Processing times · Subclass 482
How long does the subclass 482 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) applications (Core Skills stream) were finalised within 8 months, and 90% within 9 months. The 482 has 3 streams with different times, listed below. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 482 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour Agreement | 7 months | 10 months | 7 months |
| Core Skills | 8 months | 9 months | 8 months |
| Specialist Skills | 72 days | 3 months | 51 days |
Employer stages: sponsorship and nomination
For the 482 the employer's applications are processed separately from the worker's visa, and the visa cannot be granted until the nomination is approved. Lodging the nomination and visa together where possible keeps them moving in parallel.
| Employer stage | 75% of applications | 90% of applications |
|---|---|---|
| Nomination | 7 months | 9 months |
| Sponsorship | 56 days | 4 months |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 482
How the application moves
- The employer applies to become a standard business sponsor (or already holds sponsorship), then lodges the nomination for the position, including labour market testing where required and the Skilling Australians Fund levy.
- The worker lodges the visa, ideally the same day as the nomination; the Specialist Skills stream is assessed on a faster track than Core Skills.
- Health, character and English are verified and the sponsorship, nomination and visa are decided in that order.
What most often slows a 482 application
- Sponsorship, nomination and visa lodged one after another instead of together, so each stage waits for the last.
- Labour market testing evidence that does not meet the advertising rules, or a salary below the market rate for the role.
- Occupations outside the priority sectors of the ministerial direction in force, and applicants outside Australia, who are decided later in the queue.
- Skills assessments or licensing evidence required for the occupation but not attached at lodgement.
What to have ready before lodging
- Employer: the advertising record for labour market testing, the position description, salary evidence and the levy payment.
- Worker: passport, qualifications, employment references, English test result, any required skills assessment or registration, and police certificates.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Sponsoring a worker on the 482? Your next step
The visa can't be granted until the employer's nomination is approved, so the employer's applications need to be lodged first or alongside it. Home Affairs reports 75% of 482 nominations decided within 7 months, alongside the visa times above. Before you lodge, check which stream fits, what the business pays and what to have ready. The first 15-minute call with Moran is free.
- How to sponsor an overseas worker on a 482, step by step
- What the employer pays for a 482: sponsorship, nomination and SAF levy
- 482 sponsorship cost calculator
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 482 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) applications in the Core Skills stream were finalised within 8 months and 90% within 9 months, as at 2 November 2026. Other streams differ; see the table on this page.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 482 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 482. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and falling within the priority sectors set by the current ministerial direction.
Are the employer's sponsorship and nomination included in the 482 processing time?
No. Home Affairs reports the employer's nomination and sponsorship separately (see the table), and the visa cannot be granted until the nomination is approved. Lodging the nomination and the visa application together where possible avoids the stages being processed one after another.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa (Subclass 186): processing times · fees
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (Subclass 494): processing times · fees
- Training visa (Subclass 407): processing times · fees
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408): processing times · fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 482 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: 482 Skills in Demand Visa 2026: Streams, Salary & PR. General information only, not migration advice.