In December 2024, the Australian Government officially replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa with the Skills in Demand (SID) visa. The subclass number stayed the same — 482 — but the structure changed significantly. New salary thresholds came in, the occupation list was consolidated, and the pathway to permanent residency became clearer.

If you are a skilled worker looking for employer-sponsored work in Australia, or if you already hold a 482 visa under the old TSS rules, these changes affect your situation. This guide explains what the Skills in Demand visa is, how it works in 2026, and what it means for your future in Australia.

What Is the Skills in Demand Visa?

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is a temporary employer-sponsored visa. It allows Australian employers to bring in skilled overseas workers for positions they cannot fill locally.

The visa is temporary, which means it has an end date. But it leads directly to permanent residency for workers who meet the right conditions over time. On this visa, you have the legal right to live and work in Australia for the employer who sponsors you. Your partner and dependent children can also come to Australia with you as secondary applicants on the same visa.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the visa is valid for between 2 and 5 years depending on your stream. One thing that does not change: you cannot apply for this visa without an employer. Your employer must first become an approved sponsor and then nominate you for the specific role before you can lodge your application.

The Three Streams of the 482 Visa

The Skills in Demand visa operates through three separate streams. Each stream is designed for a different type of worker and employment situation.

Core Skills Stream

This is the main stream and the one most workers and employers use. It covers occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which replaced the old MLTSSL and STSOL lists when the SID visa launched. The CSOL currently includes 456 occupations across trades, healthcare, engineering, construction, information technology, and more, according to the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list.

Workers on the Core Skills stream must earn at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT). The current CSIT is $76,515 per year, excluding superannuation. From 1 July 2026, this rises to $79,499. The 3.8% increase is tied to the annual growth in Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE) as published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, confirmed by Baker McKenzie. Any nomination lodged on or after 1 July 2026 must meet the new threshold — nominations lodged before that date are not affected.

Visa duration for the Core Skills stream is up to 4 years.

Specialist Skills Stream

This stream applies to workers in high-paying roles that sit above the standard CSIT. The minimum salary for this stream is $141,210 per year for nominations lodged before 1 July 2026, rising to $146,717 from that date. Workers do not need their occupation to appear on the CSOL for this stream. The higher salary threshold is the primary filter.

In practice, this stream covers senior professionals in finance, technology, and engineering where salaries above the standard threshold are common. Visa duration for the Specialist Skills stream is up to 5 years.

Labour Agreement Stream

The Labour Agreement stream is for employers who have a formal Labour Agreement negotiated directly with the Australian Government. These agreements allow specific industries or regional employers to sponsor workers for roles that may not appear on standard occupation lists. Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) operate under this stream and are particularly relevant for regional workforce needs.

For a full comparison of all three streams and which one applies to your situation, read: Skills in Demand Visa Streams Explained: Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying, both the employer and the worker must meet specific requirements.

Work experience: You need at least one year of full-time work experience in your nominated occupation or a closely related field, completed within the past five years. Part-time and casual work can count if the total hours are equivalent.

English language: The Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams require a minimum English standard. This is generally an IELTS overall score of 5.0, with no individual band below 4.5. Equivalent results in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, LanguageCert, CELPIP, or other accepted tests are also valid. Some nationality and occupation exemptions apply. For guidance on English test requirements for Australian visas, read: PTE Score Requirements for Australia.

Occupation: Your nominated job must be on the relevant occupation list for your stream. For Core Skills, this is the CSOL. For more on the occupation list, read: Skilled Occupation List Australia 2025: Complete Guide.

Skills assessment: Some occupations require a formal assessment from a recognised assessing authority before the nomination can proceed. A registered migration agent can confirm whether your occupation falls into this category.

Health and character: Standard health examination and police clearance requirements apply to all applicants.

How the Application Process Works

The 482 visa application moves through three stages in order. Missing a step or submitting them out of sequence causes delays.

Stage 1 — Sponsor approval: Your employer applies to become a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). This is a separate application that requires the business to show it is lawfully operating in Australia with a clean compliance record. Sponsor approval is valid for five years.

Stage 2 — Nomination: Once approved as a sponsor, the employer nominates the specific role. This includes evidence of the occupation, the salary, and for most Core Skills nominations, proof of labour market testing. Labour market testing means the employer advertised the role in Australia for at least four weeks, across at least two advertisements, before deciding to sponsor an overseas worker.

Stage 3 — Visa application: After nomination approval, you submit your visa application. You will need your passport, evidence of work experience, English test results, health examination results, and police clearances from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years.

For current processing times across visa categories including the 482, read: Ultimate Guide to Australian Visa Processing Times (2025).

For more detail on what the employer and worker each need to do throughout this process, read: Employer Sponsorship for the Skills in Demand Visa: What You Need to Know.

Pathway to Permanent Residency

The 482 visa is temporary, but it has a clear route to Australian permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) via the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.

To apply for the 186 TRT, you generally need to have worked for your sponsoring employer for at least two years in the nominated occupation while holding a valid 482 visa. You must also be under 45 years of age and meet a higher English requirement — IELTS 6.0 overall compared to the 5.0 needed for the 482 itself. Your employer must agree to nominate you for permanent residency.

The minimum required employment period was reduced from three years to two years following a policy change in November 2025. For workers who were close to the threshold under the old rule, this made permanent residency accessible sooner.

For a full step-by-step walkthrough of the 186 TRT process, requirements, and what to expect during processing, read: Skills in Demand Visa to Permanent Residency: The 186 TRT Pathway in 2026.

If your occupation also appears on the skilled migration occupation list and you have enough points, you may have a separate PR pathway through the points-tested system. Read: Australia PR Points System 2025 and use the Australia PR Points Calculator to check your score.

AEO Questions: Skills in Demand Visa Australia 2026

What is the Skills in Demand visa in Australia?

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is a temporary employer-sponsored visa. It allows skilled overseas workers to live and work in Australia when their employer cannot find a suitably qualified Australian worker for the role. It replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa in December 2024 and operates through three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement.

What is the difference between the old 482 TSS visa and the new Skills in Demand visa?

The subclass number is unchanged (482), but the structure changed when the SID visa launched in December 2024. The old TSS visa had short-term and medium-term streams tied to two separate occupation lists. The Skills in Demand visa replaced those with Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams, a single consolidated occupation list (CSOL), and updated salary thresholds indexed annually to AWOTE.

What salary do I need for the Skills in Demand visa in 2026?

For the Core Skills stream, the minimum salary is $76,515 per year until 30 June 2026, rising to $79,499 from 1 July 2026. For the Specialist Skills stream, the minimum is $141,210 until 30 June 2026, rising to $146,717 from 1 July 2026. Both figures exclude superannuation and are indexed annually to the Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings.

Can I apply for the 482 visa without an employer?

No. The Skills in Demand visa is an employer-sponsored visa. You cannot apply independently. Your employer must first become an approved Standard Business Sponsor, then submit a nomination for your role, before you can lodge a visa application.

What English score do I need for the Skills in Demand visa?

For the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams, you generally need an IELTS overall score of 5.0, with no individual band below 4.5. Equivalent results in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, LanguageCert, and CELPIP are also accepted. Some nationality and occupation exemptions apply.

How long can I stay in Australia on the 482 visa?

The visa is valid for between 2 and 5 years. Core Skills stream holders can stay for up to 4 years. Specialist Skills stream holders can stay for up to 5 years. Secondary applicants (partner and dependent children) are granted the same duration.

Can the Skills in Demand visa lead to Australian permanent residency?

Yes. After working for your sponsoring employer for at least two years on a valid 482 visa, you may be eligible to apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) via the Temporary Residence Transition stream. This visa grants permanent residency in Australia.

What is the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)?

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is the official list of occupations eligible for the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa. It replaced both the MLTSSL and STSOL in December 2024 and currently includes 456 occupations across trades, healthcare, engineering, construction, and technology.

What changed about the 482 visa from 1 July 2026?

From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold rises from $76,515 to $79,499 per year, and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold rises from $141,210 to $146,717 per year. These increases reflect the 3.8% annual AWOTE indexation. Any nomination lodged on or after 1 July 2026 must satisfy the new salary floors.

How many occupations are on the CSOL for the 482 visa?

As of December 2024, the CSOL covers 456 occupations. A revised CSOL incorporating stakeholder consultation feedback is expected to be released in 2026, with health, education, construction, and regional trades expected to be among the priority areas.

Speak to a Registered Migration Agent

The Skills in Demand visa application involves multiple steps across employer and applicant sides. Getting the stream, occupation, and salary details right before lodging a nomination matters because errors at the nomination stage can affect the whole process.

Desire Migration is led by Mrs. Manisha Bhutani, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217756), with offices in Truganina and the Melbourne CBD.
Contact Desire Migration to book a consultation for employer-sponsored visa guidance.