From Graduate Visa to Employer Sponsorship: How to Move From 485 to 482/186/494 Without Leaving Australia

Why This Path Matters?

If you are an international graduate currently on a 485 visa in Australia, you might be looking for a long-term work and residence solution without having to leave the country. This blog is for:

• Recent graduates on 485 looking to stay and build a career in Australia.
• Skilled workers seeking employer-sponsored visa options, 482 (temporary), 494 (regional), or 186 (permanent), as a pathway to permanent residency (PR).
• People who want clarity on visa rules, timelines, and real-world transition strategies.

With over 180,000+ applicants assisted by Aussizz Group in their Australian visa and migration journey, we deeply understand the challenges and aspirations of people like you.

Understanding the Basics: What Is a 485, 482, 186, and 494 Visa

Temporary Graduate: Subclass 485 Visa

The 485 visa allows international students who recently graduated from an Australian institution to remain temporarily in Australia and work. It offers a “work while you figure out the next step” window.

It’s ideal for gaining local experience, testing the job market, and building a resume – but by itself it does not guarantee long-term residence or permanent residency.

Employer-Sponsored Visas: 482, 494, 186

• Subclass 482 Visa (now often under the banner of “Skills in Demand (SID) 482 Visa”): temporary work visa for skilled workers sponsored by an Australian employer. Enables employers to fill genuine skill shortages when local talent is unavailable.
• Subclass 494 Visa (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)): for skilled workers who accept jobs in regional Australia under employer sponsorship. This route often comes with regional incentives and a PR pathway after compliance.
• Subclass 186 Visa (Employer Nomination Scheme – ENS): a permanent residence visa for skilled workers nominated by an approved employer. It has multiple streams (Direct Entry, Temporary Residence Transition, Labour Agreement).

Transition from 485 to Employer Sponsorship / PR: Your Benefits

• Stability & Long-Term Plans: On a 485 you have temporary status. Employer-sponsored visas, especially 186 or regional 494, bring you a stable long-term work permit or a path to PR.
• Work Experience + PR Pathway: You must have relevant experience of 1 to 3 years before you could be sponsored for employer sponsored visas. Subclass 485 visa should be proactively used to gain that relevant experience. Getting a 482 (SID) or 494 can set you up for 186 or 191 down the line, turning temporary stay into permanent residency.
• Flexibility With New Visa Rules: Recent changes have made PR via 186 more accessible for 482 visa holders: reduced work-experience requirement, wider occupation eligibility, and more flexibility for employers.
• Regional Opportunities via 494: For those open to working in regional Australia, 494 offers an attractive alternative, especially with eventual PR prospects.

Step-by-Step Path: From 485 to Employer-Sponsored Visa (482 / 494) – Then to PR (186)

While on 485: Begin Networking & Job Search

• Use the 485 visa period to apply for jobs relevant to your qualification – target employers willing to sponsor you if selected.
• Focus on industries with skill shortages (hospitality, healthcare, IT, trades, regional services). Employer-sponsorship demand remains high.

Secure an Employer Willing to Sponsor & Apply for 482 or 494

Once you get a job offer:

• Employer lodges a nomination for you under 482 (Skills in Demand) or 494 (regional) visa.
• Make sure the employer meets sponsorship requirements (genuine vacancy, market salary, compliance with visa rules).
• You apply for the visa, with required documents (employment contract, proof of skill/qualification, English proficiency, health and character checks, etc.).

At this point you are still onshore, there’s no need to leave Australia.

Work on 482/494 Visa: Build 2 Years (or as Required) of Full-Time Employment

Under recent reforms:

• All 482 visa holders (whatever stream) are eligible to apply for the 186 ENS visa via Temporary Residence Transition (TRT), as long as they work full-time in the nominated occupation for at least 2 years.
• Your occupation need not remain on a specific strategic list, as long as it’s in the relevant ANZSCO group, eligibility remains.
• Regional 494 visa holders – after the required regional stay and compliance – may eventually pursue permanent residency (for example via 191 visa), depending on regional visa rules.

This “work on the ground → qualify for PR” route is the most reliable if you want to stay permanently.

Employer Nomination & Application for 186 ENS Visa (Permanent Residency)

Once you meet the 2 years of full-time work requirement (on 482/494):

• Your employer lodges a nomination under 186 (TRT stream).
• You lodge the 186 visa application (with all supporting documents: employment history, health & character checks, English proficiency if required, etc.)
• Upon approval, you and (if applicable) family members receive PR and enjoy associated benefits.

Key Recent Changes (2024-2025) That Make This Route Easier: What You Should Know

• The old Short-Term / Medium-Term stream division of 482 is replaced by a new “Skills in Demand (SID) 482 visa” structure (from December 2024).
• More importantly: all 482 holders (regardless of stream) become eligible for PR via 186 after 2 years of work, previously, only certain streams/occupations qualified and often with a 3-year requirement.
• The occupation lists are more flexible now – as long as the role aligns with the ANZSCO classification, you may qualify for 186 nomination.
• For regional 494 visa holders, regional PR pathways remain available (for example via PR visas designed for regional sponsors).
• For the 186 TRT stream, only employment periods under an “approved work sponsor” now count toward the required two years of work experience. Work done for a non-sponsoring employer – or during times when employer sponsorship was not active – will no longer count toward the 2-year requirement.

