482 Visa Costs in 2026: Full Breakdown for Employers and Applicants
By Matin Amirshahi, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1685110)
Published 6 Aug 2026
The 482 visa cost from 1 July 2026 is AUD 4,015 in government fees for the main applicant, the same charge in all three streams of the Skills in Demand visa. Every current charge, for all subclasses, is on our visa fees and thresholds reference. That is only the worker’s side.
The sponsoring business pays its own fees: AUD 420 to become an approved sponsor and AUD 330 to nominate the position (the employer’s sponsorship paperwork). It also pays the Skilling Australians Fund levy: AUD 1,200 or AUD 1,800 for each year of the visa, depending on the size of the business.
One side of the split is fixed by law: the employer’s fees must be paid by the business and cannot be recovered from the worker, in any form. The full breakdown, with worked examples, is below.
What does the visa applicant pay?
The visa application charge is paid when the visa application is lodged. From 1 July 2026:
- Main applicant — AUD 4,015 (Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams alike).
- Each family member 18 or over — AUD 4,015.
- Each family member under 18 — AUD 1,005.
- Subsequent temporary application charge — AUD 700 per person, added once if you apply while already inside Australia as the holder of certain temporary visas.
These charges rose by roughly 25% on 1 July 2026; the previous main-applicant charge was AUD 3,210. Our summary of the 1 July 2026 fee increases covers what changed across the program. On top of government fees, budget for health examinations, police certificates and any skills assessment your occupation requires.
What must the employer pay?
Three separate government charges sit on the employer’s side:
- Sponsorship application — AUD 420. A one-off fee to become a standard business sponsor (approval lasts five years and covers any number of nominations while it is valid).
- Nomination — AUD 330. Paid each time the business nominates a position for a 482 worker.
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy. A training contribution paid in full when the nomination is lodged. Businesses with annual turnover under AUD 10 million pay AUD 1,200 for each year of the proposed visa; businesses at or above AUD 10 million pay AUD 1,800 per year. The levy is tax deductible.
One lever can genuinely cut the bill: the nomination period. The visa application charge is the same whatever period you choose, but the SAF levy is charged for each year of the proposed visa, so nominating three years instead of four saves AUD 1,200 to AUD 1,800 up front.
That shorter period often suits a plan for permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) transition stream, which generally opens after two years with the sponsor. A three-year visa still leaves a year of runway to lodge the 186, and current 186 processing times fit within it.
Whether that timing works in your case depends on the role and the worker’s history — confirm the pathway before shortening the period.
The nominated salary must also clear two floors: the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, and the market rate for the role (the annual market salary rate). The Specialist Skills stream threshold is AUD 146,576.
Some early reports quoted AUD 79,499, which came from a miscalculated indexation rate. The Department’s published figure is AUD 79,423.
Who is legally required to pay which fee?
The law fixes the employer’s side; the rest is up to the parties:
- The business must pay the sponsorship fee, the nomination fee and the SAF levy, and cannot recover them from the worker by deduction, reimbursement or any side arrangement. Recovering these costs breaches sponsor obligations.
- The visa application charge can be paid by either side, and this is where negotiation does play a part. Many applicants pay their own; employers competing for talent often cover it as part of the offer.
Migration agent or lawyer costs are separate again: at Arta Migration these are quoted as a fixed professional fee before work begins.
What does a typical 482 sponsorship cost in total?
Two worked examples for a four-year Core Skills stream visa, single applicant, business not yet a sponsor:
| Cost item | Small business (<$10M turnover) | Larger business ($10M+) |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship application | AUD 420 | AUD 420 |
| Nomination | AUD 330 | AUD 330 |
| SAF levy (4 years) | AUD 4,800 | AUD 7,200 |
| Employer total | AUD 5,550 | AUD 7,950 |
| Visa application charge (worker side) | AUD 4,015 | AUD 4,015 |
| Combined total | AUD 9,565 | AUD 11,965 |
Add AUD 4,015 for each accompanying family member 18 or over and AUD 1,005 for each child under 18, plus health checks and police certificates. If the application is lodged onshore from certain temporary visas, a one-off AUD 700 subsequent temporary application charge applies per person.
What should you check before paying?
If a nomination is lodged on or after 1 July 2026, budget on the new figures above. The charge that applies is the one in force when payment is made, and fees are not refunded if an application fails.
Employers planning a sponsorship should also confirm the role passes labour market testing and that the salary clears the thresholds before spending anything. Our Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa page covers the full process. Budgeting the wait as well as the cost? Our 482 visa processing time guide shows the current times for every stage.
Not sure where you stand?
Every case turns on its facts, and fees paid on a failed application are generally not refunded. Request an eligibility call and a registered migration agent will give you a clear read on your options and the exact figures for your situation.
