Employer visas / When a 482 job ends
Guide · Sponsored workers
When your 482 job ends: the 180-day rule.
If you stop working for your sponsor, you don't have to leave straight away. You have up to 180 days to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or arrange to leave. Here is how it works, for workers and for employers.
The rule
180 days at a time, 365 in total.
Since 1 July 2024, sponsored workers have far longer than the old 60 days. The time runs from the day you stop working for your sponsor.
During the 180 days you can
- Find a new approved sponsor who nominates you
- Apply for a different visa
- Work for another employer, including outside your nominated occupation
- Make arrangements to leave Australia
The limits
- No more than 180 days in a row without a sponsor
- No more than 365 days in total across the whole visa
- No work that needs a licence or registration you don't hold
- Gaps before 1 July 2024 don't count towards the limits
For workers
Changing employer on a 482.
Check your dates
Work out the day your employment ended and how many days without a sponsor you have already used. Check your visa conditions in VEVO.
Same occupation
Your new employer must be an approved sponsor and lodge a new nomination. You don't need a new visa if you stay in the same occupation.
Different occupation
The new employer lodges a nomination and you also apply for a new visa. The occupation must be eligible, see our occupation lists guide.
Your family
Family members on your visa depend on your visa. A new visa application usually needs to include them.
For employers
When a sponsored worker leaves, or joins you.
If a sponsored worker leaves you
- Tell Home Affairs within 28 days, through ImmiAccount or sponsor.notifications@abf.gov.au
- Pay reasonable return travel costs if asked in writing, within 30 days
- Keep your records for 2 years after the sponsorship ends
- Tell Home Affairs if the end date changes
If you want to hire one
- You can employ them during their 180 days
- To sponsor them, you need sponsorship approval and a new nomination
- The salary must meet the threshold and the market rate, see our salary thresholds guide
- Labour market testing usually applies, see our guide
Sources: Home Affairs, Skills in Demand Core Skills stream; Home Affairs, sponsorship obligations.
How it works
From first call to a working visa.
Free 15-minute call
We confirm the right visa, the occupation and the salary, and flag anything that could hold it up.
Clear terms, then we begin
You receive a written quote and a checklist for the business and the employee.
We prepare everything
Sponsorship, nomination and visa, prepared together where we can. We guide any job advertising that’s needed.
Lodged and looked after
We lodge, deal with Home Affairs until a decision, and explain your obligations.
FAQ
Questions about a 482 job ending.
Does the 180-day clock reset when I find a new job?
Each period without a sponsor can be up to 180 days. But all periods together can't exceed 365 days over the life of the visa.
Can I work while I look for a new sponsor?
Yes. You can work for another employer, even outside your occupation, as long as the work doesn't need a licence or registration you don't hold.
Do I need a new visa to change employer?
Not if you stay in the same occupation. Your new employer lodges a new nomination. A different occupation needs a new nomination and a new visa.
What if I can't find a new sponsor?
Apply for another visa or arrange to leave before your 180 days end. Staying past that point risks cancellation of your visa.
Does this apply to the 494?
Yes. The same 180-day and 365-day limits apply to 494 and 457 holders.
General information only, checked against Home Affairs guidance on 15 October 2026. Not legal advice. Requirements change, so we check your case against the rules in force when you nominate.
Keep reading
More on employer visas.
Hiring from overseas?
Book a free 15-minute call and a lawyer will tell you where you stand. Or call 1300 079 743.