Written by Immigrad · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1805710 · Last updated July 2026
Working out the true 482 visa cost for employer sponsorship in 2026 is where a lot of Australian businesses come unstuck. The headline figures you see online usually mix together fees the worker pays and fees the employer must pay by law — and it is the employer’s share that catches people out at budget time. This guide breaks down exactly what your business is legally required to pay to sponsor a skilled worker on the Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa, with a worked example and the salary thresholds that quietly shape the total. All figures are current as at July 2026.
The Subclass 482 visa in 2026, briefly
The old Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa was replaced in December 2024 by the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, which keeps the Subclass 482 number. It runs in three streams: the Core Skills stream (the most common), the Specialist Skills stream for higher-paid roles, and the Labour Agreement stream. To sponsor someone, your business generally moves through three stages — becoming an approved sponsor, nominating the position, and the worker lodging their visa application. Each stage carries its own cost, and the employer is responsible for the first two plus the Skilling Australians Fund levy. For the full picture of the process itself, see our complete employer’s guide to sponsoring a worker and the dedicated Subclass 482 visa page.
The three costs an employer must legally pay
There are three government charges that fall on the sponsoring business and, by law, cannot be recovered from the worker. Everything else in a sponsorship budget flows from these.
1. Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) — $420
Before you can nominate anyone, your business must be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor. The application charge is $420. An SBS approval is generally valid for five years, so if you sponsor several workers over that period you pay this fee once, not per worker. Businesses that hold a labour agreement follow a different route.
2. Nomination — $330 per position
For each position you want to fill with an overseas worker, you lodge a nomination and pay $330. Unlike the sponsorship fee, this one is per nomination — a new worker or a fresh nomination for an existing worker each attracts the $330 charge.
3. The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy — the big one
The SAF levy is by far the largest employer cost and the one most often underestimated. It is paid upfront, in full, at the nomination stage, and is calculated on the size of your business and the number of years of visa you are nominating for.
| Business size | SAF levy (per worker, per year of visa) | Example: 4-year visa |
|---|---|---|
| Small business (annual turnover under $10 million) | $1,200 per year | $4,800 |
| Larger business (annual turnover $10 million or more) | $1,800 per year | $7,200 |
So a small business nominating a worker for a four-year Core Skills visa pays $4,800 in SAF levy alone, on top of the SBS and nomination fees. You can estimate your own figure quickly using our sponsorship cost calculator.
What a small business really pays: a worked example
Here is the mandatory employer outlay for one small business (turnover under $10 million) sponsoring a single worker on a four-year Subclass 482 Core Skills visa.
| Employer cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard Business Sponsorship | $420 |
| Nomination | $330 |
| SAF levy ($1,200 × 4 years) | $4,800 |
| Employer total (mandatory) | $5,550 |
For a larger business, the SAF levy rises to $1,800 per year, pushing the same nomination to roughly $7,950 before any professional fees. These are government charges only; if you engage a registered migration agent to prepare and lodge the sponsorship and nomination, professional fees are additional and vary by provider and complexity.
Costs you cannot pass on to the worker
This is a compliance point worth stating plainly: the sponsorship fee, the nomination fee and the SAF levy are the employer’s costs by law. It is unlawful to ask the worker to pay them or to reimburse you for them, and doing so can put your sponsorship approval at risk. You can prepare for these obligations ahead of time with our Employer Sponsorship Readiness Checklist.
The salary thresholds that shape your real cost
The 482 visa cost is not only about government fees — the salary you must pay is often the bigger commitment. Every nomination must meet the higher of the relevant income threshold or the Annual Market Salary Rate (what you would pay an Australian doing the same job). From 1 July 2026 the thresholds are: Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of $79,499, and Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) of $146,717. Applications lodged before 1 July 2026 remain under the previous year’s figures ($76,515 and $141,210). Because you must pay whichever is higher of the threshold or the market rate, the effective salary floor for a role in a well-paid market can sit above the threshold.
Costs usually paid by the worker
For completeness, the following are generally the visa applicant’s costs rather than the employer’s, although some businesses choose to cover them as part of an offer: the visa application charge (indexed each July, and in the 2025–26 year around $3,210 for the primary applicant, with separate charges for family members), skills assessments where required, English test fees, and health and character checks. Because these are indexed annually, confirm the current figure before you budget.
How to manage 482 sponsorship costs
A few practical levers can reduce the sting. Nominating for a shorter visa period lowers the SAF levy, though it also shortens the worker’s stay and any pathway to permanent residency. Confirming your business qualifies as a small business (under $10 million turnover) before lodging ensures you are charged the lower levy rate. And getting the nomination right the first time avoids re-lodgement fees. If permanent residency is the goal, it is worth mapping the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) pathway from the outset, or the Subclass 494 route for regional roles.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost an employer to sponsor a 482 visa in 2026?
For a small business sponsoring one worker on a four-year Core Skills visa, the mandatory government cost is around $5,550 — $420 sponsorship, $330 nomination, and $4,800 SAF levy. Larger businesses pay a higher SAF levy, taking the total closer to $7,950. Professional fees, if you use an agent, are additional.
Can the employee pay the SAF levy or nomination fee?
No. The SAF levy, the nomination fee and the sponsorship fee are the employer’s legal responsibility and cannot be passed to, or recovered from, the worker.
Is the SAF levy refundable if the visa is refused or the worker leaves?
The SAF levy is refundable only in limited circumstances set by the Department of Home Affairs — for example, certain refusals. It is generally not refunded simply because a worker resigns. Check the current refund criteria for your situation.
Do I pay the SAF levy again when I renew?
Yes. A fresh nomination — including a renewal for an existing worker — triggers the SAF levy again, calculated on the new nomination period.
What is the minimum salary I must pay a 482 worker?
From 1 July 2026 you must pay at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of $79,499 (or $146,717 for the Specialist Skills stream), or the Annual Market Salary Rate for the role, whichever is higher.
Talk to a registered migration agent
Sponsorship costs and thresholds change with indexation, and complex cases — unusual occupations, tight timeframes, or a permanent residency plan — deserve tailored advice. This article is general information only and not a substitute for advice on your specific circumstances. Immigrad is a MARA-registered Australian migration agency. Contact our team for a clear, upfront assessment of your sponsorship costs and options.