Australian Visa Category
Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa enables employers to hire skilled workers from overseas if they can't source an appropriately skilled Australian worker.
About this visa
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa is probably the most used Australian employer sponsored visa - the one businesses reach for when the skills they need cannot be found in the local labour market. An employer nominates a real job, a skilled worker fills it, and Australia gets skills it is short of.
There is no upper age limit, the visa can run up to four years - five for eligible Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders - and it can lead to permanent residence. For many skilled workers a 482 is not just a job in Australia; it is the way they end up staying.
Three streams cover the field: Specialist Skills for highly paid, highly skilled roles; Core Skills, the main pathway, for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List; and Labour Agreement for employers with an agreement with the Australian Government. An employer who cannot hire locally, or a worker whose occupation Australia needs - this visa was made for you.
Visa class and subclass
Visa class
Skills in Demand (Class GK)
Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 1, item 1240
Visa subclass
Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)
Streams within this subclass
01
Specialist Skills
For highly paid, highly skilled roles. No occupation list applies to this stream; eligibility turns on the Specialist Skills Income Threshold.
02
Core Skills
The main pathway. The nominated occupation must appear on the Core Skills Occupation List and the salary must meet the Core Skills Income Threshold.
03
Labour Agreement
For workers nominated by an employer that holds a labour agreement with the Australian Government. Salary terms come from that agreement.
How long does the visa last
The visa runs from the date it is granted until the end of the period of stay proposed in your employer's nomination - up to 4 years. If you hold an eligible Hong Kong passport or a British National (Overseas) passport, the visa runs for 5 years from the date of grant. Family members' visas end when the main applicant's visa ends.
How long can you stay per visit
There is no per-visit limit. You can stay in Australia for the full life of the visa, and you can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like while the visa is valid.
Does this visa require a nomination
Yes. This is an employer driven visa - a nomination is the foundation of the application: the occupation nomination must be applied for first, and the visa application is attached to the nomination.
Occupations that can be nominated for Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)
- Occupations must be on a list to be nominated - Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)
- Occupation list name: Core Skills Occupation List
- Occupation list also known as: CSOL
The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is Australia’s official catalogue of 456 in-demand jobs. Employers use it to sponsor skilled overseas workers.
Type of visa
This is a temporary visa.
Can this visa lead to Australian Permanent Residency
Yes. The usual pathway is the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination visa through its Temporary Residence Transition stream, after the required period working for your sponsoring employer.
Who is eligible to apply for this visa
- There is no upper age limit for this visa.
- Before you can apply, your employer's nomination of your occupation must be lodged first - your visa application is attached to that nomination, and the nomination must be approved before the visa can be granted.
- Your intention to perform the nominated occupation must be genuine, and the position itself must be genuine.
- You can be in or outside Australia when you apply, but not in immigration clearance.
- If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a Bridging A, B or C visa, and you must have substantially complied with the conditions of your current and recent visas.
- You need at least 12 months of full-time equivalent work in the nominated occupation or a related field within the last 5 years - full-time, part-time and casual work all count. Under the Labour Agreement stream, the agreement can set a different requirement.
- You must have the skills, qualifications and employment background needed to perform the occupation, and demonstrate your skills in the way the Minister specifies if asked - for some occupations and passport countries a formal skills assessment is mandatory.
- Primary applicants must meet the English language requirements set by legislative instrument, unless an exemption applies.
- In the past 3 years you must not have worked in breach of a visa condition, worked without a visa allowing it, or been part of a payment-for-sponsorship arrangement - unless the Minister considers it reasonable to disregard the conduct.
- You must have adequate arrangements for health insurance for your stay.
- If your nominated occupation is medical practitioner, your qualifications must be recognised in Australia for registration as a medical practitioner.
- You and any family members applying with you must meet the health and character requirements, and applicants 18 years or over must sign an Australian Values Statement.
- Source: Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 1, item 1240(3); Schedule 2, Subdivisions 482.21 to 482.24; Compilation No. 288.
