How Can We Help?
FAQ – Post-Decision
The following information is aimed towards employer sponsored visa types, primarily the subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa and the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa.
- How long is my visa valid for?
- What are the conditions of my visa?
- What if my passport expires and/or I get a new one?
- I have a 482 SID visa. Can I change employer and/or role?
- I have a 482 SID visa. What happens if I cease employment?
- Do I need to maintain health insurance?
- Can Ajuria Lawyers provide tax advice?
- Can I add a partner or child to my visa?
- Can I bring my pet(s) to Australia?
- I have a temporary visa. Will I be eligible for permanent residence?
- I have a permanent visa. When will I be eligible for citizenship?
- My visa application was refused – what does this mean?
- Registration requirements for your occupation
- What are the taxation rules in Australia?
- Superannuation
- Accommodation and Real Estate – Renting
- Real Estate – Buying
- Schools and education
1. How long is my visa valid for?
Your visa period depends on the type of visa granted and the stream under which it was granted.
For a current subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, the period of stay depends on the period sought by your employer. You should always check the grant letter and VEVO for the exact visa end date and conditions.
If you have been granted permanent residence, your right to remain in Australia does not expire. However, the travel facility attached to a first permanent visa is usually granted for 5 years from the date of grant. If you wish to leave and later re-enter Australia as a permanent resident after the travel facility expires, you will need a Resident Return visa unless you are already in Australia and do not travel.
2. What are the conditions of my visa?
You must comply with the conditions of your current visa while you are in Australia. The exact conditions vary depending on the visa and, in some cases, the stream or individual grant.
For subclass 482 visa holders, conditions should now be checked against the current Skills in Demand framework and the actual grant notice or VEVO record. In general, the primary holder must work in accordance with the approved sponsorship and occupation framework, must comply with any relevant work limitation condition, and must maintain adequate health insurance if condition 8501 applies. Secondary holders commonly have broad work and study rights, but the grant notice should always be checked.
There are generally no ongoing work conditions attached to a subclass 186 permanent visa after grant, but the actual grant notice should still be checked.
3. What if my passport expires and/or I get a new one?
There is no general Department rule requiring a passport to have a minimum remaining validity period for visa purposes, but airlines and transit countries may impose their own requirements.
Because your visa is linked to your passport details, you should update your passport information after you obtain a new passport to reduce the risk of delays or confusion when travelling.
We can assist with this if needed. Please send us a clear colour scan of the new passport.
4. I have a 482 SID visa. Can I change employer and/or role?
A primary subclass 482 visa holder must continue to work within the approved sponsorship framework. If you change employers, the new employer must take the required sponsorship/nomination steps.
If your duties change in a way that means you are no longer working in the approved occupation, a new nomination or a new visa application may be required. Role changes should therefore always be checked with us before they take effect.
5. I have a 482 SID visa. What happens if I cease employment?
A holder cannot cease working in accordance with the condition for more than 180 consecutive days, and cannot exceed 365 total days during the visa period. Exact obligations still depend on the visa conditions attached to your grant.
If your employment ceases, you should obtain advice promptly. Depending on your circumstances, that may involve a new sponsor, a different visa, or departure from Australia.
6. Do I need to maintain health insurance?
If your visa is subject to condition 8501, you must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while you are in Australia. This commonly applies to subclass 482 visa holders.
Ajuria Lawyers has negotiated overseas visitor coverage packages with certain providers that can be accessed via the following links:
People who are eligible for Medicare through a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement should check carefully whether that is sufficient in their circumstances and make sure they are actually enrolled. Reciprocal arrangements do not always provide complete coverage.
Permanent residents do not generally need to maintain private health insurance for migration-law purposes, although they may still choose to do so for personal reasons.
7. Can Ajuria Lawyers provide tax advice?
Ajuria Lawyers specialises in immigration law only. Unfortunately, this means that we cannot provide taxation advice.
Your tax position may change depending on your visa status and personal circumstances. You should obtain independent taxation advice where required.
8. Can I add a partner or newborn child to my visa?
For subclass 482 visa holders, eligible family members may in some cases apply later as subsequent entrants. If approved, their visa will generally align with the primary holder’s subclass 482 visa validity.
If you have a child in Australia while you hold a temporary visa, the correct next step depends on the child’s citizenship status and the visa framework that applies. This should be checked immediately after the birth.
For permanent visas such as subclass 186, you cannot simply add a partner after grant. A separate visa pathway would usually be needed if the partner does not already hold a suitable visa. Different rules may apply for children depending on where they are born and their citizenship status.
9. Can I bring my pet(s) to Australia?
This sits mainly within the biosecurity framework rather than immigration law.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has official step-by-step guidance for bringing cats and dogs to Australia. Import requirements vary by country group and animal type, and in many cases a biosecurity import permit, veterinary testing and post-entry quarantine arrangements will apply.
This is usually a lengthy process and should be planned well in advance.
10. I have a temporary visa. Will I be eligible to apply for permanent residence?
Whether you have a pathway to permanent residence depends on a range of factors including the visa you hold, the nominated occupation, the applicable stream, your work history, age, salary and any transitional arrangements.
If you are interested in employer-sponsored permanent residence, you should first speak to your employer to confirm whether they are willing to support this. We can then advise on the pathways that may be available.
If you would like to discuss alternative pathways outside employer sponsorship, you may book a separate consultation. If you are employed by one of our clients, we may need the employer’s consent before advising you independently in order to avoid any conflict issues.
