You’re on a subclass 482 visa, things are going well at work, and then a new employer comes along with something better on the table. Not just a better role or better pay, but an actual pathway to permanent residence through a subclass 186 visa.
So the question is obvious. Can you take it?
The short answer is yes. But there are a few things you need to understand before you hand in your notice.
You Can Switch, But Your Current Sponsorship Doesn’t Transfer
This is the part a lot of people get confused about.
Your 482 visa is tied to your current employer. They sponsored you, they nominated you, and your right to work in Australia under that visa is linked to that specific employment relationship.
If you move to a new employer for a subclass 186 application, your old sponsorship does not carry over. The new company needs to run their own process entirely. That means they need to be an approved sponsor, lodge a new nomination for you, and then you lodge the visa application separately.
It is a fresh start from a paperwork standpoint.
What Happens to Your 482 Visa When You Leave Your Current Job
Once you stop working for your sponsoring employer, your 482 visa does not immediately cancel. But you do need to act quickly.
Under current Australian immigration rules, if you cease employment with your sponsoring employer, you have up to 180 days at a time to either find a new sponsor, lodge a relevant visa application, or make arrangements to leave Australia.
You also have a total cap of 365 days across your entire visa grant period. That said, the clock still matters. Get moving.
If your new employer is ready to move quickly, this is manageable. But if the 186 nomination and application process takes time to get going, the clock becomes a real issue.
The Two Streams of the 186 Visa Matter a Lot Here
The subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa has two main pathways, and which one applies to you will shape how the whole process works.
Transition Stream
The Transition stream is designed for people who have been working on a 482 (or the now-replaced 457) visa for at least two years. Previously, those two years had to be with the nominating employer specifically.
That rule changed in December 2024. Your time on a 482 visa with any approved sponsor now counts toward the two-year requirement. So if you switch employers, you don’t lose your progress toward PR. Your new employer will still need to nominate you, but the work history clock doesn’t reset.
Direct Entry Stream
The Direct Entry stream does not require prior work with the nominating employer. But it comes with its own set of requirements.
You generally need a formal skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for your occupation, at least three years of relevant full-time work experience, and you need to be under 45 years of age at the time of application (with limited exceptions for certain occupations).
If you meet all of that, a new employer can nominate you for a 186 under Direct Entry without you having to work there first on a 482.
For some applicants, this is actually the faster route.
What the New Employer Needs to Do
The new company cannot just say they want to hire you and lodge a 186. They need to be an approved Standard Business Sponsor with the Department of Home Affairs, or go through the process of becoming one.
They also need to show the position is genuine, that it is full-time, and that it must meet the minimum salary requirements under Australia’s Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), which currently sits at $76,515 per year (effective July 2025). This threshold is indexed annually, and your occupation may carry a higher market salary requirement on top of that.
Labour Market Testing is another step the employer typically has to complete, demonstrating they have genuinely tried to fill the role locally before nominating an overseas worker.
This takes time. It is not a quick process, and any employer expecting to lodge everything in a week or two is going to be disappointed.
A Practical Comparison of Your Options
| Situation | Likely Stream | Key Requirement |
| You’ve worked 2+ years with the new employer on a 482 | Transition | 2 years in the same occupation with the nominating employer |
| You switch to a new employer immediately | Direct Entry | Skills assessment, 3 years experience, under 45 |
| New employer wants to sponsor you on 482 first, then 186 later | Transition (later) | Plan for 2+ years before applying for PR |
The Thing Most People Get Wrong About Timing
A lot of 482 holders assume they can quietly start the 186 process with a new employer while still employed with their current sponsor. In practice, the timing has to work around your 60-day window after leaving your job, your new employer’s readiness to lodge, and which stream you are going through.
If you are going for Direct Entry and your new employer is already an approved sponsor, it is possible to have things ready to go relatively quickly. If they are not yet a sponsor, add several weeks to that timeline just for the sponsorship approval process.
Start the conversation with a registered migration agent before you resign.
| Immigration rules change frequently, and individual circumstances vary. Always seek advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer before making decisions about your visa status. |
