Yes – a 482 visa holder can change employers, and the rules around doing so are now considerably more flexible than they used to be. That said, the process is more involved than a standard employment change, and timing matters. Understanding how the rules work before a job change happens – not after – makes a significant difference to how smoothly the transition goes.
The 180-Day Window
Since 1 July 2024, 482 visa holders have a grace period of up to 180 consecutive days – up from the previous 60 days – to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa, or arrange to depart Australia. During this period, the worker remains lawfully in Australia and is not considered to be in breach of their visa conditions.
During this time, 482 visa holders can work for other employers in occupations not listed in their sponsorship nomination, ensuring visa holders can support themselves financially while looking for a new sponsor. This is a meaningful practical improvement – previously, workers were restricted from working for any other employer until a new nomination was approved.
One important condition applies: the visa holder must have officially ceased work with their sponsoring employer before working for another employer.
The 180-day window is a genuine and useful mechanism, but it does require prompt action. Finding a new employer who is an approved Standard Business Sponsor, preparing and lodging a new nomination, and managing the visa transition all take time. Leaving it to the final weeks of the 180-day window creates unnecessary risk, particularly given that processing delays can push nomination approvals beyond the 180-day window.
There is also a cumulative cap to be aware of: the total time a person can cease to work during their entire visa period must not exceed 365 days.
A Key Update: You Can Keep Working While the Nomination is Pending
One of the most practically important clarifications in recent times is that 482 visa holders who have ceased employment with their previous sponsor and have lodged a nomination with a new employer do not need to stop working – even if the 180-day period has lapsed. This directly addresses one of the most stressful aspects of changing sponsors and provides meaningful continuity for workers and employers alike.
What Happens to Your PR Pathway?
The December 2024 amendments insert the requirement that work experience for the 186 TRT pathway must be with an Approved Work Sponsor. However, the work experience will only count from the time when your employer submits the nomination transfer application and it is subsequently approved. For example, you commenced working for a new employer on 1 March, and the nomination transfer application is not lodged until 1 April and it is subsequently approved on 1 May, the only time that can be counted is from 1 April.
The practical takeaway: work experience across multiple sponsors can count cumulatively. This is an area where getting advice early – before changing roles – can protect the PR pathway rather than jeopardise it.
Obligations on the Outgoing Employer
The end of an employment relationship does not end the sponsoring employer’s obligations. The former sponsor is required to notify the Department of Home Affairs of the cessation of employment within 28 days. Sponsors should ensure this notification is lodged through ImmiAccount promptly and that accurate records of the end date are retained.
FAQs
Can a 482 visa holder change employers?
Yes – a 482 visa holder can change employers. Since 1 July 2024, workers have up to 180 consecutive days after ceasing employment to find a new approved sponsor, have a new nomination lodged, and either transfer their existing visa or apply for a new one. During this period, they remain lawfully in Australia and can work for other employers to support themselves financially.
Do I need a new 482 visa when I change employers?
Generally, no – provided the occupation remains the same and the current visa is still valid. The new employer needs to lodge a nomination, and the existing visa will be linked to them once that nomination is approved. A new visa application is required if the occupation changes or if the existing visa doesn’t have much longer validity left.
Can I work while my new nomination is being processed?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs has confirmed that once a nomination has been lodged with a new employer, a 482 visa holder can continue working for that employer while the nomination is being processed – even if the 180-day period has lapsed. This removes one of the most significant compliance risks workers previously faced during a sponsorship transition.
What happens if I cannot find a new sponsor within 180 days?
If a new sponsor cannot be secured within the 180-day window, the visa holder must either obtain a different visa, such as a partner visa or bridging visa, or make arrangements to depart Australia. Given that processing delays are common, acting well before the 180-day deadline is strongly advisable.
Does changing employers reset the two-year requirement for the 186 TRT visa?
Not necessarily – but it requires careful management. Work experience with multiple sponsors can count cumulatively toward the two-year qualifying period, provided each employer held a valid sponsorship approval during the relevant period of employment. Periods worked during the 180-day gap may also be counted, provided the worker is subsequently nominated by that employer. Getting migration advice before changing roles is strongly recommended.
What are the outgoing employer’s obligations when a sponsored worker leaves?
The outgoing employer must notify the Department of Home Affairs of the cessation of employment within 28 days of the worker’s last day of work. This is a mandatory sponsorship obligation and applies regardless of whether the worker resigned, was made redundant, or was terminated.