11. I have a permanent visa. When will I be eligible to apply for citizenship?
For citizenship by conferral, the usual residence requirement is that you have lived in Australia on a valid visa for 4 years immediately before applying, including 12 months as a permanent resident, with limits on time spent outside Australia during the relevant periods. Additional legal requirements also apply.
You must also satisfy the character requirement and other criteria that apply to your application. The Department’s Residence Calculator is a useful guide, but it is only a guide and does not replace legal assessment.
12. My visa application was refused – what does this mean?
The effect of a refusal depends on the reason for the refusal and your visa status at the time of the decision. In some cases there may be review rights; in others there may be bars on further onshore applications or other consequences.
If a visa application is refused, we will review the decision promptly and advise you and, where relevant, your employer/sponsor about the available options.
13. Registration requirements for your occupation
f your occupation is subject to mandatory licensing, registration or professional membership requirements under Australian law, you must comply with those requirements within the timeframe that applies to your visa conditions or the relevant industry regulation.
For subclass 482 holders, current registration and licensing obligations should always be checked against the actual visa conditions, the occupation, and the state or territory regulator. These requirements can change and may differ across jurisdictions.
Engineers
Registration is required for any Professional Engineer undertaking certain activities. Each State and Territory will specify what these activities are. Before lodging the visa application, we recommend that you and your employer check the below to check if industry regulations apply to the role that you will be doing and if you will therefore require registration.
- For NSW: please refer to ServiceNSW and NSW Fair Trading
- For VIC: please refer to Consumer Affairs Victoria
- For QLD: please refer to the Board of Professional Engineers
- For TAS: please refer to Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)
- For Northern Territory, please refer to NT Building Practitioners Board
- Currently, ACT and WA do not require engineers to be registered to practice but these rules are subject to change.
14. What are the taxation rules in Australia?
Taxation in Australia is regulated by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). It is a specialised area and should be worked out on an individual basis.
If working in Australia you will need a Tax File Number (TFN). The ATO provides the current application pathways, and applying for a TFN is free.
You should obtain independent tax advice if you are unsure how the tax rules apply to you.
15. Superannuation
Superannuation is money set aside during your working life for retirement. Employers must make superannuation contributions for eligible workers as per the applicable legislation.
Temporary residents may be able to claim their superannuation after leaving Australia and after their visa has ceased, if they meet the legal criteria for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). DASP claims are handled through the ATO framework and are taxed.
16. Accommodation and Real Estate – Renting
There are a number of official and private sources that can help you search for accommodation. Because rental processes and bond rules differ across states and territories, the most reliable guidance is the relevant state or territory fair trading / consumer affairs authority.
Rent is commonly paid in advance and a rental bond is usually required. The amount that can be charged and the way the bond must be lodged depend on the state or territory where the property is located.
For example, if you are renting in NSW, rental bond lodgement and related guidance are handled through NSW Fair Trading. Department of Fair Trading.
17. Real Estate – Buying
Property purchase rules vary depending on whether you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or temporary resident, and whether foreign investment approval is required.
Temporary residents and other foreign persons should check the current rules administered through the foreign investment framework before entering into a purchase.
Stamp duty transfer duty and any surcharge rules are also state or territory specific and should be checked directly with the relevant revenue authority.
18. Schools and education
Kindergarten / Pre-school / Day-care
Early childhood education and care is regulated at state and territory level, and approved service information can usually be checked through the relevant government authority for your location.
Schools
The Australian school year usually runs from late January/early February to December, but exact term dates differ by state and territory.
Public school eligibility, catchment rules and fees for temporary residents depend on the state or territory and on the child’s visa status. The relevant state education department should always be checked before enrolment. NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia all publish official information for temporary residents / international students, including where fees may apply.
Private school fees and admissions are determined by the individual school. You should check the official website of the school you are considering.
Colleges and Universities
Entry requirements for universities and colleges should be checked directly with the relevant institution or official admissions body for the state or course involved.
Australia also has TAFE and other vocational education providers. Course and entry information should be checked on the official provider or government education website.
Bringing your Pet to Australia
See the official Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry guidance for current pet import requirements.
Banking
Banks set their own account-opening and identification requirements. You should check directly with the bank you intend to use.
Driving
All drivers in Australia must hold a valid licence. Overseas licence rules differ by state and territory and can change.
NSW
Current NSW rules should be checked directly with the NSW Government / Service NSW. As at April 2026, permanent residents generally need to transfer to a NSW licence within 3 months, and temporary overseas visitors should check the updated NSW overseas-driver rules carefully as longer-term conversion requirements may now apply.
Victoria
In Victoria, official VicRoads guidance should be checked. As a general guide, overseas visitors can usually drive on a valid overseas licence for less than 6 months, but people living in Victoria for 6 months or more should review the conversion requirements.
Queensland
Queensland rules should be checked on the Queensland Government transport website. Requirements differ depending on whether you are a visitor, permanent resident or holder of a relevant New Zealand status, and on whether you need to transfer your licence.
Western Australia
Western Australia rules should be checked on the WA transport website, as the position depends on residence status, licence validity and local residency period.
South Australia
South Australia rules should be checked on the SA Government transport website, as conversion and driving permissions differ for permanent residents and temporary visitors.
Public transport in NSW
Official route, fare and ticketing information is available through Transport for NSW. Payment methods and service arrangements can change, so the official site should be checked before travel.
Public transport in Victoria
Official route, fare and ticketing information is available through Public Transport Victoria.
Disclaimer: The information in this document is provided as a guideline only and may be subject to change. Please always check directly with the relevant government department/source.