Visa Condition 8607 — Skills in Demand (482) Work Condition

What condition 8607 requires

Condition 8607 requires a subclass 482 visa holder to work only in the occupation they were nominated in, and only for the employer (sponsor) who nominated them — with limited exceptions. It isn't a general permission to work in Australia; it's permission to work in a specific role for a specific employer. Taking on work outside your nominated occupation, or working for an employer other than your approved sponsor, generally breaches the condition unless one of the narrow exceptions applies (for example, arrangements approved through your sponsor in specific circumstances). Because sponsorship, nomination and visa approval are linked, changing what you do for work usually means changing what's been approved — not just changing your day-to-day tasks.

Changing employer or occupation

If you want to change occupation, current guidance is that a new nomination needs to be approved (and in some cases a new visa granted) before you start working in the new role — you generally can't just start the new work and sort the paperwork out afterwards. Changing employer while staying in the same nominated occupation typically requires your new employer to become an approved sponsor and lodge a new nomination for you. This is a live area of policy that has been adjusted over recent years, so check the current process — including timing and any transitional arrangements — before making a move, rather than relying on how it worked previously.

Stopping work — the cessation period

If your employment with your sponsor ends — redundancy, resignation, business closure — you don't need to leave the country immediately, but there is a time limit for finding a new pathway. Under rules that took effect from 1 July 2024, a subclass 482 visa holder can go without working in their nominated occupation for up to 180 consecutive days at a time, with a combined total of no more than 365 days across the life of the visa. Within that window you're generally expected to either secure a new approved sponsor in the same (or a newly nominated) occupation, move to a different visa, or make arrangements to leave. Some guidance suggests you may be able to work for other employers or in other occupations during this cessation window, but the detail matters here — confirm the current rules for your exact circumstances rather than assuming, since getting this wrong risks the visa itself.

What breaching condition 8607 can mean

Working outside your nominated occupation, working for an unapproved employer, or exceeding the permitted cessation period are all potential breaches of condition 8607, and a breach is grounds for visa cancellation. This can also flow through to your employer — sponsors have their own compliance obligations, and knowingly allowing or facilitating a breach exposes them to sanctions separately from what happens to your visa. Because a 482 sits underneath an employer sponsorship arrangement, a breach can affect more than just you.

If your job is at risk or you're planning a change

If redundancy, a job change, or a switch of occupation is on the horizon, the safest move is to get the current cessation-period rules and the nomination process confirmed before anything changes — not after you've already stopped working or started a new role. A MARA-registered migration agent can review your grant conditions and current employment situation and map out the options and timing that actually apply to your case, including whether a different visa pathway makes more sense than waiting out the cessation clock.

Can I work a second, casual job on a 482 visa?

Generally no — condition 8607 restricts you to your nominated occupation for your approved sponsor, with only limited exceptions. Taking on unrelated casual work outside that arrangement is likely to breach the condition. Check your specific circumstances before accepting any additional work.

How long can I be without a sponsor before my 482 visa is at risk?

Current rules (from 1 July 2024) allow up to 180 consecutive days not working in your nominated occupation, with a 365-day cap across the whole visa. Confirm the current figures apply to your grant, since these settings have changed over time.

Do I need a new visa to change employer on a 482?

Not always a new visa, but you generally need your new employer to be an approved sponsor and to lodge a new nomination before you start. Changing occupation (rather than just employer) is more likely to require a fresh nomination and possibly a new visa. Confirm the current process for your situation.

Does condition 8607 apply to my family members on the same visa?

Condition 8607 restricts the primary visa holder's work to their nominated occupation and sponsor. Secondary applicants (partners, dependants) typically have different, less restrictive work conditions — check the conditions listed against each person's individual grant.

What happens if I keep working after my sponsor lets me go?

Continuing to perform work for a sponsor who has terminated your employment, or working elsewhere without an approved arrangement, can breach condition 8607 regardless of the cessation-period rules. Get your situation checked as soon as employment ends, not once the cessation window has already run out.