Australia's Employer-Sponsored Temporary Work Visa
Subclass 482 Visa – Skills in Demand Visa Australia
Australia's Premier Employer-Sponsored Temporary Work Visa — Rebuilt for the Modern Workforce
The Australian Government made the biggest change to employer-sponsored migration in six years on 7 December 2024. The Skills in Demand (SID) visa officially replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, marking the biggest overhaul of employer-sponsored migration since the TSS visa was introduced in 2018.
The subclass number — 482 — remains the same. But almost everything else has changed. The old binary Short-Term and Medium-Term streams are gone. In their place is a three-stream framework built around salary level and occupation type, designed to be faster, more flexible, and more responsive to Australia's actual labour market needs.
The Skills in Demand visa is a temporary employer-sponsored visa that allows skilled overseas workers to live and work in Australia when local talent is unavailable. It helps employers address workforce shortages while offering visa holders valuable Australian work experience and a pathway to permanent residency.
At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents guide both applicants and employers through the full Subclass 482 SID visa process — from occupation assessment and stream selection through to visa grant and eventual permanent residency.
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Fastest employer-sponsored visa
Required from last 5 years under SID
To find new sponsor if job ends
Core Skills stream list
Visa Overview
What Is the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa?
The Skills in Demand (SID) visa Subclass 482 is an Australian employer-sponsored visa that provides a four-year temporary work permit for skilled overseas workers. This visa option was introduced as a complete replacement of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa on December 7, 2024. The Australian Government designed this visa as an improvement from the older TSS visa regime to align the visa program with diverse skill levels and salary thresholds.
The minimum work requirement is now 12 months instead of the previous two-year requirement under the TSS visa. This single change has significantly expanded the pool of eligible applicants — including recent graduates on Subclass 485 visas who can now transition to employer sponsorship much earlier in their careers.
Subclass 482 visa holders have 180 days to find a new job if their current job ends in 365 days.This increased mobility is one of the most applicant-friendly changes under the new framework.
Key Features of the Subclass 482 SID Visa
- Three streams — Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement — all with uniform four-year validity
- Minimum work experience reduced to 12 months (down from 2 years under TSS)
- 180-day grace period to find a new sponsor if employment ends
- Two years of eligible sponsored employment leads to permanent residency via Subclass 186 TRT — and this time is portable across multiple approved sponsors
- New Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) consolidating previous multiple lists — currently 456 occupations
- Specialist Skills stream offers 7-day priority processing with no occupation list requirement
- Salary thresholds indexed annually each 1 July
- No age limit restriction at visa application stage
- Family members — spouse and dependent children — can be included
- Health insurance required throughout the visa period
The Three Streams — 2026 Guide
The Three Streams — A Complete 2026 Guide
This is the most fundamental change under the Skills in Demand framework. Understanding which stream applies to you determines your occupation list, salary threshold, processing time, and pathway to permanent residency.
Core Skills Stream
For occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which currently includes 456 occupations. Created after thorough analysis by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) to target roles in demand. Consolidates previous MLTSSL, STSOL, and ROL lists into one unified list.
Specialist Skills Stream
For highly paid professionals. No occupational list — if you earn above the SSIT, almost any professional occupation is eligible. Does not include Trade Workers, Machinery Operators, or Labourers. Priority 7-day processing — the fastest employer-sponsored visa in Australia.
Labour Agreement Stream
For workers nominated by employers with a specific Labour Agreement with the Australian Government. Used for sectors with acute shortages or unique needs. May include concessions on English, skills, or age. Useful for DAMAs and industry-specific agreements. Essential Skills Pathway still under development.
Salary Framework
The Salary Thresholds — CSIT, SSIT, and AMSR Explained
The salary framework is one of the most practically important — and most changed — aspects of the Skills in Demand visa. Understanding the three salary concepts that apply is essential for both employers and applicants.
Eligibility Criteria
Who Can Apply for the Subclass 482 SID Visa?
