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Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

The Skills in Demand Visa has replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) Visa from 7 December 2024, moving to a three-tiered system for applicants based on their annual earnings and occupation. This new Skills in Demand visa aims to address labour market needs and introduces several significant changes for temporary skilled migrant workers, including more time to find another sponsor if their employment is terminated, and a clearer pathway to apply for permanent residency. Skill shortages will now be independently verified, and employers will have more incentive to attract and retain skilled workers.

The three-tiered system in use for the Skills in Demand Visa is as follows:

Tier 1 – Specialist Skills Pathway Tier 2 – Core Skills Pathway Tier 3 – Essential Skills Pathway
– No occupation list applicable, however trades workers, machine operators, drivers and labourers are excluded

– Requires guaranteed annual earnings of at least $146,576 (from 1 July 2026) indexed annually

– Priority processing with a commitment to a 7-day median visa processing time

 – A simpler and regularly updated Core Skills Occupation list (CSOL) managed by Jobs and Skills Australia

– Requires guaranteed annual earnings of at least $79,423 (from 1 July 2026) indexed annually (TSMIT)

 – For occupations earning under $79,423 per year but working in essential skill occupations.

– Further assessment by the government is being undertaken on the best way to introduce this pathway

This pathway is likely to be sector-specific, with stronger regulatory framework, minimum standards and ongoing advice from Jobs and Skills Australia
Skills in Demand Visa Eligibility Check

Skilled temporary visas: replacement of the TSS 482 visa

A new three tiered system of Skills in Demand Visa pathways has replaced the TSS 482 Visa.

  • The specialist skills visa pathway has no occupational list and comes with a processing turnaround of 7 days. Trades occupations, machinery operators, drivers and labourers are excluded from this visa class. The original proposal included a cap of 3,000 places a year. The ‘specialist skills’ visa is intended for those earning over $146,576 per year.

Skills in Demand visa (SID) (subclass 482) applications in the Specialist Skills stream must meet the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT). The SSIT for SID Specialist Stream nomination applications are as follows:

    • AUD 146,576 for Nomination applications lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 ($141,210 for 2025–26)
  • The core skills visa pathway is expected to provide the majority of visas issued under this program. Trades workers apply for this visa if their occupation is on the ‘skills in demand list‘ developed by Jobs and Skills Australia. The ‘core skills’ visa is intended for those with annual earnings of $79,423 to $146,576. The earnings threshold for this pathway is the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which replaced the TSMIT. The CSIT for nomination applications is:
    • AUD79,423 for Nomination applications lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 (it was $76,515 for 2025–26).
  • The details of the essential skills visa pathway are yet to be finally determined. This visa will involve union oversight, be capped and be restricted to specific sectors.  To date, the aged care and disability sectors have been mentioned as potential target sectors for this pathway. The proposed ‘essential skills’ pathway was for those earning under $79,423, but it has not opened as a general stream (see our Essential Skills Pathway page).

Skills in Demand visas are granted for up to 4 years, with visa holders able to change employers more easily and benefiting from clear pathways to permanent residency. The ‘TSMIT‘ threshold, now the CSIT, is indexed annually, and a public register of employer sponsors was announced to make it easier for skilled workers to move between employers.

Overview of Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa Streams

At launch, the new SID visa comprises three distinct streams:

1. Skills in Demand Visa – Specialist Skills Stream

2. Skills in Demand Visa – Core Skills Stream

  • Applicable for occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
  • Minimum salary threshold: $79,423, indexed annually in line with Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE).

3. Skills in Demand Visa – Labour Agreement Stream

  • Unchanged from the Labour Agreement Stream under the previous subclass 482 (TSS visa) framework.

Key Eligibility Requirements

The Skills in Demand Visa (SID Visa) allows applicants to stay in Australia for up to 4 years, and offers pathways to permanent residency.

Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) Updates

  • Over 70 new occupations have been added, including Data Analyst, Supply Chain Analyst, Tour Guide and Child Care Worker.
  • Some roles, including Café and Restaurant Manager, ICT Support Engineer, and Graphic Designer, have been removed.

Labour Market Testing (LMT)

  • Employers must demonstrate genuine efforts to recruit locally before seeking overseas talent.
  • The LMT validity period is 4 months: advertising must take place within the 4 months before the nomination is lodged.

Australian Market Salary Rate (AMSR) –  Start from 1 Jul 2026

Employers must pay salaries that meet the minimum income threshold for the relevant Skills in Demand visa stream:

  • Specialist Skills Stream: $146,576 
  • Core Skills Stream: $79,423 (indexed annually).

