The Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is the primary pathway for employers to sponsor skilled workers for occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). Introduced when the Skills in Demand (SiD) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024, the Core Skills stream replaced the former TSS Medium-term stream. Workers in Core Skills stream occupations must be paid at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT), must hold a relevant skills assessment, and are typically subject to labour market testing requirements. The visa is granted for up to 4 years, enabling workers to accumulate the 3-year employment history required for the ENS 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream pathway to permanent residence. This page explains the Core Skills stream requirements, how it differs from the Specialist Skills stream, and the pathway to permanent residence.

For current Core Skills stream requirements, the CSOL, and the current TSMIT rate, refer to the DHA Core Skills stream page.

• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) — Core Skills stream criteria — sets the criteria for nominations and visa applications under the Core Skills stream, including occupation list requirements, salary requirements, and skills assessment conditions
• Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) — the list of ANZSCO-coded occupations eligible for nomination under the Core Skills stream; maintained by DHA; updated periodically; the CSOL PDF is available at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/core-sol.pdf
• Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) — the minimum salary floor for Core Skills stream nominations; updated annually; see the TSMIT page for current rates
• Migration Regulations 1994, regulation 2.72A — labour market testing requirements for standard business sponsors nominating positions under the Core Skills stream
• DHA: Skills in Demand visa Core Skills stream — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/482-core-skills

The three streams of the Skills in Demand visa

The Skills in Demand visa has three streams, each targeting different workforce contexts:

• Specialist Skills stream: for highly paid workers earning above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold — these workers are not required to have an occupation on any occupation list; the high salary acts as evidence of specialisation; see the Specialist Skills stream page
• Core Skills stream: for workers in occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL); requires skills assessment; labour market testing applies; TSMIT salary floor; this page
• Labour Agreement stream: for employers who have entered a labour agreement with the Australian government addressing specific workforce needs that cannot be met through the standard visa program

Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)

The Core Skills Occupation List is the key gateway for the Core Skills stream. Key points:

• The CSOL lists occupations (by ANZSCO code and title) that are eligible for nomination under the Core Skills stream; an occupation must be on the CSOL to be nominated in this stream
• The CSOL is maintained by DHA and updated periodically — occupations may be added or removed based on labour market conditions; employers and workers should verify that the nominated occupation remains on the current CSOL at the time of nomination
• The current CSOL is published as a PDF at the DHA skilled occupation list page
• The nominated occupation must genuinely match the worker's skills and experience and the position being filled — the occupation description and ANZSCO classification must accurately describe the work the sponsored worker will perform

Salary requirements — TSMIT and market salary rate

Core Skills stream workers must be paid at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) or the market salary rate for the nominated occupation in the location of employment, whichever is higher:

• The TSMIT sets a floor for sponsored worker salaries; employers cannot nominate a worker for a salary below the TSMIT even if the market rate for the occupation in that region is lower
• Where the market salary rate for the occupation is above the TSMIT, the worker must be paid the market rate — sponsors cannot use the TSMIT to justify paying below-market wages
• Salary comparisons must be like-for-like — comparing the total remuneration package (base salary plus benefits) offered to the sponsored worker against the equivalent package offered to Australian workers in the same role
• For the current TSMIT rate (updated annually), refer to the TSMIT page or the DHA page

Skills assessment

Most Core Skills stream applicants must have a positive skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for their nominated occupation:

• The skills assessment confirms that the worker's qualifications and work experience are relevant to and at the level required for the nominated occupation
• Different occupations have different assessing authorities — for example, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) for many trade occupations, Engineers Australia for engineers, VETASSESS for many professional and technical occupations
• The skills assessment process and timeframe varies by assessing authority — some take several months; workers should obtain the skills assessment before or during the nomination stage
• Certain occupations or circumstances may be exempt from the skills assessment requirement — refer to the DHA Core Skills stream page for current exemptions

Labour market testing

Standard business sponsors nominatng for the Core Skills stream must generally demonstrate that they have tested the Australian labour market for the position before nominating a foreign national. Labour market testing (LMT) typically involves:

• Advertising the position in ways that give Australian workers a genuine opportunity to apply — commonly involving online job advertising on Australian platforms for a prescribed period
• From April 1, 2026, low-wage LMIA positions (under the parallel Canadian TFWP system) require 8 weeks of advertising; Australian LMT requirements are updated separately under DHA rules — refer to the labour market testing page for current AU requirements
• Certain occupations and circumstances are exempt from LMT under DHA policy

Visa period and pathway to permanent residence

The Core Skills stream visa is granted for up to 4 years. The 4-year period is significant because:

• It provides sufficient time for the worker to accumulate the 3 years of sponsored employment required for the ENS 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream pathway to permanent residence
• Workers on the Core Skills stream who remain with the same employer for 3 years (and meet all other TRT requirements) can apply for permanent residence through the ENS 186 TRT stream
• The Core Skills stream therefore represents the start of a pathway — temporary skilled employment leading to permanent residence through the TRT stream

December 2024 transition from TSS to Skills in Demand

The Core Skills stream replaced the former TSS Medium-term stream from 7 December 2024. For workers on a TSS Medium-term visa:

• The TSS Medium-term visa remains valid until its expiry; holders do not need to apply for a Skills in Demand visa before their TSS expires
• Employment on a TSS Medium-term visa counts toward the 3-year TRT requirement for ENS 186
• New applications for sponsored temporary skilled work in Core Skills occupations are made as Skills in Demand Core Skills stream applications

The Core Skills stream is the most widely used of the three Skills in Demand streams for the bulk of the skilled occupation workforce — it covers a broad range of professional, technical, and trade occupations and is the primary employer-sponsored pathway for workers in occupations requiring a skills assessment. The TSMIT floor is a significant policy tool: it prevents employers from using the temporary skilled visa program to undercut the wages of Australian workers by bringing in foreign workers at lower pay. Practitioners must verify the CSOL is current at nomination time — occupations are added and removed, and relying on an out-of-date list can lead to a nomination refusal. The 4-year visa period is designed to align with the 3-year TRT pathway, making the Core Skills stream the front end of a defined route to permanent residence. For current CSOL, TSMIT rates, skills assessment requirements, and LMT obligations, refer to the DHA Core Skills stream page.