Applicant Requirements — All Streams
- Be sponsored by an approved Australian employer — either a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) or under a Labour Agreement
- Have at least 12 months of relevant full-time work experience within the past 5 years in your nominated occupation or a closely related field
- Meet the English language standard — IELTS 5.0 overall with at least 5 in each band for Core Skills, or equivalent for other streams
- Have completed any required skills assessment for your occupation
- Hold any required registration, licence, or professional membership for your occupation at the time of application
- Meet health and character requirements
- Maintain adequate health insurance throughout your stay in Australia
- Receive a salary at or above the CSIT or SSIT threshold and at or above the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for your occupation
Employer Requirements
- The role must fit a stream — it must be on the CSOL (Core Skills), meet the high-salary Specialist Skills settings, or sit under a Labour Agreement
- The employer must be an approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS) or have a labour agreement in place
- Pay must meet the rules — at least the AMSR and the stream's threshold (CSIT/SSIT)
- The employer must demonstrate genuine efforts to recruit locally before seeking overseas talent — Labour Market Testing (LMT)
- The employer must be lawfully operating and the position must be genuine and consistent with business operations
Employer Mobility
Employer Mobility — The 180-Day and 365-Day Rules
One of the most significant improvements for applicants under the new SID framework is the strengthened employer mobility. These rules directly affect how secure your visa situation is if you lose your job or want to change employers.
Permanent Residency Pathway
The Pathway to Permanent Residency
The Skills in Demand visa is not a dead-end temporary visa. For most holders, it is the first step on a defined pathway to Australian permanent residency. The 2025-26 Migration Program has allocated 44,000 places specifically for employer-sponsored permanent residence.
The pathway to PR under the Temporary Residence Transition Stream of the Subclass 186 requires 2 years of eligible, full-time sponsored employment in the same occupation — and crucially, this time is portable. A worker can count time spent with multiple approved sponsors toward that 2-year requirement, in any occupation they were approved to work in.
Visa Advantages
Key Benefits of the Subclass 482 SID Visa
No Occupation List for Specialist Skills
The Specialist Skills stream has no occupational list — if you earn above the SSIT of AUD $141,210, almost any professional occupation is eligible. This is the broadest employer-sponsored pathway in Australia's history for high earners.
7-Day Processing for Specialist Skills
The Specialist Skills stream comes with a processing turnaround of 7 days. For high-earning professionals, this is extraordinarily fast — faster than almost any other Australian visa. Employers can onboard international talent within days of nomination approval.
Reduced Experience Requirement
The Subclass 482 visa now generally requires only one year of relevant work experience, down from the previous two-year mandate. This has opened a massive pipeline for international graduates already in Australia on Subclass 485 visas who can now transition to employer sponsorship much earlier in their careers.
Portable PR Timeline
A worker can count time spent with multiple approved sponsors toward the 2-year PR requirement, in any occupation they were approved to work in. This portability means switching employers does not necessarily restart the clock — provided the transition is managed correctly to avoid Dead Time.
180-Day Employer Mobility
Visa holders have 180 days to find a new sponsor if employment ends — providing genuine job security and flexibility that the old TSS visa did not offer. You can work for a prospective new sponsor during this transition period.
Four-Year Validity Across All Streams
All three streams share a uniform four-year validity. Under the old TSS, Short-Term stream holders were limited to two-year visas with no PR pathway. That restriction is gone — every stream now provides a clear runway to permanent residency.
Family Members Included
Spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included in the application. Dependents have no work or study limitations. It is also possible to add a de facto partner, spouse, and/or dependent children to an existing 482 visa as subsequent entrants, provided the sponsor gives written consent.
Application Costs
Subclass 482 SID Visa Cost
As of July 2025, the base charge is AUD $3,210 for the main applicant and each adult dependent, and AUD $805 for each child dependent. An additional Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (STAC) of AUD $700 may apply if lodged in Australia, depending on prior visas held.
Applicant Costs
| Cost Item | Who Pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Visa Application Charge — Main Applicant | Applicant | AUD $3,210* |
| Visa Application Charge — Adult Dependent (18+) | Applicant | AUD $3,210* |
| Visa Application Charge — Child Dependent (under 18) | Applicant | AUD $805* |
| Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (if lodged onshore) | Applicant | AUD $700 per person |
| Health Examinations (per adult, approx) | Applicant | AUD $350–$500 |
| English Language Test (IELTS/PTE/OET) | Applicant | AUD $300–$450 |
| Skills Assessment (if required) | Applicant | AUD $500–$1,000 |
| Health Insurance (OVHC, per year) | Applicant | AUD $1,000–$2,000 |
Employer Costs (Cannot Be Passed to Applicant)
| Cost Item | Who Pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) | Employer | AUD $420 (one-off, 5 years) |
| Nomination Fee (per position) | Employer | AUD $330* |
| SAF Levy — Small Business (<$10M turnover) | Employer | AUD $1,200 per visa year |
| SAF Levy — Large Business ($10M+ turnover) | Employer | AUD $1,800 per visa year |
| Migration Republic Professional Fee | Employer / Applicant | Contact Us |
*Fees as of 1 July 2025. Fees are reviewed and indexed annually each July. SAF levy example: Small business nominating for 4 years: $330 + (4 × $1,200) = $5,130. Large business: $330 + (4 × $1,800) = $7,530. Always verify current fees in ImmiAccount before lodging.
Processing Times
Subclass 482 SID Visa Processing Times
Processing times vary significantly across the three streams — this is by design. The difference between the fastest and slowest stream is deliberate, creating a strong incentive for highly paid professionals to use the Specialist Skills stream.
Labour Market Testing
Labour Market Testing — What Employers Must Do
Employers must demonstrate genuine efforts to recruit locally before seeking overseas talent. Labour Market Testing (LMT) is mandatory unless an exemption applies. The current LMT validity period remains 4 months, with discussions underway to extend it to 6 months.
LMT typically requires advertising the position on relevant Australian job platforms — including at least one of the platforms specified by the Department — for a minimum period, and demonstrating that no suitable Australian worker was found. The advertising must meet specific content requirements and be conducted before the nomination is lodged.
Exemptions from LMT apply in certain circumstances — including for international trade obligations, where a formal agreement exists, and in some Labour Agreement situations. The Specialist Skills stream does not require LMT. Our team at Migration Republic can advise your employer on whether an LMT exemption applies to your situation.
Application Process
How to Apply for the Subclass 482 SID Visa
The application process involves three stages — sponsorship, nomination, and visa application. Both the employer and the applicant have responsibilities across these stages.
Employer Becomes an Approved Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)
The employer applies to become an approved SBS through ImmiAccount, paying the $420 SBS fee. Approval is typically valid for 5 years and allows the employer to nominate multiple workers across that period.
Employer Lodges Nomination
The employer nominates the specific position and the skilled worker, demonstrating that the role is genuine, the salary meets CSIT or SSIT and AMSR, LMT has been conducted (if required), and the business is lawfully operating. The employer pays the $330 nomination fee and SAF levy at this stage.
Applicant Lodges Visa Application
Once the nomination is approved (or lodged simultaneously), the applicant lodges the visa application via ImmiAccount, paying the VAC and submitting all required supporting documentation. Nominations lodged before 7 December 2024 without a visa application can still be linked to a SID visa application.
Complete Health and Character Checks
All applicants and included family members complete health examinations with a Department-approved panel physician and provide police clearances from all relevant countries.
Maintain Health Insurance
All 482 visa holders must maintain adequate health insurance (OVHC) for themselves and their family throughout their stay. Without proof of cover, the visa may be refused or cancelled.
Commence Employment
Once the visa is granted, the applicant must work for the nominating employer in the nominated occupation. Any change of employer requires a new nomination transfer — and the 180-day grace period applies during the transition period.
