for the 186 Direct Entry stream. VETASSESS expects a Hotel or Motel Manager to be responsible for managing all divisions or aspects of a hotel or motel's operations.
What does the low-skilled-tasks caveat mean for a hotel manager?
The legislation says Hotel or Motel Manager does not apply if 'the position predominantly involves responsibility for low-skilled tasks'. A genuine manager running the property, its staff and its budget fits; a role that is mostly front desk, housekeeping or bar service with a manager title does not.
Can a sponsored hotel manager get permanent residence?
Usually yes. After at least two years of sponsored employment in the three years before applying, the employer can generally nominate the manager for the subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream, in the same occupation. Hotel or Motel Manager and Accommodation and Hospitality Managers nec are also listed for 186 Direct Entry (with a VETASSESS assessment) and the regional 494 visa.
Other occupations you can sponsor
Employer guides for the roles we're asked about most: list status, caveats, skills assessment, salary and costs for each.
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