CWmigration Advisor

Visa Comparison

Both are employer-sponsored. The 482 is a temporary work visa of up to 4 years; the 186 is permanent residency. Most pathways start with one and end with the other.

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Quick Verdict

Choose the 482 if you're new to your sponsor: it's faster to grant, less onerous for the employer, and serves as a stepping-stone. Choose the 186 directly if you have at least 2 years working full-time for the same sponsor (Temporary Residence Transition stream) or if you meet the Direct Entry skills assessment and work experience requirement.

Side-by-Side

Specifications Compared

Key differences are highlighted in red. All fees in AUD; processing times reflect Department of Home Affairs published medians.

Visa TypeKey diff

Subclass 482

Temporary: up to 4 years

Subclass 186

Permanent Residency (from grant)

StreamsKey diff

Subclass 482

Core Skills · Specialist Skills · Labour Agreement

Subclass 186

Direct Entry · Temporary Residence Transition · Labour Agreement

Occupation ListKey diff

Subclass 482

Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)

Subclass 186

Direct Entry: CSOL · TRT: any nominated occupation

Employer RequirementsKey diff

Subclass 482

SBS sponsorship + nomination + position

Subclass 186

SBS sponsorship + nomination of a permanent role

Work Experience Required

Subclass 482

2 years post-qualification (occupation-relevant)

Subclass 186

Direct Entry: 3 years · TRT: 2 yrs on 482 with sponsor

Skills AssessmentKey diff

Subclass 482

Mandatory for many occupations

Subclass 186

Direct Entry: mandatory · TRT: not required for most

English Requirement

Subclass 482

IELTS 5.0 each band (Core); 6.0 (Specialist)

Subclass 186

IELTS 6.0 each band (or equivalent)

Government Fee (primary)

Subclass 482

AUD $4,015

Subclass 186

AUD $6,140

SAF Levy (employer)Key diff

Subclass 482

$1,200/yr (small biz) or $1,800/yr (large)

Subclass 186

$3,000 (small biz) or $5,000 (large): one-off

Processing Time (75%)

Subclass 482

50–70 days

Subclass 186

Direct Entry: 9–14 months · TRT: 6–12 months

Work RightsKey diff

Subclass 482

Sponsoring employer only (28-day rule for changes)

Subclass 186

Unrestricted, work for any employer

Path to Permanent ResidencyKey diff

Subclass 482

Via 186 TRT after 2 years (Core/Specialist Skills)

Subclass 186

Immediate PR on grant

Family Inclusion

Subclass 482

Partner + dependent children, full work/study rights

Subclass 186

Partner + dependent children, full work/study rights

Decision Framework

Which One Fits You?

482

Choose 482 if…

  • You're new to your sponsoring employer or haven't worked for them yet.
  • Your employer wants to test the relationship before committing to PR sponsorship.
  • You need to be in Australia quickly. 482 Processing is materially faster.
  • You'd prefer lower upfront fees (482 is roughly 1/3 the cost of 186).
  • You expect to switch employers within the first 2 years and don't want PR ties.
186

Choose 186 if…

  • You've held a 482 with the same sponsor for 2+ years (Temporary Residence Transition).
  • You have 3+ years post-qualification overseas experience and a positive skills assessment (Direct Entry).
  • You want permanent residency immediately: no provisional waiting period.
  • You want freedom to change employers in future without re-applying.
  • You're ready to commit to the sponsor long-term and want full PR benefits.

Real Scenarios

Three People, Three Choices

Composite profiles drawn from CWmigration Advisor client cases. Names changed, circumstances preserved.

Ben — New Hire, UK Architect

Age 32 · 7 yrs experience · just received Sydney job offer

Ben has been offered a position at a Sydney architectural firm. He hasn't worked for them yet and the firm wants to start him quickly. Architect is on the CSOL with a 4-year 482 stream.

Best fit

Subclass 482

Direct 186 isn't realistic: the employer wants to evaluate Ben before committing to permanent sponsorship, and processing would delay his start by 9+ months. 482 gets him in within 8 weeks. After 2 years he transitions to 186 via TRT.

Sara: 3-Year 482 Holder

Age 35 · Mechanical Engineer · 3 yrs at current sponsor

Sara has been on a 482 with her engineering firm since 2023 and has consistently worked full-time. Her sponsor wants to retain her permanently and she meets the income threshold.

Best fit

Subclass 186 (TRT)

The Temporary Residence Transition stream is purpose-built for Sara. After 2 years on her 482 with the same sponsor, she qualifies. No skills re-assessment needed for most occupations, and she gets PR with full work rights.

Raj — Senior Career Mover

Age 40 · IT Manager · 12 yrs overseas experience · Australian job offer

Raj has been an IT manager in Singapore for 12 years. A Melbourne fintech wants to hire him for a senior role. He's senior enough that the employer is prepared to sponsor him for PR directly.

