Looking to work in Australia through employer sponsorship? The Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (visa 482) may be the opportunity you are looking for.
Introduced on 7 December 2024, the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (visa 482). The new framework aims to make employer-sponsored migration more flexible and responsive to Australia’s labour market needs while providing skilled overseas workers with pathways to live and work in Australia.
This guide explains how the visa works, who may be eligible, and the potential pathways to permanent residence.
Key Takeaways
- The Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (visa 482) replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa on 7 December 2024.
- The visa allows approved Australian employers to sponsor suitably skilled overseas workers for genuine positions in Australia.
- The visa 482 visa currently operates through three streams:
- Most applicants require at least one year of relevant work experience or equivalent part-time experience gained within the previous five years.
- Applicants must satisfy English language, health, character and skills requirements.
- Eligible family members can be included in the application.
- Depending on individual circumstances, the Subclass 482 visa may provide pathways to permanent residence.
What is the Skills in Demand Visa (Visa 482)?
The Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) is an employer-sponsored temporary work visa that enables Australian businesses to address genuine skill shortages by sponsoring appropriately qualified overseas workers.
The visa allows eligible workers to:
- Live and work in Australia temporarily;
- Include eligible family members in their application;
- Travel to and from Australia while the visa remains valid; and
- Potentially access permanent residence pathways if eligible.
Most Subclass 482 visas can be granted for up to four years. Eligible Hong Kong passport holders may receive visas for up to five years.
Visa Streams Under the Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)
Core Skills Stream
The Core Skills Stream is designed for occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
To qualify, applicants generally must:
- Be nominated in an occupation on the CSOL;
- Be offered a position that meets the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT);
- Possess the qualifications, skills and experience required for the nominated position;
- Meet English language requirements; and
- Satisfy all visa criteria.
The Core Skills Stream applies across a broad range of occupations and industries and is expected to be the primary pathway for most employer-sponsored applicants.
Specialist Skills Stream
The Specialist Skills Stream is intended to attract highly skilled professionals working in higher-income occupations.
Generally, applicants must:
- Be nominated in an occupation that is not excluded from the stream;
- Possess qualifications and experience appropriate for the position; and
- Satisfy all visa requirements.
This stream is designed to attract globally competitive talent that can make significant contributions to Australia’s economy and workforce.
Labour Agreement Stream
The Labour Agreement Stream applies where an Australian employer has entered into a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government.
Labour agreements may be negotiated where:
- Persistent workforce shortages exist;
- Standard skilled migration programmes do not adequately address labour needs; or
- Industry-specific concessions are required.
Requirements under this stream vary according to the terms of the individual labour agreement and may include concessions on age, salary, English language requirements, or work experience.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a Subclass 482 visa, you generally must:
- Be nominated for an eligible position by an approved sponsor;
- Possess the skills and experience necessary to perform the nominated position;
- Have at least one year of relevant work experience or equivalent part-time experience gained within the previous five years;
- Meet the applicable English language requirements;
- Satisfy health and character requirements; and
- Have adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.
Additional requirements may apply depending on the visa stream, occupation and individual circumstances.
Employer Sponsorship Requirements
Before a Subclass 482 visa application can proceed, the employer must generally:
- Become an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS), unless an exemption applies;
- Demonstrate that the position is genuine;
- Comply with Australian workplace and migration laws;
- Meet sponsorship obligations under migration legislation; and
- Pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy.
Sponsors must not recover or transfer sponsorship-related costs, including the SAF levy, to visa applicants.
Nomination Requirements
The employer must lodge a nomination application with the Department of Home Affairs.
The nomination generally requires evidence that:
- The position is genuine and full-time;
- The employment terms and conditions are no less favourable than those provided to Australian workers performing equivalent work;
- The proposed salary meets the applicable income threshold;
- The nominated occupation satisfies the requirements of the relevant visa stream; and
- The business has a genuine need for the overseas worker.
Income Thresholds and Salary Requirements
Employers must offer annual earnings that meet the applicable legislative requirements.
As at 1 July 2025:
- Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): AUD $76,515 per year
- Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): AUD $141,210 per year
The annual earnings offered must generally also be at least equal to the annual market salary rate for the position.
Income thresholds are indexed annually and should always be confirmed immediately before lodgement.
English Language Requirements
Most applicants must demonstrate Competent English.
Generally, this may be demonstrated through approved English language tests such as:
- Occupational English Test (OET)
Certain applicants may be exempt from English language testing, including some passport holders from specified English-speaking countries and applicants covered by particular labour agreement concessions.
Skills and Work Experience Requirements
Most applicants must demonstrate:
- At least one year of relevant full-time work experience, or equivalent part-time experience;
- Skills that are relevant to the nominated position; and
- Qualifications required for the occupation.
Certain occupations may also require:
- Professional registration;
- Occupational licensing; or
- Membership with a professional body.
Health and Character Requirements
Applicants must satisfy Australia’s health and character requirements.
Depending on individual circumstances, applicants may be required to:
- Undertake health examinations;
- Provide police clearance certificates;
- Provide military service records where applicable; and
- Supply additional information relating to previous immigration history.
Health Insurance Requirements
Applicants are generally expected to maintain adequate health insurance arrangements while in Australia.
Appropriate health insurance assists with costs associated with:
- Prescription medicines; and
- Emergency medical services.
Application Process
Step 1 – Employer Sponsorship
The employer must:
- Become an approved sponsor if necessary;
- Identify an eligible position;
- Demonstrate a genuine need for the overseas worker; and
- Meet sponsorship obligations.
Step 2 – Nomination Application
The employer lodges the nomination application and provides evidence that:
- The employment conditions comply with Australian workplace laws;
- The salary meets legislative requirements; and
- The nominated occupation satisfies stream requirements.
Step 3 – Visa Application
Once nominated, the applicant may lodge the visa application through ImmiAccount.
Applicants will generally need to provide:
- Passport and identity documents;
- Employment references and work history evidence;
- Educational qualifications;
- English language evidence;
- Health and character documentation; and
- Occupation-specific documents where required.
Processing times vary depending on the complexity of the application and individual circumstances.
Visa Application Charges (2026)
As of 2026, the Visa Application Charges are generally:
Core Skills Stream and Labour Agreement Stream
- Primary applicant: AUD $3,210
- Additional applicant aged 18 years or over: AUD $3,210
- Additional applicant under 18 years: AUD $805
Specialist Skills Stream
- Primary applicant: AUD $3,210
- Additional applicant aged 18 years or over: AUD $3,210
- Additional applicant under 18 years: AUD $805
Additional expenses may include:
- English language testing;
- Professional migration advice.
Government charges are subject to change and should always be confirmed immediately before lodgement.
Rights and Benefits of a Subclass 482 Visa
Working Rights
Visa holders can:
- Work in Australia in their nominated position;
- Gain valuable Australian work experience;
- Access professional development opportunities; and
- Travel freely to and from Australia while the visa remains valid.
Workplace Protections
Subclass 482 visa holders generally enjoy the same workplace protections as Australian employees under Australian workplace laws, including:
- Minimum wages and entitlements;
- Workplace health and safety protections;
- Protection against unlawful discrimination;
- Access to workplace dispute resolution mechanisms.
Family Members
Eligible family members may be included in the visa application.
Depending on their circumstances, family members may:
- Live in Australia with the primary visa holder;
- Access Medicare if eligible under reciprocal arrangements.
Family members included in the application must also satisfy health and character requirements.
Changing Employers
Subclass 482 visa holders are not permanently tied to one employer.
If you wish to change employers:
- The new employer generally must become an approved sponsor if not already approved;
- A new nomination application must usually be lodged and approved; and
- You must comply with visa conditions while transitioning between employers.
Current migration settings provide greater flexibility for Subclass 482 holders seeking to change employment arrangements.
Pathways to Permanent Residence
For many skilled workers, the Subclass 482 visa is an important pathway towards permanent residence.
Depending on individual circumstances, eligible applicants may eventually qualify for permanent residence through pathways such as:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186);
- State or Territory nominated visas;
- Regional skilled migration pathways; or
- Other permanent visa programmes.
Eligibility depends on factors including:
- Sponsorship arrangements;
- English language ability; and
- Individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa?
The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa (Subclass 482) on 7 December 2024.
How much work experience do I need?
Most applicants require at least one year of relevant full-time work experience, or equivalent part-time experience, gained within the previous five years.
Can I include my family members?
Yes. Eligible family members can generally be included in your application.
Can a Subclass 482 visa lead to permanent residence?
Potentially, yes. Depending on your circumstances, occupation and employer sponsorship arrangements, permanent residence pathways may be available.
Can I change employers while holding a Subclass 482 visa?
In many cases, yes. However, your new employer will generally need to satisfy sponsorship and nomination requirements before you can lawfully work in the new position.
How Can CJMigration Assist?
Employer-sponsored visa applications can be complex and require careful planning by both employers and visa applicants.
At CJMigration, our Registered Migration Agents can assist with:
- Assessing eligibility for the Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482);
- Advising on the most appropriate visa stream;
- Assisting employers to become approved sponsors;
- Preparing sponsorship and nomination applications;
- Reviewing occupation requirements and salary arrangements;
- Advising on English language, skills and work experience requirements;
- Preparing and lodging visa applications;
- Assisting with dependent family member applications;
- Responding to Departmental requests for further information;
- Advising on changing employers and maintaining visa compliance; and
- Developing long-term strategies for permanent residence pathways.
Professional migration advice can help minimise delays, reduce the risk of errors and provide confidence throughout the employer-sponsored migration process.
Final Thoughts
The Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) plays a critical role in Australia’s skilled migration programme by helping employers address genuine labour shortages while providing skilled overseas professionals with opportunities to live and work in Australia.
The introduction of the Skills in Demand framework and the reduction of the work experience requirement to one year have made employer-sponsored migration more flexible and accessible for many applicants.
Understanding the requirements and obtaining professional advice can significantly improve your prospects of a successful application and help you plan your long-term migration goals.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this guide is general only and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Australian migration legislation, government charges and policy settings may change without notice. You should seek personalised advice from a Registered Migration Agent before making decisions regarding your immigration matters.