Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

Australia’s immigration reforms have transformed the temporary employer-sponsored visa previously known as the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa into the Skills in Demand (SID) visa under subclass 482. This visa is designed to enable Australian employers to sponsor overseas skilled workers when they cannot source appropriately qualified Australian workers, while still ensuring Australians are given first preference.

Streams of the Visa

While the original page listed “Short-Term”, “Medium-Term” and “Labour Agreement” streams, the updated SID visa classification includes three main streams (as of 2025): Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement. Below is a simplified alignment with the old terminology:

Core Skills Stream

Occupation must be on the CSOL.
Allows employment in Australia up to 4 years (some Specialist Skills may be longer).
Pathway to permanent residency possible for roles on CSOL.

Specialist Skills Stream

For highly skilled or niche occupations – higher salary threshold (Specialist Skills Income Threshold, SSIT) applies.
Up to 5 years in some cases (e.g., Hong Kong passport holders).

Labour Agreement Stream

For employers who have bespoke labour agreements with the Department of Home Affairs.

Eligibility Criteria for the Applicant

To be eligible under any of the above streams, you generally must:

Have a sponsoring employer who is an approved Standard Business Sponsor (or via a labour agreement).
Be nominated in an eligible occupation (depending on the stream: CSOL, Specialist or Labour Agreement).
Have the required skills, experience and qualifications (minimum 12 months full-time experience in the last 5 years for many occupations).
Meet the English language, health and character requirements.
Be paid at least the annual market salary rate or the specialist income threshold if applicable.
If applying from within Australia, hold a valid visa or bridging visa as required.

Eligibility Criteria for the Nominating Employer

An Australian employer (or sponsoring business) must:
Be legally operating and approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS).
Pay sponsorship and nomination fees.
Nominate a person in an occupation on the eligible list (e.g., CSOL) or under a labour agreement.
Meet the salary obligations, labour market testing (where required) and other regulatory obligations.

English Language, Health and Character Requirements

English: Proficiency requirements vary depending on stream and role.
Health: Applicants and included family members must meet Australia’s health requirements (medical checks).
Character: Police certificates and character checks required.
Family: Eligible partner/de facto and dependent children may be included in the application (or added later).

Pathway to Permanent Residency

Yes – under the SID (Subclass 482) visa, there is a pathway to permanent residency (via the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme) for those who meet the eligibility. Notably:

Those holding a visa under CSOL or in a labour agreement stream may transition after typically 2 years of full-time employment with the sponsoring employer.
Specific occupations, employer conditions and other factors will apply, so individual advice is strongly recommended.

Employer Sponsored Visa (482/494/186)