Got your eyes on working in Australia? A 482 visa might be your ticket, but the paperwork can feel overwhelming.
The Skills in Demand Visa (482 visa) is a great way to get work in Australia as a skilled overseas worker, especially in areas where local talent runs short. This visa comes in three streams: Core Skills (minimum salary AUD 73,150), Specialist Skills (minimum salary AUD 135,000), and Labour Agreement. The best part? It can lead to permanent residency if you plan to stay longer.
The application process breaks down into three key stages: Standard Business Sponsorship, Nomination, and the visa application itself. Each stage needs specific proof and paperwork to back your case. You’ll need to show two years of work experience and meet the English requirements (minimum IELTS score of 5.0 overall). These requirements might look tough at first.
You’ll also need paperwork for health checks, character clearances, and proper health insurance. Bringing family along? There’s a separate document checklist for 482 dependent visas to think over.
This piece will guide you through all the documents you need for your 482 visa application. Whether you’re looking to work or hire, we’ll help you dodge common mistakes and boost your approval chances.
Essential Personal Documents for 482 Visa
Personal documentation forms the foundation of your 482 visa requirements. You should get these fundamental identity documents right before you take a closer look at skills assessments or sponsorship papers.
Passport and identity proof
Your passport is the life-blood document that establishes your identity for a 482 visa application. You need to provide clear, colour copies of all pages with your photograph, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates. Your passport should remain valid for at least six months beyond your planned arrival date in Australia.
Secondary identity documents can make your application stronger. These may include birth certificates or national identity cards where accessible to more people. It’s worth mentioning that providing false identity information is a serious offence in Australia. This could lead to visa refusal and a 10-year ban on future applications.
Name change or marital status documents
Official documentation is needed if you’ve changed your name. The acceptable documents include:
- Marriage or divorce certificates
- Change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or equivalent overseas authority
- Documentation showing previous names you’ve used
- Deed poll certificates
- Statutory declarations (for minor differences only)
These documents help you retain control over your identity throughout the application process. Your application could face delays or risks if you lack proper name change documentation that shows consistency between your passport and other records.
Recent passport-sized photographs
Recent passport-sized photographs can support your application, though they aren’t always required. These photographs must meet specific standards if needed:
- Taken within the last six months
- Size: 35-40mm wide and 45-50mm high
- Head size from chin to crown: 32-36mm
- Clear, focused colour image on plain white or light grey background
- Neutral facial expression (no smiling) with mouth closed
- No glasses (unless medically required)
- Face centred and looking directly at camera
- No shadows or reflections
Religious head coverings are allowed as long as they don’t hide your face and remain plain without patterns. Professional passport photo providers will give better results than mobile apps or online services.
Skills, Experience and English Requirements
Your 482 visa document checklist must show proof of your professional skills. The Australian government needs to verify that you have the right skills for your nominated occupation.
Academic qualifications and transcripts
Your educational background should match your nominated occupation. You need to submit degree certificates, diplomas, and complete academic transcripts from your institutions. These documents must show when you completed your courses, what subjects you studied, and your grades. Make sure your overseas qualifications meet Australian standards as specified in the ANZSCO (Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations).
Work experience letters and contracts
The Department has reduced the minimum work experience requirement to one year full-time (or equivalent part-time) from two years within five years before your visa application. Your experience should be in your nominated occupation or a closely related field. You must provide these documents:
- Detailed service letters on company letterhead that show your employment duration, position details, weekly hours, job tasks, and salary
- Employment contracts that outline your roles and responsibilities
- Payslips that show your employment periods (usually from the start and end of employment, plus samples from between years)
You can calculate part-time work proportionally. For instance, working at 50% of full-time means you need two years of experience to equal one year full-time.
Skills assessment report (if required)
Some occupations need mandatory skills assessments through designated authorities. The assessment confirms that your skills meet Australian standards. There are two assessment paths:
- Pathway 1: For people without Australian qualifications in their trade
- Pathway 2: For people with relevant Australian qualifications or current Australian occupational licences
You must complete skills assessments within three years before submitting your visa application. You might be exempt if you work in Australia on a 457 or TSS visa in the same occupation.
English test results or exemption documents
You must prove your English language skills by achieving specific scores in approved tests, unless exempt:
- IELTS: Overall score of at least 5.0 with minimum 5.0 in each component
- PTE Academic: Overall score of at least 36 with minimum 36 in each component
- Cambridge Advanced (CAE): Overall score of at least 154 with minimum 154 in each component
- OET: Score of at least ‘B’ in each component
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum total score of 35 with specific component minimums
You must take tests at secure test centres. Online or at-home versions won’t work. Your test results must come from a single sitting and be less than three years old when you apply.