Can I apply for this visa if I am subject to a Section 48 Bar?
Section 48 of the Migration Act applies to a person who is in Australia, does not hold a substantive visa, and has had a visa refused or cancelled since they last entered Australia. While they remain in Australia, a person in that position can only apply for a visa from a short list set out in the Regulations.
Skills in Demand (Class GK) is not on that list. A person affected by the section 48 bar cannot make a valid application for this visa while they are in Australia.
The bar only applies onshore - an application made from outside Australia is not affected by section 48.
Members of the family unit
- Your family members for this visa are: your spouse or de facto partner; children or stepchildren (yours or your partner's) who are not married, engaged or in a de facto relationship and are under 23; a child 23 or over only if they cannot support themselves because of physical or mental incapacity; and a dependent child of one of those children.
- Family members can be included in your application, or apply later to join you as subsequent entrants while you hold the visa - a later applicant must be listed on the nomination, or your sponsor must agree in writing to sponsor them.
- Family members granted the visa can live in Australia for the same period as you, and can work and study without the occupation restriction that applies to you as the primary visa holder - a dependent child's visa cannot normally run past their 23rd birthday.
- Each family member must meet health and character requirements, and every holder must keep adequate health insurance in Australia.
- A separate visa application charge applies for each family member.
- Source: Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 2, clauses 482.312, 482.315, 482.317 and 482.511; regulation 1.05A; Schedule 8, condition 8501; Compilation No. 288.
What can you do with this visa
- Work in Australia for up to 4 years, or up to 5 years if you hold an eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport, in the nominated occupation for your approved sponsoring employer, as required by visa condition 8607.
- You must start work within 90 days of arriving in Australia, or within 90 days of the grant if you were in Australia when the visa was granted.
- If your employment ends, visa condition 8607 allows you to be out of that work for up to 180 consecutive days, and 365 days in total across the visa period, while a new sponsoring employer nomination is arranged.
- If your occupation requires a licence, registration or membership, you must obtain it within 90 days, keep it, and only work consistently with it.
- You must keep adequate health insurance for your whole stay in Australia - visa condition 8501.
- Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- If eligible, apply for a Permanent Residence Visa, which can be a pathway to Australian Citizenship.
- Source: Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth), Schedule 2, clauses 482.511 and 482.611-482.612; Schedule 8, conditions 8607 and 8501; Compilation No. 288.
Visa application charge
The Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the primary applicant is AUD $4,015
The Visa Application Charge for a Partner (Eligible member of the Family Unit) is AUD $4,015
The Visa Application Charge for each additional applicant (Eligible member of the Family Unit) that is aged 18 and over is AUD $4,015
The Visa Application Charge for each additional applicant (Eligible member of the Family Unit) that is aged under 18, the charge is AUD $1,005
A payment surcharge may also be applied, with the percentage rate dependent on your method of payment.
NB: The Department of Home Affairs can change the VAC without notice, fees shown are current as at 25 July 2026.
Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (STAC)
Applications for this visa attract the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (STAC) - a one-off charge of AUD $700 paid on top of the visa application charge. It applies across the whole subclass.
The STAC applies when all of the following are true: you are in Australia when you apply; the visa you hold - or the last substantive visa you held - is one of the earlier temporary visas specified for the charge (they include Subclass 482, 457, 500, 590, 407, 408, 417, 462 and the Subclass 600 Tourist stream); you were in Australia when you applied for that earlier visa; and that earlier visa was granted on an application made in the ordinary way - not a deemed application, a grant by operation of law, or a grant through Ministerial intervention.
If any of those points does not apply to you, the STAC is not payable.
Australian Registered Migration Agent Fee
Primary Applicant Visa Application Preparation and Lodgement Service - Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) Visa AUD $3000
Partner (Eligible member of the Family Unit) Visa Application Preparation and Lodgement Service - Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) Visa AUD $1,950
Additional Applicant (Eligible member of the Family Unit) that is aged 18 and over Visa Application Preparation and Lodgement Service - Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) Visa AUD $1,950
Additional Applicant (Eligible member of the Family Unit) that is aged under 18 Visa Application Preparation and Lodgement Service - Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) Visa AUD $1,350
Initial Consultation Required for Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)
The Purpose of an Initial Consultation for a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) and why it’s required.