Best fit

Subclass 186 (Direct Entry)

Raj has the 3+ years of post-qualification experience and a positive ACS skills assessment. Direct Entry gives him PR on arrival: no 2-year 482 detour. The employer pays the larger SAF levy but gains a permanent senior hire.

Traps to Avoid

Common Mistakes When Choosing

The pitfalls we see week after week. Costly, avoidable, often invisible until grant is delayed or refused.

Switching employers on a 482 without lodging a new nomination within 60 days: your visa is cancelled and any PR progress on the TRT pathway is reset.

Underestimating the SAF levy: for the Direct Entry 186 it's $3,000–$5,000 paid as a one-off. Some employers expect the candidate to reimburse it (this is unlawful but happens).

Assuming TRT requires 4 years of 482. The threshold dropped to 2 years in 2024. Many applicants still wait unnecessarily.

Assuming every 482 role leads to PR. Under the Skills in Demand visa the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams can lead to 186 via TRT after 2 years, but eligibility depends on your occupation, salary and stream, so confirm the pathway before you commit.

Failing the Direct Entry English requirement — IELTS 6.0 in each band is strict. Many engineers and IT pros score 6.5 average but 5.5 in writing, which disqualifies.

Letting the sponsor lapse during 482 holding. If the employer loses Standard Business Sponsor status, your 482 work rights are jeopardised and TRT eligibility may be affected.

FAQ

Subclass 482 vs Subclass 186 — Frequently Asked Questions

482 or 186

The 482 and the 186 are usually a sequence, not a choice

The most useful way to read these two is as stages of the same employer-sponsored story: the 482 is the temporary visa that gets you working in Australia, and the 186 is the permanent visa that often follows it. Framing them as rivals leads applicants to ask which is better, when the real question is whether your employer and your role can support the transition, and when.

Usually sequential

Relationship

The 482 often precedes the 186 with the same employer

Temporary versus permanent

Permanence

The 482 is temporary; the 186 is permanent on grant

The employer

Central dependency

Both require an approved Australian employer

When can you transition?

Key question

The route and timing depend on the stream and the role

Side by side

Reading them as stages rather than rivals

This is the framing that actually helps you plan.

Reading them as stages rather than rivals
CriterionSubclass 482Subclass 186The 482 to 186 route
What it gives youThe right to work in Australia for a sponsorPermanent residence through employer nominationTemporary work first, permanence later
Employer commitmentThe employer sponsors you for a defined periodThe employer nominates you for a permanent roleThe same employer, at two stages
Usual timingAvailable now, if sponsorship is offeredUsually after a period with the employerSequenced, often over some years
Main riskTied to one employerRequires a genuine ongoing roleAssuming the transition is automatic

Each subclass has its own streams and criteria. Confirm the requirements for the specific stream being offered.

Sequence

The sponsored sequence

Each stage has its own requirements, and the transition is a decision rather than an event.

  1. Employer becomes an approved sponsor

    FirstEmployer

    The business must be approved to sponsor before any nomination.

  2. Nomination of the position

    Weeks 1 - 8Employer

    The role itself is nominated, including its duties and salary.

  3. Your visa application

    Weeks 4 - 16You

    Skills, experience, English and character, evidenced for the nominated role.

  4. Work and build the record

    Months to yearsYou

    Doing the nominated role, with records that prove it.

  5. Assess the transition point

    When eligibleEmployer

    Whether the employer will nominate for permanence, and whether you qualify.

  6. Permanent nomination and visa

    MonthsDepartment

    A second nomination and application, with the department deciding both.

The transition is not automatic. It depends on the employer, the role and your circumstances at that point.

Budget

What sponsorship costs, and who pays

Some costs fall to the employer by law. Others are yours. Know which is which.

What sponsorship costs, and who pays
Cost itemIndicative costWho bears itNotes
Sponsorship and nominationSet by the departmentEmployerCosts of sponsoring and nominating sit with the employer.
Visa application chargeVaries by subclassYouConfirm the charge for the specific subclass and stream.
Skills assessment, where requiredAUD 500 - 1,300Usually youRequired for some streams and occupations.
English testAUD 400 - 500Usually youSet by the requirement for the stream.
Migration adviceQuoted per matterWhoever engages usEmployers and applicants often engage separately.

Indicative only. Certain sponsorship costs cannot lawfully be passed to you - ask if you are unsure.

Fit test

Which stage you are actually at

This determines what you should be doing now.

You are at the 482 stage if

  • You have an employer willing to sponsor you but no permanent nomination yet.
  • You need to start work in Australia sooner rather than later.
  • You have not yet accrued the period some permanent streams require.
  • Your employer wants to assess fit before committing to permanence.
  • You are using the temporary visa to build an Australian work record.

You are at the 186 stage if

  • Your employer has already agreed to nominate you for a permanent role.
  • You have worked in the nominated role for the required period.
  • Your skills and English already meet the permanent stream requirements.
  • The business has a documented need for a permanent position.
  • You and the employer have both decided to pursue permanence now.

