Guides & news

• For Employers · 2026-10-05

  How to Sponsor a Carpenter on a 482 Visa (Employer Guide)

  Australian builders can sponsor a carpenter (ANZSCO 331212) or carpenter and joiner (331211) on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. Both occupations are on the Core Skills Occupation List with no caveats, so an approved sponsor can nominate the role at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026) and the market rate. A TRA skills assessment is mandatory for some passports, and the 186 visa offers a pathway to permanent residence. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• For Employers · 2026-10-05

  How to Sponsor a Cook on a 482 Visa (Employer Guide)

  Australian employers can sponsor a cook (ANZSCO 351411) on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa: Cook is on the Core Skills Occupation List, so an approved sponsor can nominate the role at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (about $79,423 from 1 July 2026) and the market rate. Home Affairs caveats apply, the cook needs at least one year of relevant experience, and a TRA skills assessment may be required. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• For Employers · 2026-10-05

  How to Sponsor a Hotel or Hospitality Manager on a 482 Visa

  Australian hotels, pubs, clubs and accommodation businesses can sponsor a 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, with a low-skilled-tasks caveat), Licensed Club Manager (141411) or Accommodation and Hospitality Managers nec (141999). Cafe or Restaurant Manager (141111) is not on the Core Skills list, so restaurants need a different route, such as the regional 494 visa. Salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026) and the market rate. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• For Employers · 2026-10-05

  How to Sponsor an Electrician on a 482 Visa (Employer Guide)

  Australian employers can sponsor an electrician (ANZSCO 341111 Electrician (General) or 341112 Special Class) on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. Both are on the Core Skills Occupation List with no caveats, so an approved sponsor can nominate the role at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026) and the market rate. Electrical work is licensed: overseas electricians usually go through TRA's skills assessment to get an Offshore Technical Skills Record, then a provisional licence and supervised work before a full state licence. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• Family & Partner Visas · 2026-09-24

  Partner visa second stage (801/100): when it happens and what to send

  Partner visa stage 2 (801 onshore, 100 offshore) opens two years after lodgement. No new application or fee — you submit updated evidence in ImmiAccount. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• Visitor Visas · 2026-09-24

  Visitor Visa 600: How Long Can You Stay in Australia?

  Visitor visa (600) stays are usually 3, 6 or 12 months per entry. Parents of Australians can get up to 5 years' validity; eligible passports up to 10 years. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• Skilled Migration · 2026-09-16

  Construction Trades PR Pathway: Carpenters, Electricians & Plumbers

  How construction tradespeople get permanent residence in Australia in 2026 — the trade skills assessment, the 189/190/491 skilled routes (trades were invited at just 65 points), employer sponsorship via 482 to 186, and the new fast-tracked trade recognition. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• Visa Refusals & Reviews · 2026-09-16

  Visa Refused? Your Appeal Options and the ART Review

  What to do if your Australian visa is refused in 2026 — the strict review deadline, how the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) works (student and some reviews are now decided on the papers), what a strong written submission needs, and the alternatives to appealing. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• For Employers · 2026-08-18

  How to Sponsor an Overseas Worker in Australia (482 Skills in Demand)

  A step-by-step guide for Australian employers on sponsoring a skilled overseas worker on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa — the three stages, what it costs, sponsor obligations, and the pathway to permanent residence. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• For Employers · 2026-08-18

  How to Sponsor a Chef on a 482 Visa (Employer Guide)

  Australian employers can sponsor a chef on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa by becoming a Standard Business Sponsor, nominating the role at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (about $79,423 from 1 July 2026) and the market rate, and having the chef apply — with a permanent residence pathway via the subclass 186 visa after two years.

• For Employers · 2026-08-18

  How to Sponsor a Motor Mechanic on a 482 Visa (Employer Guide)

  Australian dealerships and workshops can sponsor a motor mechanic on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa by becoming a Standard Business Sponsor, nominating the role at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (about $79,423 from 1 July 2026) and the market rate, and having the mechanic apply — with a permanent residence pathway via the subclass 186 visa after two years.

• For Employers · 2026-08-18

  How to Sponsor a Software Developer on a 482 Visa

  Australian employers can sponsor a software developer on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa by becoming a Standard Business Sponsor, nominating an ICT occupation at or above the income threshold and market salary, and supporting the developer's visa application — with a permanent residence pathway after two years.

• For Employers · 2026-08-18

  How to Sponsor an Accountant on a 482 Visa

  Australian accounting firms and finance teams can sponsor an accountant on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa by becoming a Standard Business Sponsor, nominating the role at or above the income threshold and market salary, and supporting the accountant's visa application — with a permanent residence pathway after two years.

• For Employers · 2026-08-18

  How to Sponsor an Engineer on a 482 Visa (Employer Guide)

  Australian employers can sponsor a civil, structural, mechanical, electrical or mining engineer on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa in three stages — sponsorship, nomination and the visa — with senior engineers often qualifying for the faster Specialist Skills stream. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• For Employers · 2026-08-18

  How to Sponsor an Early Childhood Teacher or Childcare Worker

  Australian childcare centres can sponsor overseas staff on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa — but a degree-qualified Early Childhood Teacher (ANZSCO 241111) and a Certificate III-level Child Care Worker (ANZSCO 421111) are two different occupations with different qualifications, assessing bodies and English requirements. Here is what employers need to know.

• Health · 2026-05-26

  The medical examination for your Australian visa

  What the 501 medical examination and health checks for an Australian visa involve — the tests, approved clinics, costs, the health requirement and waivers. Confirmed against the Department of Home Affairs.

• General · 2026-05-19

  Complete guide to Australian immigration in 2026

  Australia's 2026–27 permanent Migration Program is set at 185,000 places — 132,240 skilled, 52,460 family and 300 special eligibility — with 129,590 places going to people already living in Australia. Employer-sponsored places rise to 58,040 while regional 491 places fall to 14,110. This guide explains the main visa pathways in 2026 (employer-sponsored, points-tested skilled, graduate, family, student, visitor and talent), the current salary thresholds and points pass mark, and how a temporary visa leads to permanent residence and citizenship. Reviewed by a registered migration agent.

• Student · 2026-03-18 · News

  485 Temporary Graduate visa in 2026: the rules and what changed

  In 2026 the Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa gives recent graduates of Australian institutions 2 years (Bachelor or coursework Masters), 3 years (research Masters or PhD) or 18 months (vocational stream) of full work rights. Most applicants must be 35 or under, need an overall IELTS 6.5 (at least 5.5 in each band) taken in the 12 months before applying, and must apply within 6 months of completing their course while in Australia. The visa application charge rose to about A$5,750 from 1 July 2026. Here is what changed, who qualifies for each stream, and how to use the 485 as a path to permanent residence.

• For Employers · 2026-02-10 · News

  Skills in Demand visa: what changed when it replaced the TSS 482

  On 7 December 2024 the Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, keeping subclass 482. The old Short-term and Medium-term streams became Core Skills (occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, salary of at least A$79,423 from 1 July 2026) and Specialist Skills (no occupation list, salary of at least A$146,576, trades and labourer roles excluded), alongside Labour Agreement. Every stream now allows up to 4 years, needs only 1 year of relevant experience, and leads to permanent residence through the 186 after 2 years of sponsored employment. Here is a side-by-side comparison and what it means for workers and employers.