It is standard practice for Australian Registered Migration Agents and Licensed New Zealand Immigration Advisers to conduct an initial meeting with every client as the first step.
This is referred to as what is called an Initial Consultation, and the purpose of your Initial Consultation regarding the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) before proceeding to a service agreement is to learn about you, your situation, what your long term plans are.
We will examine if the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa meets your needs and to ensure that you meet the criteria for making a valid Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa application, and that you understand what making an application for a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa entails and any obligations and conditions you might be subject to, during the application process and if a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa is granted.
A service agreement is not required for an initial consultation.
Our professional fee for a potential visa applicant or employer to have an Initial Consultation by video with a Principal Australian Registered Migration Agent in regards to a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa is AUD$399.
If within 30 days of completion of an initial consultation for a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa you engage us to prepare and lodge a Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa application, the fee of AUD$399 will be deducted from any visa application charges that are applicable to your Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa application.
Book an initial consultation - Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)
Australian Registered Migration Agents that provide preparation and lodgement services for Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)
Department of Home Affairs processing times
While our migration team can give you an estimate of the timeframe, it is not possible to give a definitive timeframe for any visa processing.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs does not commit to any visa processing times.
While the Department may publish guidelines for processing times, it does not mean a visa is going to be decided in that timeframe, the Department is under no obligation to process a visa in a set period of time and frequently changes its own guidelines on visa processing times.
The best advice we can provide is to ensure your visa application is thoroughly and diligently prepared by an Australian Registered Migration Agent to ensure there are no delays once the Department begins to assess your visa application.
Important information
This page provides general information only and it is not being provided as immigration assistance, and any reader should not consider it as being provided as immigration assistance.
Your particular circumstances should be examined and assessed by an Australian Registered Migration Agent who can then explain if you satisfy the criteria for this visa before acting.
Every application is assessed on its own merits.
The Department of Home Affairs can change visa application charges, income thresholds and eligibility criteria without notice.
Income thresholds are indexed on 1 July each year.
The figures that apply are those in force on the date the relevant application is lodged, not the date it is decided.
Information current as at 25 July 2026
Client reviews
What clients say
Every review Skilled Migration Group has received on Google, all 73 of them, is republished word for word on the reviews page. 16 of those reviews are from clients whose matter SMG recorded as Subclass 482. 3 are quoted below in full, exactly as written.
Skilled migration group is the best migration agency in Australia.They helped reunite me with my family,and I am truly grateful for their outstanding support throughout the process.Their team is professional, reliable,and always delivers prompt,on -time service.I highly recommend skilled Migration group to anyone looking for trustworthy and efficient migration assistance.
Webby Kanyemesha · Google review, record 073 (read it in full)
Having heard of how stressful
Nana Mumba · Google review, record 071 (read it in full)
acquiring a Family Visa can be, my experience with Skilled Migration Group Limited was different. Their patience, support and professionalism is unmatched. They gave me time to secure all the documents, were readily available for inquiries and guided me all through the process. As a wife of a skilled worker in Australia am really grateful to Skills Migration Group for securing our family Visas on time. Despite all the minor hiccups along the process they maintained a calm composure and encouraged us. When it comes to Family Visas Skills Migration Group Limited is the real deal
It is deemed all fictitious not until you experience working with skilled migration group! The team is 100% epic. My family Visa application process was handled exceptionally humane coupled with outmost professionalism. At first I thought it will take time as I was not recruited by skills migration as well as not working with one of their affiliated companies, Eish I was proven all wrong. We got Guided with patience and calmness all through the process. With skills migration group, it's not all about making money but rather working with a human heart of rendering assistance and standing in the gap.
chris musonda · Google review, record 069 (read it in full)
If you're thinking of getting your family Visa, don't hesitate, don't think twice about it and don't delay, skills migration group have you covered. Thank goodness I am a outmost beneficiary. Skills migration group reputation will surely ease the family Visa application for anyone regardless.
Read all 73 reviews on the reviews page.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions about this visa
What is the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and what salary is required?
The Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage visa on 7 December 2024. The subclass number remains 482. It has three streams, Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement, and is generally granted for up to four years. There is no age limit for the 482 itself.
From 1 July 2026 the temporary skilled migration income threshold, commonly called the Core Skills Income Threshold, is AUD 79,423. The Specialist Skills stream requires income at or above the higher Specialist Skills Income Threshold. Salary must also meet the annual market salary rate for the role; the thresholds are floors, not targets.
Thresholds are indexed each July, so material published before July 2026 is likely to be out of date. Information current as at 25 July 2026.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
How do I move from a 482 visa to permanent residence?
The usual route is the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.
You must have worked in the nominated occupation for at least two years with an approved work sponsor, while holding a 482 (or predecessor TSS or 457) visa, and the employer that nominates you must be your current sponsoring employer.
From 29 November 2025, under subclauses 186.227(1) and (2) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994, as amended by the Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Regulations 2025, work undertaken during any period when the employer was not an approved work sponsor does not count towards the two years, even where the work was lawful, full time and in the correct occupation.
No skills assessment is required in the TRT stream, unlike the Direct Entry stream.
The standard age requirement is under 45 at the time of application, with exemptions for certain applicants including high income earners, regional medical practitioners and senior academics.
Beware of advice describing a general under 50 age limit. That applies only to transitional arrangements for certain people who held or had applied for a subclass 457 visa on or before 18 April 2017.
Checked against the Migration Act 1958 as in force on 4 June 2026, Compilation 171, and the Migration Regulations 1994 as in force on 1 July 2026, Compilation 288.
As always this is provided as general information and is not provided as, intended to be, or should be taken to be immigration assistance. The information provided in this answer is current as at 31 July 2026.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
What is a visa condition and what is its purpose?
A visa condition is a specific rule or restriction that sometimes MUST be imposed and sometimes CAN be imposed upon a visa holder, depending upon the class and subclass of visa. Each visa condition has a four-digit number.
Examples of visa conditions are:
- 8607 Must only work in nominated occupation
- 8503 No further stay
- 8105 Work limitation
Please note that visa conditions can vary from brief in nature and compliance requirement, through to complex with very careful consideration required to ensure compliance with the visa conditions.
Breaching a visa condition is a ground for visa cancellation under section 116 of the Migration Act 1958, and a visa breach or visa cancellation history can seriously affect future applications.
Most visa breaches are not deliberate; the visa holder simply did not know the visa condition existed or assumed it was a guideline rather than a legally required obligation to comply with.
Visa conditions are listed in all visa grant notifications, and visa conditions can be checked by a visa holder at any time in VEVO.
If you have been granted a visa for Australia, read your visa grant notification, make sure you know which visa conditions apply to your visa, and if any condition is unclear, get professional advice from an Australian Registered Migration Agent before acting rather than after.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
What is VEVO?
VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) is a free online system provided by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
It allows visa holders, employers, and other registered organisations to check current Australian visa status, expiry dates, and visa conditions like work or study rights.
VEVO can only provide current visa information about visa holders whose details are available in the Department of Home Affairs systems. You may not have a searchable record if you migrated to Australia before 1990 and have not travelled out of Australia. If this applies to you, you may need to request an electronic record of your permanent visa from the Department.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
Who is legally allowed to help me with my visa application?
Only a Registered Migration Agent (RMA), an Australian legal practitioner, or an exempt person may lawfully provide immigration assistance under Part 3 of the Migration Act 1958. Providing immigration assistance while unregistered is an offence.
RMAs are regulated by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) and are bound by a Code of Conduct. Australian legal practitioners practise under their legal practising certificate and are not required to hold a MARN.