You don’t need English testing if you have a passport from Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, UK or USA. The same applies if you’ve completed at least five years of full-time study in English at secondary or higher education level.
Health, Character and Insurance Documents
Your 482 visa document checklist must include proof that you meet Australia’s health and character standards. These standards help protect Australian communities and their healthcare system from potential risks.
Police clearance certificates
Your 482 visa application requires character verification. You need police clearance certificates from specific locations:
- Australia if you’ve lived here for 12+ months in the last 10 years
- Every country where you’ve lived for at least 12 months in the last decade since turning 16
The certificates stay valid for 12 months after their issue date. Australian certificate applications need an Australian Federal Police National Police Check with Code 33 (Immigration/Citizenship). The Department provides country-specific instructions for overseas certificates. You should ask your nearest Australian immigration office if a country isn’t listed.
You might need a military certificate if you served in any military force for over 12 months. This usually comes as a letter from your commanding officer that confirms you have no criminal convictions.
Health insurance policy documents
The law requires you to have adequate health insurance while you stay in Australia with a 482 visa—this falls under Visa Condition 8501. Your dependent family members who come with you must also have coverage.
Your application needs proof of health insurance coverage. People from countries with reciprocal healthcare agreements can join Medicare after arrival. These countries include the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Slovenia, Malta, and Italy. You still need temporary insurance until your Medicare enrollment becomes active.
Medical examination reports (if required)
Your visa health requirements might need medical examinations. The Department will give you:
- A list of required examinations
- A Health Assessment Portal ID (HAP ID) that lets you book appointments
Bupa Medical Visa Services handles examinations in Australia. Outside Australia, you must visit Department-approved panel physicians or clinics. Medical results stay valid for 12 months.
Documents for Family and Employer Sponsorship
You need specific documents to bring family members or get employer sponsorship for your 482 visa application. These documents are vital parts of your checklist and need close attention.
Marriage and birth certificates for dependents
Your 482 visa application must include clear proof of your relationship with family members. Spouses or de facto partners should submit:
- Marriage certificate for married couples
- De facto relationship registration documents where applicable
- Evidence that shows a genuine and continuing relationship
Children’s documents needed:
- Birth certificates showing names of both parents
- Adoption papers if the child is adopted
- Current passports for all dependents
All additional applicants must show they meet the Member of the Family Unit (MoFU) definition. De facto partners should prove they share a home and are committed to a life together.
Proof of dependency for children over 18
Children over 18 can join only if they meet certain dependency rules. Those aged 18-22 must rely on you completely for financial support. Children 23 or older qualify only if physical or cognitive limitations prevent them from supporting themselves.
Documents needed for each dependent child over 18:
- Completed Form 47A (Details of child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over)
- Proof of financial dependency for at least 12 months before application
- Evidence they live with you now
- Tax records and/or proof of ongoing education
- Bank statements that show financial support
Employer nomination and sponsorship documents
Your employer must provide complete documentation to support their sponsorship:
- Australian Business Number (ABN) registration certificate
- Financial reports and Business Activity Statements
- Organisational charts showing business structure
- Employment contract for the nominated position
- Labour Market Testing evidence
- Proof the position is genuine and matches ANZSCO descriptions
- Sponsorship extension letter for family members
Employer sponsorship papers prove both the business’s legitimacy and the nominated position’s authenticity.
Getting the 482 Visa Documentation Checklist Done
The 482 visa process needs careful attention at every step. Your application success depends on many documents – from personal ID to skills verification, English tests to health and character checks.
Getting all your paperwork ready before you start will save you time and hassle. The visa comes in three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement. Each stream gives you different options based on your qualifications and what Australia needs. Whatever stream fits your case, good preparation is key.
A step-by-step approach to your 482 visa application will boost your chances of approval. Australian officials want complete and accurate paperwork that shows you meet all criteria. The process might look overwhelming at first. Breaking it into smaller parts makes it easier to handle – personal documents, skills proof, health checks, and sponsor evidence.
People who get their visas approved share one thing in common – they pay attention to detail. Every document needs to be up-to-date, in the right format, and truthful. The time you spend getting everything ready will open doors to great professional opportunities in Australia.