Leaving Your Employer on a 482 Visa: What You Need to Know

Ending an employment relationship can feel uncertain at the best of times. For those holding a Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482), the transition requires careful attention to Australia’s visa conditions to ensure your status remains protected.

Whether your role ended due to resignation, redundancy, or business change, understanding your position early allows you to move forward with clarity and confidence.

The Role of Condition 8607

All subclass 482 visa holders are subject to visa condition 8607, which governs how long you may remain in Australia without an approved sponsoring employer.

Under this condition, you must not:

• Remain without sponsorship for more than 180 consecutive days, or 365 days in total over the life of the visa; or

• Work in a role that falls outside your sponsoring employer’s business (or associated entity), unless your occupation is exempt.

These timeframes apply regardless of how or why your employment ended.

What Happens When Employment Ends

Once your employment ceases, your sponsoring employer is required to notify the Department of Home Affairs.

From that point:

• Your permitted period without sponsorship begins; and

• You may remain in Australia and work freely for any employer in any occupation while you consider your next steps.

This flexibility is temporary and designed to allow space for thoughtful planning—rather than rushed decisions.

When the Permitted Period Expires

If a new sponsorship arrangement is not in place within the allowable timeframe, you will be considered non-compliant with your visa conditions, placing your 482 visa at risk of cancellation.

Where you are located matters:

• If you are in Australia, the Department will generally notify you before taking action.

• If you are outside Australia, cancellation may occur without prior notice.

Even where cancellation does not occur immediately, non-compliance can influence the assessment of future visa applications.

Staying in Australia: Is It Possible?

In many cases, yes.

If you secure a new employer willing to sponsor you, they may lodge a new subclass 482 nomination, allowing your sponsorship to transfer seamlessly.

If sponsorship is not available, your options may include:

• Applying for an alternative visa pathway (where eligible);

• Departing Australia before your permitted period ends; or

• Remaining in Australia beyond the allowed timeframe, which carries significant risk.

Choosing the right path depends on your long-term goals and personal circumstances.

Exploring Alternative Visa Options

Each individual’s situation is unique. Factors such as your occupation, work history, age, and future plans will influence which visa pathways may be available to you.

In some cases, lodging a new visa application may allow you to remain in Australia on a bridging visa, potentially without the restrictions of condition 8607. Strategic timing and professional advice are essential.

A Considered Approach with Moon Visa

At Moon Visa, we work with professionals, creatives, executives, and global talent navigating moments of change. We regularly advise 482 visa holders who have:

• Chosen to move on from their sponsor

• Been affected by redundancy or restructuring

• Experienced employer business closures

We also assist employers with compliant sponsorship transfers and forward-planning.

If your employment has recently ended, early, tailored advice can preserve both your visa status and your future opportunities in Australia.

✨ To explore your options, arrange a confidential consultation.