Be cautious of consultants and education agents who offer visa advice without being registered or admitted; counselling on visa options can cross into unlawful immigration assistance.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
What occupations are on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)?
The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is the occupation list for the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) and the Direct Entry stream of the subclass 186 visa. It contains 456 occupations, is set by legislative instrument, and can change; the Specialist Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa does not use an occupation list.
The full list of all 456 occupations and their ANZSCO codes is provided in the link below. Please note that information, rules, criteria and requirements change frequently; the information provided is current as at 28 July 2026.
All occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
Who is required to undergo a skills assessment for a 482 visa?
Not every applicant. Under the Migration (IMMI 18/039: Mandatory Skills Assessment, Subclass 482 Visa) Instrument 2018, a skills assessment is mandatory where the nominated occupation is one of 24 specified occupations and the applicant holds a passport issued by a country specified for that occupation.
The 24 specified occupations are:
- Automotive Electrician
- Baker
- Cabinetmaker
- Carpenter
- Carpenter and Joiner
- Chef
- Cook
- Diesel Motor Mechanic
- Electrician (General)
- Electrician (Special Class)
- Fitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter-Welder
- Joiner
- Metal Fabricator
- Metal Fitters and Machinists nec
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
- Motor Mechanic (General)
- Panelbeater
- Pastrycook
- Program or Project Administrator
- Sheetmetal Trades Worker
- Toolmaker
- Welder (First Class)
The specified passport countries vary from occupation to occupation, and include China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Macau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Always check the combination that applies to your own nominated occupation and passport.
Exemptions apply in limited cases, including for applicants who already hold a subclass 457 or 482 visa granted as the primary applicant and who are working in Australia in the nominated occupation, and for certain overseas employees nominated by the same company or an associated entity of their overseas employer.
Even where a skills assessment is not mandatory, the Department of Home Affairs delegate deciding the application retains the right to request a skills assessment of any applicant, regardless of country of passport. So while a skills assessment is not mandatory for all applicants, the delegate can require one, and this is where a properly prepared and evidenced visa application can make all the difference.
Talk to an Australian Registered Migration Agent about preparing your 482 visa application
This information is based on the compilation of the instrument in force from 14 December 2024, and is current as at 28 July 2026.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
What are the English language requirements for a 482 visa?
The English language requirements for the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) are set by the Migration (English Language Test Requirements for Subclass 482 Visas) Instrument 2025, in force from 10 September 2025. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must have taken an approved English language test and achieved the required score in every test component; there is no overall score requirement.
The eight approved tests, and the minimum score required in each component, are:
- CELPIP General: 5 listening, 5 reading, 5 writing, 5 speaking
- IELTS Academic: 5.0 in listening, reading, writing and speaking
- IELTS General Training: 5.0 in listening, reading, writing and speaking
- LANGUAGECERT Academic: 41 listening, 44 reading, 45 writing, 54 speaking
- Michigan English Test (MET): 49 listening, 47 reading, 45 writing, 38 speaking
- Occupational English Test (OET): 220 listening, 240 reading, 200 writing, 270 speaking
- PTE Academic: 33 listening, 36 reading, 29 writing, 24 speaking
- TOEFL iBT: 8 listening, 8 reading, 9 writing, 14 speaking
Two practical rules in the instrument help applicants: if you miss the required score in one component, you may re-sit that component on a later day and combine it with your original test, and the test day must be no more than 3 years before you provide the evidence.
Some applicants are exempt from the test requirement, including holders of certain passports, and English requirements for the Labour Agreement stream can differ. Check whether an exemption applies to you before booking a test.
This information is based on the instrument as in force from 10 September 2025, and is current as at 28 July 2026.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
Who counts as a member of the family unit (MOFU)?
Member of the family unit (MOFU) is defined in regulation 1.12 of the Migration Regulations 1994. For most visas, the members of your family unit are your spouse or de facto partner, and children or step-children of you or your partner who meet the age and dependency rules.