Employer Obligations

  • Sponsors must prove financial viability and their capacity to meet market salary rates for the entire nomination period.

Fees and Requirements

Skills in Demand Visa Application Fees

  • Primary applicant: $4,015.00
  • Dependents aged 18+: $4,015.00 each.
  • Dependents under 18: $1,005 each.

Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy

No changes have been announced to SAF levy requirements.

Work Experience

Skills in Demand Visa applicants must have:

  • At least 12 months of full-time equivalent work experience within the last 5 years.
  • Qualifications, skills, and experience relevant to their nominated occupation (as per ANZSCO).

English Language Proficiency

An IELTS score (or equivalent) of at least 5 in each component is required, consistent with the previous MLTSSL stream.

English was conducted before 13 September 2025 (referred to as Old), on or after 13 September 2025 (referred to as new).

The test is valid for 3 years from the first test sitting (original test day).

Transitional Arrangements

  • Applications submitted before 7 December 2024 will be processed under the former TSS visa rules.
  • Visa applications submitted after 7 December 2024 will be assessed under the new SID visa requirements.
  • Nominations lodged before 7 December 2024 without a visa application can still be linked to a SID visa.

Pathway to Permanent Residency

1. Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) – Temporary Residence Transition Stream (186 TRT)

  • Applicants must complete 2 years of full-time employment in the same occupation in Australia within the last 3 years under a Subclass 457, 482 (TSS), or 482 (SID) visa.
  • Employment may be with multiple sponsors, as long as the total employment duration is continuous (excluding unpaid leave).

2. Direct Entry Stream (186 DE)

  • Limited to occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
  • Applicants must have:
    • A positive skills assessment.
    • 3 years of full-time relevant experience.

The introduction of the Skills in Demand Visa is a significant shift in Australia’s skilled migration strategy, aiming to address workforce shortages while maintaining stringent eligibility and employer obligations. Further updates may follow as the Department of Home Affairs refines its policies.

Skilling Australians Fund

The government considered collecting the SAF in smaller increments over time in recognition of the greater freedom of visa holders to change employers.  A monthly or quarterly payment model was flagged, but as at 2026 the SAF levy is still paid upfront with the nomination.

Labour Market Testing

LMT was streamlined from 11 December 2023: the requirement to advertise on the Workforce Australia site was removed. Two advertisements are needed, each open for at least 4 weeks, within the 4 months before the nomination is lodged.

The government has said LMT will be gradually phased out as Jobs and Skills Australia data on skills shortages improves and a Core Skilled Occupation List is created as an alternative to LMT.

Employer sponsored visa guides

TSS vs 491 vs 494 visa
Key elements of the Skills in Demand visa include:
  • Time spent with any approved employer will count towards permanent residence requirements.
  • Skills in Demand visa holders will have access to self-nominated independent permanent pathways, in addition to employer-sponsored pathways.
  • The SID Visa will provide for a 4-year stay for all streams.
  • A median processing time of 21 days.
  • Skills in Demand visa holders will have the ability to move between sponsors, with a 180 day time period to find a new sponsor.
  • Streamlined labour market testing (LMT) requirements have applied since 11 December 2023 and continue under the Skills in Demand visa. The requirement to advertise on Workforce Australia has been removed.

The Skills in Demand visa is part of the Australian government’s Migration Strategy, which sets out a range of long-term reforms to be implemented from 2024, including:

  • Streamlined labour market testing requirements;
  • System-wide simplification of immigration processes;
  • A new agency to identify skills needs; and
  • A new points system for permanent skilled migration.

Discuss your skilled visa options with an advisor

Book a meeting with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne for a commitment-free consultation covering all your Australian visa options.

Related:

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Can the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy be refunded if there is a refusal of the nomination?

Generally, no.

Refunds of the SAF levy are only available in limited circumstances. A nomination refusal does not usually qualify for a refund.

Refunds are more commonly available where:

  • A nomination application is withdrawn before a decision is made; or
  • A nomination is approved but the visa holder never starts employment with the sponsoring employer.
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If the applicant holds a Sc 482 visa in the Core Skills stream and then after changes employers and lodges a nomination in the Specialist skills stream because the guaranteed annual earnings exceed the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) are they required to obtain a new visa under the Specialist skills stream?

Not necessarily.

A new visa is generally not required simply because of a nomination transfer or a change between Subclass 482 streams.

However, a new visa may be required if:

  • The occupation changes;
  • The salary falls below what was approved; or
  • The existing visa is close to expiry.