Failure modes

How sponsored pathways go wrong

The dependency on an employer is the defining risk in both visas.

Assuming the transition is automatic

High impact

Moving from a temporary to a permanent sponsored visa requires a new nomination and a fresh decision.

Fix: Agree the transition path with the employer in writing early.

Role that no longer matches the nomination

High impact

Nominations describe a specific position. Drift between the role and the nomination undermines both visas.

Fix: Keep the actual duties aligned with the nominated position and record changes.

Employer dependency

High impact

Both visas depend on the sponsor. If the relationship ends, your position changes.

Fix: Understand your options if the sponsorship ends, before it happens.

Unlawful cost passing

Moderate

Some sponsorship costs cannot lawfully be passed on to the visa applicant.

Fix: Ask which costs are yours and which are the employer's.

Salary below the required level

Moderate

Nominated positions must meet the applicable salary and market requirements.

Fix: Confirm the salary against the current requirement for the stream.

Sponsor compliance history

Moderate

A sponsor's compliance record affects nominations.

Fix: Ask about the sponsor's standing before committing to the role.

Evidence

What each stage needs behind it

Two nominations, two applications, and one consistent work record.

What each stage needs behind it
DocumentWhat it has to establishWhat strips it of weight
Approved sponsorshipThat the business can sponsorA nomination from a business that is not an approved sponsor
Position nominationThe role, its duties and its salaryA nomination that does not match the actual role
Employment recordsThat you performed the nominated roleRecords that stop short of the claimed period
Skills and qualification evidenceThat you meet the requirements for the roleQualifications that do not match the nominated occupation
English test resultThat you meet the English requirementAn expired result or one below the required level
Consistent history across both applicationsThat both records describe the same employmentDuties or dates that shift between the two applications

Straight answers

482 versus 186 questions

Short answers to the questions people ask about sponsored pathways.

Is the 186 better than the 482?

They usually serve different stages. The 482 is a temporary visa that lets you work for a sponsor, and the 186 is a permanent visa. Many people hold the 482 first and transition later.

Do I have to apply for the 482 before the 186?

Not always. Whether you can apply directly for permanence depends on the stream, your occupation, your experience and whether the employer will nominate you for a permanent role.

Does my employer have to nominate me twice?

If you transition from a temporary to a permanent sponsored visa, yes - the permanent stage requires its own nomination and application.

Can I change employer on a 482?

Changing employer generally requires a new nomination by the new employer. Your work rights are tied to the sponsoring arrangement, so get advice before moving.

Who pays the sponsorship costs?

Certain sponsorship and nomination costs must be borne by the employer and cannot lawfully be passed to you. Visa application charges and your own evidence costs are typically yours.

What happens if the sponsorship ends?

Your options depend on your visa conditions and how much notice you have. Seek advice immediately, because your lawful status may change quickly.

After grant

After each stage

Grant is a step, and the obligations continue.

Do the nominated role

The visa is tied to the position that was nominated.

Keep employment records

Payslips, contracts and duty records for the whole period.

Plan the next stage

For a 482, agree the transition path with the employer early.

Notify changes

Role, salary and employer changes can affect the visa.

Track eligibility dates

Note when a permanent stream may become available to you.

Keep the full file

One indexed file covering both nominations and applications.

Current settings

What moves in sponsored migration

Sponsored settings have been reformed more than most areas recently.

Visa structure and naming
The temporary skilled visa framework has been reformed, changing subclass names and streams.
Salary requirements
The applicable salary thresholds and market rate requirements are revised.
Occupation lists
Which occupations can be nominated changes with the skilled lists.
Work experience requirements
The experience required for temporary and permanent streams has been adjusted.
Pathways to permanence
The routes from temporary sponsored work to permanent residence have been revised.

Confirm the current requirements for the specific stream before relying on any of this.

How to use this comparison

What you should expect from us

A comparison is only useful if it ends in a decision you can act on and afford.

Both options costed, not just described

Charges, assessments and the cost of waiting, side by side.

The switching cost named

What it costs to change pathway later, before you commit to one.

Obligations stated plainly

Regional residence and state commitment are conditions, not intentions.

Running both, where possible

Parallel options are usually the strongest position, and we say when they are not.

Figures move with policy and indexation. A registered agent will confirm each one against the current Department schedule before you commit to a pathway or a payment.

Coverage

Searches this page is written to answer

  • 482 vs 186 visa
  • 482 to 186 transition
  • Employer nomination scheme
  • Temporary skill shortage to PR
  • 186 visa requirements
  • 482 visa requirements
  • Skills in demand visa 482
  • Employer sponsored permanent residency
  • 482 to PR Australia
  • How long to transition 482 to 186
  • Employer sponsored visa Australia
  • 186 direct entry stream

Other visa comparisons

MARA-Registered · Plain English

Still unsure between Subclass 482 and Subclass 186?

One 30-minute consultation can save months of planning down the wrong pathway. Our MARA-registered agents will assess your points, occupation list status and state nomination prospects, for free.

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