Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand Visa — immi.wiki

The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa is Australia's primary temporary employer-sponsored visa. It was introduced in November 2024 to replace the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (which was also numbered Subclass 482). The SID visa allows Australian businesses to sponsor overseas workers in positions that cannot be filled from the local workforce.

The SID visa has three streams, each with different occupation and salary requirements:

• Specialist Skills stream — for high-earning workers at or above the Specialist Skills Annual Earnings Threshold (AET); broader occupation coverage and a shorter pathway to permanent residence
• Core Skills stream — for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL); salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)
• Essential Skills stream — targeted at specific labour-shortage sectors (agriculture, care economy, hospitality); available only under bilateral arrangements with designated countries

The legislative basis is in Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994, Part 482. The sponsorship framework is in ss 140E–140K of the Migration Act 1958.

Sponsor requirements

The employer must be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) by the Department of Home Affairs. Key requirements:

• Legally operating business in Australia
• Actively operating (not merely a shelf company)
• Meeting training and other ongoing sponsorship obligations

Nomination requirements

The nominated position must:

• Correspond to an occupation on the relevant occupation list for the stream (Specialist Skills: broad; Core Skills: CSOL; Essential Skills: designated occupations)
• Be a genuine, full-time position
• Offer terms and conditions no less favourable than those of an equivalent Australian worker
• Meet the applicable salary threshold for the stream
• Comply with Labour Market Testing requirements (generally required for Core Skills stream; exemptions apply for Specialist Skills)

Visa applicant requirements

The nominated worker must:

• Have skills, qualifications, and experience matching the nominated occupation
• Hold a skills assessment where required for the stream and occupation
• Meet health and character requirements

1. Sponsor approval — the employer applies for Standard Business Sponsorship approval. Processing times vary; approval is granted for five years.
2. Nomination — the approved sponsor lodges a nomination application for the specific position and named worker. Labour Market Testing evidence must be included where required.
3. Visa application — the worker lodges the Subclass 482 visa application. Nomination and visa applications may be lodged concurrently, but the nomination must be approved (concurrently or first) for the visa to be granted.
4. Health and character checks — the visa applicant and any secondary applicants (family members) undergo health examinations and provide police clearances.
5. Decision — the Department decides on the nomination and visa application. A refused nomination cannot support a visa grant.

Applications are lodged online via ImmiAccount. Visa application charges apply to the primary applicant and each secondary applicant.

Key conditions on the Subclass 482 visa include:

• Work restriction — the holder may work only for the sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation; changing employer requires a new nomination and visa (or a new visa application)
• Sponsorship obligations — the sponsor must continue to meet obligations including equivalent terms and conditions, travel costs on cessation, and record-keeping requirements
• Travel — the Subclass 482 generally allows multiple-entry travel to Australia during the validity period

Pathway to permanent residence

Subclass 482 holders may transition to permanent residence through the Subclass 186 (ENS) Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream after working for the sponsoring employer for:

• Two years — Specialist Skills stream holders
• Three years — Core Skills stream holders

The Essential Skills stream has specific pathway conditions prescribed separately.