Skills In Demand

What is the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa?

The Skills in Demand visa (SID visa) is Australia’s primary temporary employer-sponsored work visa, currently implemented under subclass 482. It allows approved Australian businesses to sponsor suitably skilled overseas workers when they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker for the role.

From 7 December 2024, the former Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa was re-branded and re-designed as the Skills in Demand visa, with updated streams, clearer pathways to permanent residency and a renewed focus on genuine labour shortages.

At SKYLINE MIGRATION LAWYERS, we assist both employers and skilled workers to navigate this new framework and prepare strong, decision-ready applications.

Who is the Skills in Demand visa for?

For overseas workers

The Skills in Demand visa may be suitable if you:

• Have skills and qualifications in an occupation needed in Australia

• Have (or have been offered) a job with an approved Australian employer sponsor

• Meet English language, skills and work experience requirements

• Want to live and work in Australia temporarily, with a potential pathway to permanent residency (PR) in the future

For Australian employers

This visa is designed for employers who:

• Have identified a genuine vacancy that cannot be filled locally

• Are willing to become (or already are) an approved Standard Business Sponsor or have a labour agreement

• Intend to pay at least the market salary and meet minimum salary thresholds (such as the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold – TSMIT)

The three Skills in Demand visa streams

The SID visa framework introduces three main streams designed to reflect different levels of skills and labour market needs:

Core Skills Pathway

The Core Skills Pathway is expected to be the main route for most skilled workers. It targets occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which is developed and maintained by Jobs and Skills Australia.

Typical features include:

Occupations at medium skill levels (for example many trades, technical and professional roles)
A requirement that the nominated occupation is on the CSOL
Minimum salary requirements, often aligned with or above the TSMIT
Pathways to PR in many cases, subject to meeting visa and nomination criteria

Specialist Skills Pathway

The Specialist Skills Pathway is aimed at high-earning, highly skilled professionals in areas of acute need (for example some advanced tech, engineering, medical and specialist roles).

Common features include:

Higher income thresholds (well above TSMIT)
Focus on specialist or niche skills that are in strong demand
Generally quicker processing and clearer PR pathways for eligible applicants

Labour Agreement / Essential Skills Pathway

The third pathway currently operates largely through labour agreements, and is expected to evolve into the Essential Skills Pathway. This route targets lower-paid but critical “essential” roles, including sectors such as aged care and disability support.

Key elements:

May involve additional safeguards, such as union consultation, caps on numbers, or sector-specific conditions

Available where an employer has an approved labour agreement with the Australian Government

Often used for roles not covered by standard occupation lists or where tailored settings are required

How long can you stay on a Skills in Demand visa?

The length of the visa can vary depending on stream, occupation, and any applicable labour agreement, but in many cases a SID/482 visa can be granted for up to 4 years, with options for renewal or progression to PR if criteria are met.

During the visa, you can usually:

Live and work full-time in Australia for your sponsoring employer
Bring eligible family members (partner and certain dependent children) as secondary applicants
Travel in and out of Australia while the visa is valid

Key eligibility criteria for visa applicants

While the exact requirements depend on your stream and circumstances, typical conditions include:

Nominated occupation
- You must be nominated for an occupation that is:
  - On the relevant occupation list (e.g. CSOL for the Core Skills Pathway), or
  - Covered under a labour agreement
Skills, qualifications and experience
- Usually a relevant qualification (often at least a diploma, trade qualification or degree)
- A minimum level of post-qualification work experience
- Sometimes a formal skills assessment, depending on your occupation and country of passport
English language ability
- You must generally demonstrate a minimum level of English, usually via an approved test such as IELTS, PTE, TOEFL or OET, unless exempt
Genuine intention & role
- The position must be genuine and ongoing, with duties that match the nominated occupation
- You must genuinely intend to work in that role for the sponsoring employer
Health and character
- You and any family members usually need to meet health and character requirements, which may include medical examinations and police clearances

Employer eligibility and obligations

For sponsors, the Skills in Demand visa is not just about filling a vacancy – it comes with ongoing legal responsibilities. Typical obligations include:

Becoming an approved sponsor
- Apply for and maintain Standard Business Sponsorship status, or
- Enter into a labour agreement where appropriate
Labour market testing
- In many cases, you must show you have genuinely advertised and attempted to recruit in Australia first
Paying the correct salary
- Pay at least the annual market salary rate for the role
- Ensure the salary is not less than TSMIT (a government-set minimum, which is subject to indexation)
Workplace law compliance
- Comply with Australian workplace laws, including Fair Work obligations
- Keep appropriate records and notify the Department of key changes (e.g. if employment ceases)
Covering certain costs
- Pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, where applicable
- Not recover certain visa-related costs from the overseas worker

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)

The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) is central to the Core Skills Pathway. It is developed by Jobs and Skills Australia and is intended to reflect the occupations for which Australia has genuine and ongoing skills needs.

Important points:

The CSOL is separate from older lists used under the prior TSS framework
It may be updated over time, meaning eligibility can change
It covers a wide range of trade, technical and professional occupations

At SKYLINE MIGRATION LAWYERS, we review your occupation against the current CSOL and policy settings to advise whether the Skills in Demand visa is likely to be a viable pathway for you.