Document Checklist
Documents Required for the Subclass 482 SID Visa
For the Visa Applicant
- Valid passport and identity documents
- Evidence of relevant work experience — employment contracts, payslips, reference letters, tax records covering the 12-month qualifying period
- English language test results (IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, OET, or Cambridge) — current within 3 years
- Skills assessment results (if required for your occupation)
- Evidence of any required professional registration, licence, or membership
- Police clearances from all relevant countries
- Health examination results
- Proof of health insurance arrangements
For Included Family Members
- Passport and identity documents
- Proof of relationship — marriage certificate, de facto evidence, birth certificates
- Health examination results
- Police clearances
For the Employer (Nomination Stage)
- Evidence of Standard Business Sponsorship status
- Labour Market Testing documentation — advertising records, evidence of no suitable Australian applicants
- Evidence the position is genuine and consistent with business operations
- Evidence the offered salary meets CSIT/SSIT and AMSR
- SAF levy payment receipt and nomination fee payment
- Financial evidence of the business's active and lawful operation
How We Help
Our Visa Process
Stream Assessment and Occupation Verification
We begin by identifying the correct stream for your occupation and salary, verifying your CSOL eligibility for Core Skills or ANZSCO eligibility for Specialist Skills, and confirming the exact salary threshold that applies. Getting the stream right at the start prevents costly errors and delays.
Employer Sponsorship and Nomination Guidance
We guide your employer through the SBS application if they are not already an approved sponsor, prepare the nomination application, advise on Labour Market Testing requirements and documentation, and ensure the salary and position description meet CSIT/SSIT and AMSR requirements. A well-prepared nomination is the foundation of a successful 482 application.
Application Preparation and Lodgement
We prepare your complete visa application — all forms, evidence of work experience, English test results, skills assessment, health checks, and police clearances — and lodge via ImmiAccount. We coordinate the nomination and visa application stages for maximum efficiency.
Active Case Management
After lodgement, we monitor your application, respond promptly to any requests for additional information from the Department, and keep you and your employer fully informed throughout the process.
Employer Mobility and PR Pathway Planning
We advise 482 holders on how to track their 2-year PR timeline, how to handle employer transitions correctly — including avoiding Dead Time — and when and how to approach the Subclass 186 TRT application when eligibility is reached.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
The Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa in 2026 is faster and more flexible than its predecessor — but it is also less forgiving. The quarterly ATO-DHA data matching, the ANZSCO code precision requirements, the CSIT and AMSR dual salary test, the 180-day mobility Dead Time risk, and the stream selection complexity all create real risks for applicants and employers who approach this visa without current, specific expertise.
Success now requires front-end role design — ensuring ANZSCO codes and salaries are locked in before the first interview — and multi-year budgeting that accounts for annual July 1st threshold indexation.
At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents bring current, hands-on expertise across all three SID streams. We work with both individual applicants and corporate employers. We know the CSOL inside out. We know when Specialist Skills is the right call and when Core Skills is the correct route. We know how to structure LMT correctly. And we know how to track and protect your 2-year PR pathway — including how to handle employer transitions without losing ground.
Stream Selection Expertise
We know when Core Skills is right, when Specialist Skills applies, and how to navigate Labour Agreement pathways — correct stream selection from the start prevents costly errors.
Employer and Applicant Support
We work with both sides of the sponsorship relationship — from SBS applications and LMT to nomination preparation and visa lodgement. Transparent process with regular updates.
PR Pathway Protection
We track your 2-year PR clock, advise on employer transitions to avoid Dead Time, and manage your Subclass 186 TRT application when eligibility is reached.
Ready to Apply for the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa?
Whether you are a skilled professional with an Australian employer ready to sponsor you, or an Australian employer looking to sponsor international talent, the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand Visa is the pathway that makes it happen. The new framework is more powerful and more flexible than what came before — but navigating the stream selection, occupation lists, salary thresholds, and compliance requirements correctly from the start is what separates smooth applications from costly ones. Our MARA-registered agents at Migration Republic are ready to guide you through every stage — from your first eligibility assessment to your permanent residency grant.
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