Australia–UAE CEPA: Employ and Work under Subclass 482 Visa

If you are an Australian business looking to employ a United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizen, or you are a UAE-based professional considering a move to Australia under employer sponsorship, the recent implementation of the Australia–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has just made the process much faster and easier.

Let’s see how.

Table of Contents

CEPA Explained: What’s in the Australia–UAE Free Trade Agreement?
What does this mean for UAE Nationals and Australian Businesses?
How Emerson Migration Law Can Assist

CEPA Explained: What’s in the Australia–UAE Free Trade Agreement?

On 18 August 2025, Australia updated its list of international trade obligations (LIN 21/075) to include CEPA: the Australia–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement — Australia’s first such agreement with a Middle Eastern nation.

Most importantly, this document exempts Australian Business owners from the LMT requirement when hiring a UAE under the Subclass 482 visa.

But what does this mean in practice?

What does this mean for UAE Nationals and Australian Businesses?

If you are a UAE national and you have received a job offer from an Australian company, you now have a much smoother pathway to working in Australia under the Subclass 482 visa.

At the same time, Australian employers interested in hiring UAE professionals can now bypass one of the most time-consuming and costly steps in the sponsorship process: the LMT requirement, unlocking several new benefits:

Speak to a Lawyer today

If you are interested in getting more information about a visa, get in touch with Emerson Migration Law for a consultation.

They no longer need to advertise the position locally or prove that there are no suitable Australian applicants before hiring a UAE professional
The processing time for the Subclass 482 application is significantly reduced

However, this exemption is not automatic for all occupations or visa streams; it applies only where the position falls under Australia’s Skilled Occupation List.

What occupations are covered?

Some of the most in-demand roles for the 2025/26 financial year include: Civil Engineers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses, ICT Business Analysts, Secondary School Teachers, Construction Project Managers, Aged Care Workers, Medical Laboratory Scientists.

To check if your occupation of interest is covered, please refer to the official Department of Home Affairs’ Skilled Occupation List

How Emerson Migration Law Can Assist

Whether you’re an Australian business looking to employ a United Arab Emirates (UAE) citizen or you are a UAE-based professional considering a move to Australia, our experienced migration lawyers in Brisbane will guide you on meeting all necessary requirements of the Subclass 482 application, such as: