The Specialist Skills stream is one of three streams within the Skills in Demand (SID) visa (subclass 482). It is designed for highly-paid specialist workers — those earning above the Specialist Skills income threshold — who bring skills that are particularly valuable to the Australian economy. Unlike the Core Skills stream, the Specialist Skills stream has no occupation list restriction (the nominated position does not need to be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)) and is exempt from labour market testing (LMT).

The Specialist Skills stream replaced the equivalent high-income category that previously existed under the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa when the Skills in Demand visa commenced on 7 December 2024.

• Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Subclass 482 — the visa criteria, including the Specialist Skills stream criteria
• DHA: Skills in Demand visa — Specialist Skills stream — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/sid-482-specialist
• DHA: Skills in Demand visa overview — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/sid-482
• DHA: Salary requirements — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/salary-requirements

Key distinctions from the Core Skills stream

The Specialist Skills stream differs from the Core Skills stream in three significant ways:

• No occupation list requirement: Core Skills stream nominations require the occupation to be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The Specialist Skills stream has no occupation list — any genuine skilled occupation can be nominated, provided the salary threshold is met.
• Higher income threshold: Specialist Skills nominations must be paid at or above the Specialist Skills income threshold, which is higher than the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) that applies to Core Skills stream nominations. The income threshold is indexed periodically. For the current threshold, refer to the DHA salary requirements page.
• No labour market testing: The Specialist Skills stream is exempt from LMT requirements. The high salary threshold is treated as a proxy for the genuine skill need — at that income level, the assumption is that the Australian labour market is unlikely to have a readily available substitute.

Who uses the Specialist Skills stream

The Specialist Skills stream is typically used for senior executives, highly specialised professionals, and high-level technical experts whose compensation substantially exceeds the TSMIT. Common examples include senior engineers, specialist medical practitioners, executive-level business personnel, and highly credentialled financial and technology professionals. The stream provides flexibility for employers who need to bring in exceptional talent that does not fit neatly into an ANZSCO occupation on the CSOL.

Approved sponsor requirement

Like all subclass 482 nominations, Specialist Skills stream nominations must be made by an approved standard business sponsor (SBS) or accredited sponsor. The usual sponsor obligations apply — equivalent terms and conditions of employment, prohibition on cost recovery from the sponsored worker, and notification of changes within 28 days. The Specialist Skills stream does not create an exception to these obligations.

Pathway to permanent residence

A person who holds a subclass 482 Specialist Skills stream visa and has worked for the same sponsor in the nominated occupation for at least 3 years may be eligible to apply for permanent residence via the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream. The specific requirements are set out on the DHA subclass 186 Transition stream page. The income requirement and other criteria for the 186 Transition stream must be independently satisfied.

The Specialist Skills income threshold is updated periodically — typically annually. Before lodging a Specialist Skills stream nomination, sponsors should confirm the current threshold on the DHA salary requirements page. A nomination lodged below the current threshold will not satisfy the stream criteria.

For the Core Skills stream, the nominated occupation must be on the CSOL and the TSMIT applies. For the Specialist Skills stream, there is no occupation list restriction but the higher income threshold applies. For occupations that are on the CSOL and attract a salary above the Specialist Skills threshold, either stream may be available — the choice may affect visa conditions and processing. Practitioners should advise sponsors on which stream is more appropriate in borderline cases.