These reforms have made employer-sponsored pathways more inclusive, flexible, and accessible than ever before, especially for international graduates on 485 visas.

Case Study: From Expiring 485 to 482 Sponsorship to PR – Ali’s Journey

When Ali completed his Master of Information Technology in Melbourne, he was granted a Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate Visa, giving him two years of work rights. Like thousands of other international graduates, he wanted to secure a long-term future in Australia – ideally through employer sponsorship and eventually permanent residency.

Challenge

Despite having good academic credentials and one year of relevant experience, Ali found it difficult to secure employer sponsorship because most employers were unsure about the process and preferred candidates with permanent work rights. As the expiry of his 485 visa approached, Ali needed a clear, actionable strategy to secure continued stay and build his career in Australia.

How Aussizz Group Helped?

Ali approached Aussizz Group for guidance. After reviewing his profile, the expert migration team:

• Helped him understand his eligibility for employer-sponsored pathways (482 → 186)
• Assisted him in structuring his resume and job-application strategy to target employers open to sponsorship
• Managed the 482 visa nomination and application process, ensuring strong compliance and documentation

Outcome

Ali was granted a 482 (Skills in Demand) visa while remaining onshore – without needing to leave Australia. Over the next two years, he worked full-time and gained valuable professional experience.

With the rule changes reducing the PR pathway to 2 years of full-time work for 482 visa holders, Aussizz Group later supported Ali’s employer with the 186 ENS TRT nomination, moving him onto the path to Permanent Residency.

Common Myths vs Reality: What You Must Avoid Assuming

Key Considerations & What to Watch Out For

• Employer must be legitimate & willing to sponsor: Not every job offer qualifies, employer needs to be approved, show a genuine vacancy, pay market salary, and follow sponsorship obligations.
• Maintain the same occupation: The 2-year work requirement for 186 TRT applies to working full-time in the nominated occupation. Changing roles/occupation can jeopardize eligibility.
• Documentation matters: Employment contracts, payslips, job descriptions, health/character checks, skills evidence, everything needs to be properly maintained for both 482/494 and 186 applications.
• Timing & visa expiry: Be aware of your 485 visa expiry. Begin sponsor search early; don’t wait until last moment. Bridging visas may help, but it’s best to plan proactively.
• Regional vs Metropolitan Pros & Cons: Regional 494 visas may offer faster sponsorship and PR pathways and many more occupaitons that might not be otherwise available, but you must be open to living/working in regional areas (less urban amenities, but potentially lower living costs and better employer demand).

Why This Pathway Is Smart for Many Graduates?

For many international graduates on 485 visas, transitioning to employer-sponsored visas (482 or 494), and eventually permanent residence (186), presents a realistic, on-shore, long-term migration pathway.

With the recent reforms, the pathway has become more accessible, flexible and inclusive: shorter work-experience requirements (2 years), broader occupation eligibility, and smoother PR transition via 186 ENS.

If you proactively network, gain relevant experience, secure a willing employer, and comply with requirements, you could build a stable career and permanent Australian residency, without leaving the country.

At Aussizz Group, we’ve helped 180,000+ aspirants realize their Australian dreams. If you’re ready to explore employer-sponsorship, 482, 494 or 186, or need help with documentation, employer matching, or migration strategy, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

FAQs

Q1. When should I start looking for employer sponsorship after 485?

As soon as you get the 485 visa and start working (or job-hunting) in Australia, especially if you have completed your qualification and are employed or about to be employed, start looking for employers open to sponsoring. Time spent on 485 is valuable: it gives you local exposure, time to network, and an opportunity to secure a sponsoring employer before your 485 expires.

Q2. Can I get permanent residency after just 2 years on 482?

Yes. Following the recent reforms (post-2024), most 482 visa holders (including SID, previously TSS or short-term streams) can become eligible for permanent residency via 186 ENS under the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream after two years of full-time work in the nominated occupation.

Q3. Does my occupation still need to be on a strategic list to qualify?

Not necessarily. The updated rules have relaxed strict occupation-list constraints: as long as your occupation aligns with the corresponding ANZSCO code (i.e. is a legitimate skilled role), you may qualify for 186 nomination via TRT stream.

Q4. What if I move to a new employer while on 482 – will my 2-year work count reset?

It depends, if you change to a new employer, the new employer must be an approved sponsor, and your nominated occupation must remain the same. Under such circumstances, time worked with previous sponsor can still count toward the 2-year requirement – provided all rules are met.

Q5. Is there a regional route via 494 and can that lead to PR?

Yes. If you get employer sponsorship under a regional employer via 494, you can work in regional Australia, and many such visas offer a pathway to permanent residency (often via regional nomination visas or PR after fulfilling regional stay/work requirements).