Master prompt
Subclass 482 (TSS) renewal + sponsor obligations + Pathway to PR
Renew the subclass 482 Skilled Worker visa with same or new sponsor. Covers nomination, SAF levy, condition 8607, and the strategic 482→186 ENS PR pathway.
AustraliaVisa extensionSubclass 482TSS visaSkilled workerENSSAF levy
You are advising [CLIENT_NAME] on renewing the subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage / TSS) visa. Path depends on whether [SPONSOR_CHANGE] is "same" or "new", and on PR plans No PR planned.
REGULATORY ANCHORS
• Migration Regulations 1994 Schedule 2 cl.482
• Migration (LIN 19/051) — SAF levy
• Schedule 8 condition 8607 — must work for nominating employer in nominated occupation
• ANZSCO + MLTSSL/STSOL/ROL (Combined List of Eligible Skilled Occupations)
• Pathway to 186 ENS — Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream requires 2 years working for nominating employer (3 years prior to recent reforms — verify current)
CURRENT POSTURE
• Stream: [CURRENT_482_STREAM]
• Expiry: [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY]
• Employer: [NOMINATING_EMPLOYER]
• Occupation: [OCCUPATION] ([OCCUPATION_ON_LIST])
• PR target: No PR planned
• Sponsor: [SPONSOR_CHANGE]
§1 — STREAM-SPECIFIC RENEWAL LIMITS
(a) Short-term stream: renewable ONCE onshore (max 2 + 2 = 4 years onshore for most countries; verify country-specific rules)
(b) Medium-term stream: renewable indefinitely; eligible for ENS TRT after 2 years
(c) Labour Agreement stream: per terms of the relevant agreement
(d) If applicant has already had 2× short-term grants onshore, they must lodge offshore for any further short-term 482
State explicitly for [CLIENT_NAME]: based on [CURRENT_482_STREAM] and [OCCUPATION_ON_LIST], is onshore renewal available? Make a yes/no call.
§2 — NOMINATION + VISA APPLICATION (TWO-STAGE)
482 renewal is always TWO stages:
Stage A — NEW NOMINATION by employer (or new sponsor)
• Employer logs into ImmiAccount, lodges Nomination application
• Nominate same ANZSCO occupation [OCCUPATION]
• Salary must meet TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold — AUD $73,150 from 2024-07; verify current)
• Salary must also meet Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the occupation
• Pay SAF (Skilling Australians Fund) levy:
— Small business (turnover < AUD $10M): AUD $1,200/year of visa requested
— Other businesses: AUD $1,800/year of visa requested
• Nomination fee: AUD $330
Stage B — VISA APPLICATION by [CLIENT_NAME]
• Lodge in ImmiAccount linked to Nomination ID
• VAC: AUD $3,210 (Short-term) / AUD $3,210 (Medium-term) — verify current schedule
If [SPONSOR_CHANGE] is "New sponsor":
• New employer must hold or apply for Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval
• Existing SBS valid 5 years
• Nomination + visa application must be linked to the new sponsor's SBS
§3 — DOCUMENT PACK
For Nomination (Stage A — employer files):
A. Nomination application (online)
B. Position description + organisational chart
C. Evidence of genuine vacancy (job ad if newly created)
D. Evidence of salary at TSMIT + AMSR (employment contract, payroll evidence)
E. Labour Market Testing (LMT) evidence — job ads on 3 platforms minimum, run for 4 weeks within 4 months of nomination
— LMT exemptions: international trade obligations, intra-corporate transfer, certain occupations
F. SAF levy payment receipt
G. Sponsor's annual training contribution evidence (if required)
For Visa Application (Stage B — client files):
H. Online application via client's ImmiAccount
I. Nomination ID + reference
J. Skills assessment from relevant authority (if Short-term stream OR if first 482)
— Some occupations exempt from skills assessment on renewal
K. English language evidence (IELTS / OET / PTE / TOEFL / CAE)
— Short-term: 5.0 overall minimum, 4.5 each band
— Medium-term: 5.0 average + 5.0 each band
L. Employment evidence — last 12 months pay slips, tax assessments, employer letter
M. Health insurance evidence — Medicare (if eligible) OR private health
N. Police clearance (if not provided in last 12 months)
O. Medical examinations (if expired or new health concern)
P. Photocopy of:
— Passport biographical page
— Current 482 visa grant notification
Q. Form 956 — Appointment of Migration Agent
R. VAC payment
§4 — COVER LETTER (250-300 words)
Open: "Application under Migration Regulations 1994 cl.482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) for renewal in the [CURRENT_482_STREAM] stream, nominated by [NOMINATING_EMPLOYER] for [OCCUPATION]."
Structure:
¶1 — Identity + current visa + nominating employer
¶2 — Stream + occupation eligibility under [OCCUPATION_ON_LIST]
¶3 — Nomination link + SAF levy paid + LMT compliance/exemption
¶4 — Salary at/above TSMIT + AMSR; market salary evidence
¶5 — Compliance: condition 8607 met; tax-paid; PAYG up to date
¶6 — PR pathway: No PR planned (if applicable, signals long-term intent for the employer relationship)
§5 — BRIDGING VISA + WORK RIGHTS
(a) Lodge BEFORE [CURRENT_VISA_EXPIRY] — BVA auto-granted under reg 2.20
(b) BVA permits continued work for [NOMINATING_EMPLOYER] in [OCCUPATION] (same conditions as substantive)
(c) For NEW sponsor: cannot start new role until new visa is granted; old role continues on BVA until decision
(d) BVA ceases 28 days after grant or refusal of new application
(e) For overseas travel during processing: separate Bridging Visa B (subclass 020) needed — AUD $185
§6 — STRATEGIC 482 → ENS PR
If No PR planned mentions 186 ENS:
TRT (Temporary Residence Transition) stream — cl.186.211:
• Hold subclass 482 for 2 years (was 3 years; reformed 2022)
• Worked for nominating employer 2 of last 3 years
• Same occupation [OCCUPATION] as nominated
• Age < 45 at time of application
• Competent English (IELTS 6.0 each band or equivalent)
• Sponsor lodges new Nomination application under ENS
• VAC: AUD $4,640 main applicant (verify)
Direct Entry stream — for those without 482 history:
• Skills assessment required
• Occupation on MLTSSL (some occupations restricted)
• Higher VAC; longer processing
In cover letter for current 482 renewal, signal: "Renewal anticipated to support continuation through to 186 ENS TRT eligibility at [date]."
§7 — RED FLAGS
• Below TSMIT salary — fatal; cannot lodge nomination
• Below AMSR — fatal; sponsor must demonstrate market rate
• Working outside nominated occupation (cl.8607 breach) — disclose; visa cancellation risk under s.116
• LMT not run / inadequate ads — nomination refused
• Sponsor on Department's compliance watchlist — disclose
• Recent restructure / role change — confirm same ANZSCO classification
End with: "DRAFT subclass 482 renewal pack — for MARA-registered migration agent review. Confirm current TSMIT, AMSR for [OCCUPATION], LMT requirements, and Home Affairs processing times before submission. Cross-check [OCCUPATION] is still on [OCCUPATION_ON_LIST] (lists revised periodically)."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt