Visa 482 After 45: Age Limits and the PR Pathway

Age is one of the most anxious questions for anyone considering an Australian migration journey. The truth is: 45 is an important threshold to know about.

Does the 482 visa have an age limit?

No. The 482 visa (TSS) has no upper age limit. You can apply for a 482 visa at any age, as long as you meet the other conditions (skills, salary, occupation on the list).

People aged 50 or 55 can still be granted a 482 visa if an employer is willing to sponsor them and the application meets the requirements.

The age-45 limit affects PR through the 186 visa

The most common PR pathway from a 482 visa is through the 186 visa (ENS) — Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream. An important condition: the applicant must be under 45 at the time of application.

This is a strict limit — if you are 46, you cannot apply for the 186 TRT stream even with many years of work in Australia.

Exceptions for people over 45

There are a few exceptions:

• Doctors and nurses (some specific cases are exempt from the age limit)
• University academics — the age limit is more relaxed
• Some positions under a Labour Agreement may have different conditions

These exceptions are narrow and specific — they do not apply broadly.

Strategy for people approaching 45

If you are approaching the age-45 threshold:

Priority 1: Lodge the 186 before turning 45 The limit is assessed at the time of application, not when it is approved. If you are 44 and eligible, apply now.

TRT stream conditions:

• Work full-time for the sponsoring employer for at least 2 yearsPending verification (for occupations on the medium and long-term list)
• The position is on the relevant occupation list and the employer agrees to sponsor

Priority 2: Explore skilled visas (189/190) Some skilled visas are harder for people over 45 because the EOI points drop past 45 (age score reduces). But with a state nomination (190/491), it may still be feasible.

The reality once you are past 45

If you are past 45 and have no clear PR pathway, the 482 visa still allows you to live and work long-term in Australia (in particular, the medium and long-term list stream can be renewed multiple times). Many people choose to keep living in Australia on a long-term temporary visa rather than holding PR.