For Employers · Published 2026-08-18
How to Sponsor an Accountant on a 482 Visa
If your firm has found the right accountant overseas — or an overseas-qualified accountant already in Australia — you can sponsor them on the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa. The process has three parts: your business must first become an approved Standard Business Sponsor, you nominate the accounting position at or above the required salary, and the accountant applies for the visa.
This is general information for employers, not personal immigration advice. Figures are as at August 2026 and are indexed and subject to change.
Which 482 stream fits an accountant?
The 482 has three streams:
- Core Skills — the usual route for accountants. The nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) — approximately $79,423 from 1 July 2026.
- Specialist Skills — no occupation list, but the salary must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of approximately $146,576 from 1 July 2026 (which changes every financial year). A senior manager, financial controller or specialist adviser paid at that level may qualify here, sidestepping the occupation-list question.
- Labour Agreement — for businesses with a negotiated agreement with the government; rarely relevant for standard accounting recruitment.
The common accounting codes are Accountant (General) ANZSCO 221111, Management Accountant 221112, Taxation Accountant 221113 and External Auditor 221213. Nominate the code that matches the actual duties of the position — a tax specialist nominated as a general accountant invites scrutiny at the nomination stage. Confirm the current classification and check that the occupation is on the CSOL for the Core Skills stream before you lodge. Our subclass 482 visa page covers the streams in more detail.
What salary do I have to offer?
Two floors apply and you must clear both: the income threshold for the stream, and the annual market salary rate — what an equivalent Australian accountant would earn in the same role and location. Benchmark honestly against what your Australian staff at the same level actually earn; a nomination pitched at the threshold when the market rate is higher will fail the salary test.
What does sponsorship cost the firm?
As at August 2026:
- Standard Business Sponsorship application: about $420 — approved sponsorship usually lasts around 5 years with unlimited nominations, so the second sponsored hire is cheaper than the first.
- Nomination fee: about $330 per nomination.
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy: $1,200 per year of the visa if your turnover is under $10 million, otherwise $1,800 per year — paid upfront at nomination, and it can never be recovered from the accountant in any form.
For the full step-by-step process — sponsorship, nomination and visa in order — see our pillar guide on how to sponsor an overseas worker on a 482.
What does the accountant need to qualify?
The visa applicant must have at least one year of relevant work experience in the last five years (full-time equivalent), hold the relevant qualification for the role, meet English language requirements, and pass health and character checks.
Can I keep the accountant long-term? (The PR pathway)
Yes — and with experienced accountants in persistent shortage, this is your strongest retention lever. After two years with you on the 482, the accountant can generally be nominated for the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream — permanent residence while they keep working for you. A defined PR pathway in the offer letter is a real differentiator when you’re competing with the big firms for the same candidate.
What are the risks and obligations?
Sponsorship carries monitoring obligations: paying the nominated salary, keeping records, notifying Home Affairs of changes, and never recovering sponsorship costs from the worker. For accounting roles, the common failure modes are a mismatched occupation code and salary evidence that doesn’t clear the market rate. Thresholds are indexed each July and settings change, so confirm current figures with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent before you budget.
Sources & last checked: verified August 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (occupation list settings). Figures are indexed and subject to change. Start with our full guide to sponsoring an overseas worker on the 482, or talk to us about your specific role.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sponsor an accountant on a 482 visa?
As at August 2026, the employer pays a Standard Business Sponsorship application fee of about $420 (usually valid for around 5 years, unlimited nominations), a nomination fee of about $330 per nomination, and the Skilling Australians Fund levy of $1,200 per year of the visa if your annual turnover is under $10 million, or $1,800 per year otherwise. The levy is paid upfront and can never be recovered from the accountant.
What salary do I have to pay a sponsored accountant?
You must pay at least the income threshold for the stream and the annual market salary rate — whichever is higher. As at August 2026 the Core Skills Income Threshold is approximately $79,423 (from 1 July 2026, indexed annually). If an equivalent Australian accountant in your firm would earn more for the same role in the same location, you must pay that higher rate.
Which occupation code do I nominate for an accountant?
The common codes are Accountant (General) ANZSCO 221111, Management Accountant 221112, Taxation Accountant 221113 and External Auditor 221213. Nominate the code that matches the actual duties of the position — a tax role nominated as a general accountant, or vice versa, invites scrutiny. Confirm the current classification and that the occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List before you lodge.
Does a sponsored accountant need a skills assessment for the 482?
No — a skills assessment is not required for the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa for accounting occupations. The accountant must still have at least one year of relevant experience in the last five years, hold the relevant qualification for the role, and meet English, health and character requirements.
Can a senior accountant qualify for the Specialist Skills stream?
Possibly. The Specialist Skills stream has no occupation list — the key requirement is a salary at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, approximately $146,576 as at August 2026, which changes every financial year. A senior manager, financial controller or specialist adviser paid at that level may fit the stream, which can simplify the occupation question. Most standard accounting roles will go through the Core Skills stream instead.
Can a sponsored accountant become a permanent resident?
Yes. After two years working for you on the 482 visa, the accountant can generally be nominated for the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream — permanent residence while they keep working in your firm. In a market where experienced accountants are hard to hold, a defined PR pathway is a genuine retention tool.