Facing a visa refusal can be stressful, especially if you’re relying on a Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa to stay and work in Australia. If your 482 visa has been refused, it’s important to understand your options—and act quickly.

🚫 What Happens After a 482 Visa Refusal?

When a 482 visa is refused, one of the immediate consequences is the triggering of Section 48 of the Migration Act. This means that you cannot apply for most types of visas while you remain onshore in Australia.

However, not all hope is lost. Despite the Section 48 bar, you may still be eligible to apply for certain visas, such as:
• Subclass 190 – Skilled Nominated visa
• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa
• Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa

But eligibility depends on your bridging visa status at the time of refusal and whether you meet all other visa criteria. Make sure to confirm this with a registered migration agent before taking further steps.

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🛑 Two Common Scenarios After a Refusal

1. Nomination and Visa Both Refused

In this case, both the sponsor and the visa applicant face a refusal.
• The sponsoring employer must lodge an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for the nomination refusal.
• The visa applicant can either:
• Withdraw the visa application; or
• Lodge their own appeal with the AAT, only if appeal rights are available.

📝 Note: For the appeal to proceed successfully, both the nomination and visa refusal need to be reviewed and overturned. This requires valid legal grounds.

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2. Only Visa Refused, Nomination Approved

This is a more manageable scenario.
• The visa applicant may be able to appeal the visa refusal to the AAT—provided they have appeal rights.
• If the nomination remains valid and in effect, a new visa application may be possible, subject to Section 48 restrictions.

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📣 Why Professional Help Matters

Every refusal is different. Factors like the reason for refusal, timing, and current visa status significantly impact your options.

⚠️ That’s why we strongly recommend seeking advice from a Registered Migration Agent (RMA) or immigration lawyer as soon as possible. Making the wrong move can lead to serious consequences, including becoming unlawful or losing your right to appeal.

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👩‍⚖️ Final Words

A 482 visa refusal doesn’t always mean the end of the road—but it does mean that careful legal consideration is needed. Whether it’s appealing to the AAT, exploring other visa options, or preparing to depart and reapply offshore, your next step should be based on expert advice.

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💬 Have questions about your 482 visa refusal or appeal options? Post your query below or contact our GrowMore Community team to connect with an RMA.