A child or step-child is a member of the family unit if they are under 18; or if they are 18 but under 23 and financially dependent on you or your partner; or if they are 23 or older and dependent because a physical or cognitive incapacity prevents them from supporting themselves. A dependent child of such a child can also be included.
Three points catch people out. A child of any age who is married, engaged or in a de facto relationship is not a member of the family unit. A child aged 18 or over must genuinely be financially dependent, and that dependency must be evidenced, not assumed. And the criteria are assessed at time of decision as well as time of application, so a child approaching 23, or approaching financial independence, needs careful planning before you lodge.
Some visas, including certain humanitarian visas, use broader definitions, and evidence requirements differ between visa subclasses. If your family includes an adult dependent child, or the dependency is not straightforward, book an initial consultation before you lodge.
This information is general in nature and is current as at 28 July 2026.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
Who is a member of the family unit (MOFU)?
Member of the family unit (MOFU) is a legal definition, not a general description of your family. It is defined in section 5(1) of the Migration Act 1958 and regulation 1.12 of the Migration Regulations 1994, and it decides who can be included in your visa application as a secondary applicant.
For most visas, a member of the family unit of the primary applicant (the family head) is:
- a spouse or de facto partner of the family head; or
- a child or step-child of the family head, or of their spouse or de facto partner, who is not engaged to be married and does not have a spouse or de facto partner, and who is either under 18, or aged 18 to under 23 and dependent on the family head or their partner, or aged 23 or over and dependent because of a disability as defined in the Regulations; or
- a dependent child of a child who meets the description above.
Points that catch people out: parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives are not members of the family unit for most visas, no matter how close the family is or whether they live in the same household. A child who marries or enters a de facto relationship stops being a member of the family unit. Dependency is a test that must be evidenced, not assumed, and it is assessed against the definition in the Regulations rather than what the family regards as dependency.
The definition is not identical for every visa. Some visa classes have their own version of the rule, for example student visas, and protection, refugee and humanitarian visas use a broader definition that can include other relatives. Always check the definition that applies to the visa you are applying for.
Because family members must meet this definition at the time of application and, for many visas, at the time of decision, changes in your family circumstances during processing can affect who can be granted the visa with you. If you are not certain whether a family member meets the definition, book an initial consultation before you lodge.
This information is general in nature and is current as at 28 July 2026.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
Do I need health insurance for all Australian visas?
No, not for all visas, and the answer depends on the visa you hold and the conditions attached to it rather than on any single rule.
Many temporary visas carry visa condition 8501, which requires the holder to maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance for the whole of their stay in Australia. Where that condition is attached, health insurance is a legal obligation, and letting cover lapse is a breach of a visa condition rather than simply a personal risk. Your conditions are listed in your visa grant notification and can be checked in VEVO; see also what a visa condition is and what it is for.
Some common positions, always subject to the conditions on your own visa:
- Student visa holders are generally required to hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their student visa, with limited exceptions.
- Temporary skilled workers, including Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa holders, are generally required to maintain adequate health insurance while in Australia.
- Visitors are not usually subject to a health insurance condition, but they have no access to Australia public health system and travel insurance is strongly advised.
- Permanent residents can enrol in Medicare, and a permanent visa does not carry a private health insurance condition. Private cover remains a personal and tax decision rather than a visa obligation.
Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with a number of countries, which can give visitors from those countries limited access to Medicare for medically necessary treatment. Being covered by such an agreement does not automatically satisfy a visa condition that requires health insurance, so check both questions separately.
Do not confuse health insurance with the health requirement. The health requirement is about medical examinations and whether a condition would result in significant costs to the Australian community; see can I be refused a visa because of a medical condition. Health insurance is a separate obligation about maintaining cover while you are here.
If you are not certain whether a health insurance condition applies to you, read your visa grant notification, check your conditions in VEVO, and book an initial consultation if anything is unclear. This information is general in nature and is current as at 28 July 2026.
This answer is general information only and is not advice about your individual circumstances. Read the full disclaimer.
Book an Initial Consultation
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Book an initial consultation - Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID)