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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
- – No occupation list applicable, however trades workers, machine operators, drivers and labourers are excluded
- – Requires guaranteed annual earnings of at least $141,210 (and 146,717 from 1 July 2026) which will be indexed annually
- – Priority processing with a commitment to a 7-day median visa processing time
Tier 3 – Essential Skills Pathway
- – For occupations earning under $76,515 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
Skilled temporary visas — replacement of 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. There will be 3,000 places allocated per year. The ‘specialist skills’ visa is intended for those earning over $141,210 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 141,210 for Nomination applications lodged on and between before 30 June 2026 and $146,717 for Nomination applications lodged after 1 July 2026
- The core skills visa pathway is expected to provide the majority of visas issued under this program. Trades workers will be required to apply for this visa based on a revised ‘skills in demand list‘ developed by Jobs and Skills Australia. The ‘core skills’ visa is intended for those with annual earnings of $76,515-$141,210. The earnings threshold for this pathway is set at the TSMIT minimum. The TSMIT for Nomination applications are as follows:
- AUD76,515 for Nomination applications lodged before 30 June 2026 and $79,499 for Nomination applications lodged after 1 July 2026.
- 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 ‘essential skills’ visa will be for those earning under $76,515.
Skills in Demand visas issued via these pathways will be 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‘ will be indexed annually, and a public register of employer sponsors will be published 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
- Designed for occupations within ANZSCO major groups 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6.
- Minimum salary threshold: $141,210
2. Skills in Demand Visa – Core Skills Stream
- Applicable for occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
- Minimum salary threshold: $76,515, 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.
Skilled temporary visas — replacement of 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. There will be 3,000 places allocated per year. The ‘specialist skills’ visa is intended for those earning over $141,210 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 141,210 for Nomination applications lodged on and between before 30 June 2026 and $146,717 for Nomination applications lodged after 1 July 2026
- The core skills visa pathway is expected to provide the majority of visas issued under this program. Trades workers will be required to apply for this visa based on a revised ‘skills in demand list‘ developed by Jobs and Skills Australia. The ‘core skills’ visa is intended for those with annual earnings of $76,515-$141,210. The earnings threshold for this pathway is set at the TSMIT minimum. The TSMIT for Nomination applications are as follows:
- AUD76,515 for Nomination applications lodged before 30 June 2026 and $79,499 for Nomination applications lodged after 1 July 2026.
- 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 ‘essential skills’ visa will be for those earning under $76,515.
Skills in Demand visas issued via these pathways will be 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‘ will be indexed annually, and a public register of employer sponsors will be published to make it easier for skilled workers to move between employers.