Skills In Demand Visa and Temporary Skills Shortage visa- comparison table
- Existing TSS visa nominations can still be processed and linked to a Skills in Demand (SID) visa application, even if the occupation is no longer on the CSOL.
- Individuals can choose the closest occupation on the 2022 version of ANZSCO if their current occupation is removed from the list. This is to ensure no one is disadvantaged by the administrative change from the 2013 to 2022 ANZSCO version.
- For the 186 TRT stream, the work experience requirement has been moved from the nomination to the visa application stage. This allows individuals to count work experience with multiple employers to meet the 2-year requirement (from 29 November 2025, only time worked for an approved sponsor counts).
- The onus is now on the visa applicant to provide the correct employment history information, as they can now combine work experience from different employers.
- If an occupation is removed from the CSOL, the individual won’t be able to use the SID visa to gain additional work experience. However, they may be eligible for other visa options, such as individual labour agreements or regional employer-sponsored visas, to meet the 186 TRT requirements.
- The key is that the department is trying to ensure no one is disadvantaged by the occupation changes, and is providing flexibility around meeting the work experience requirements for the 186 TRT stream.
SID visa vs TSS visa: the key differences at a glance
The Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa for all new applications from 7 December 2024. It keeps the same subclass number (482) and the same three step process (sponsorship, nomination and visa application), but changes the streams, the occupation lists, the salary settings and the pathway to permanent residence. The table below sets out the main differences.
| Feature | TSS visa (closed to new applications) | SID visa (current) |
| Applications | 18 March 2018 to 6 December 2024 | From 7 December 2024 |
| Streams | Short-term, Medium-term and Labour Agreement | Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement |
| Occupation lists | Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and Regional Occupation List (ROL) | Core Skills stream: Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Specialist Skills stream: no list, but trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers are excluded |
| Minimum salary | Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) and the market salary rate | Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of $79,423 or Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) of $146,576 (nominations lodged from 1 July 2026), and the market salary rate |
| Work experience | Generally at least two years | At least one year of relevant work experience |
| Visa length | Up to 2 years (Short-term, usually) or up to 4 years (Medium-term) | Up to 4 years in every stream |
| Pathway to permanent residence | Originally Medium-term stream only; extended to all streams from 25 November 2023 | All streams, through the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream |
| Changing employers | Since 1 July 2024, both TSS and SID visa holders who stop working for their sponsor have up to 180 days at a time (365 days in total over the visa) to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or leave Australia, and can work for other employers during that time. | |
| Government visa charge | No longer available | $4,015 for the main applicant from 1 July 2026 (see SID 482 visa fees) |
From 29 November 2025, only time spent working for an approved sponsor counts towards the two years of work needed for the 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream, so if you change employers, make sure your new employer nominates you before you start working for them.
I hold a TSS visa. Do I need to apply for a SID visa?
No. Your TSS visa stays valid until its expiry date and keeps its conditions. You only need a new visa when you want to extend your stay beyond your current visa or when you change to a role that needs a new visa. Any new 482 application lodged now is a Skills in Demand application.
Can I still get permanent residence from a TSS visa?
Yes. TSS and SID visa holders can apply for the 186 visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream once they have at least two years of work with an approved sponsor and meet the other requirements, such as competent English, the salary threshold and the age limit. See our SID 482 visa path to PR guide.
My occupation was on the STSOL. Can I use the SID visa?
Possibly. The SID visa does not use the STSOL or the MLTSSL. For the Core Skills stream your occupation must be on the CSOL, and many former STSOL occupations are on it. If your salary is at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold and your occupation is not in an excluded group, the Specialist Skills stream may also be available.
Is the SID visa harder to get than the TSS visa?
In some ways it is easier: only one year of work experience is needed, every stream leads to permanent residence and the visa can be granted for up to four years. In other ways it is stricter: the income thresholds are higher than the old TSMIT and are indexed each year, and the employer still needs to complete labour market testing unless an exemption applies.
Contact us today for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.