Pathways to permanent residency

One of the most attractive aspects of the SID (482) framework is improved access to permanent residency via the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) subclass 186 and potentially other employer-sponsored or independent skilled visas.

Common features of PR pathways may include:

Ongoing employment with the sponsoring employer for a minimum period
Meeting requirements regarding occupation, salary and work history in Australia
Continuing to satisfy character and health criteria

We can map out a step-by-step strategy – from Skills in Demand visa through to PR – based on your long-term goals.

Typical documents required

Every case is different, but you can expect to provide documents such as:

Identity documents – passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate (if relevant)
Qualifications and transcripts – degrees, trade certificates, professional registrations
Employment evidence – reference letters, contracts, payslips, tax records
English test results – IELTS / PTE / TOEFL / OET (where required)
Skills assessment – for occupations and passports that require it
Police checks – for each country you have lived in for significant periods
Health examinations – depending on your role, background and length of stay

Your sponsoring employer will also need to provide:

Business registration and financials
Evidence of labour market testing (where required)
Nomination documents, including position description and remuneration details

The Skills in Demand visa application process – step by step

While the exact steps can vary, a typical process looks like this:

Eligibility assessment
- We assess the employer, position and candidate against current law, policy and occupation lists.
Sponsorship (if required)
- The employer applies to become or remain an approved sponsor or to have a labour agreement in place.
Nomination of the position
- The employer lodges a nomination application, outlining:
  - The position duties and location
  - The nominated occupation
  - Salary and employment conditions
  - Labour market testing evidence (if applicable)
Visa application
- The worker (and any family members) lodge the visa application, including all supporting documents.
Departmental assessment
- The Department of Home Affairs reviews both the nomination and visa and may request further information.
Decision
- If approved, the visa holder can commence or continue work in the nominated role in Australia.

Common issues – and how SKYLINE MIGRATION LAWYERS can help

Common pitfalls with Skills in Demand visa applications include:

Incorrect or outdated occupation selection
Salary not aligned with market rates or minimum thresholds
Weak evidence of skills and work experience
Insufficient labour market testing
Inconsistent information between sponsorship, nomination and visa applications

As migration lawyers, we:

Provide up-to-date advice in a rapidly changing area of law
Help you gather strong, consistent evidence
Draft detailed submissions addressing key legal criteria
Assist with requests for further information and complex cases, including previous refusals or compliance issues

12. Why choose SKYLINE MIGRATION LAWYERS for your Skills in Demand visa?

When the rules are complicated and constantly shifting, having a specialist migration law firm on your side can make a real difference. SKYLINE MIGRATION LAWYERS offers:

Focused expertise in Australian migration and employer-sponsored visas
Tailored advice for both businesses and individual applicants
Clear guidance on risk, timing and strategy, including future PR options
Assistance with end-to-end management – from eligibility assessments through to lodgement and post-decision advice

Whether you are an employer needing to fill a critical role, or a skilled worker planning your future in Australia, we are here to support you at every stage.

Frequently asked questions about the Skills in Demand visa

Q1. Is the Skills in Demand visa the same as the old 482 TSS visa?

The Skills in Demand visa operates under the same subclass number (482), but with updated streams, occupation settings and pathways to PR. It effectively replaces the former TSS 482 visa from December 2024 onwards.

Q2. Can I bring my family with me?

Yes. Eligible partners and dependent children can usually be included as secondary applicants and can live, work or study in Australia while your visa is valid, subject to visa conditions.

Q3. Do I have to stay with the same employer?

The visa is linked to your sponsoring employer and nominated occupation. Changing employers or roles can be possible, but usually requires a new nomination (and sometimes a new visa) to be approved before you start with a new sponsor. Breaching visa conditions can have serious consequences, so you should seek advice before making changes.

Q4. How long does it take to get a Skills in Demand visa?

Processing times vary depending on:

Your stream, occupation and country of passport
Whether your application is “decision-ready” with complete documentation
The Department’s caseload at the time

Current indicative processing times are published by the Department of Home Affairs but can change, so it is important to check the latest information and plan ahead.

Q5. Can I get permanent residency from this visa?

In many cases, yes. The SID/482 visa is commonly used as a stepping stone to PR, often via the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) or other pathways, provided you meet the relevant criteria at the time you apply.

Q6. Is a Skills in Demand visa right for me?

That depends on:

Your occupation and qualifications
Your work experience and salary level
Whether you have (or can secure) a genuine job offer with an eligible sponsor
Your long-term goal (temporary work experience, permanent settlement, or something else)

A personalised assessment with a migration lawyer is the best way to understand your options and risks.

Book a consultation with SKYLINE MIGRATION LAWYERS

The Skills in Demand visa is a powerful pathway – but it is also technical and fast-moving. Small errors can lead to costly delays or refusals.

If you are:

An employer looking to sponsor skilled staff, or
A skilled professional exploring work opportunities in Australia

contact SKYLINE MIGRATION LAWYERS to arrange a confidential consultation. We will review your circumstances, explain your options in clear language, and help you decide on the best strategy for your Australian migration journey.

Important disclaimer

The information on this page is general in nature and reflects what is publicly available at the time of writing. Australian migration law changes frequently. You should obtain tailored legal advice before acting or relying on this information.

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