The Skills in Demand (SID) visa, subclass 482, replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024. It lets an approved Australian employer sponsor a skilled worker for up to 4 years, or up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders. The visa has three streams: Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement. This guide explains how the streams work, using the salary thresholds that apply to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026.
Which stream you can use depends on your occupation and on the salary your employer will pay. There is no separate stream for lower-paid roles. Those roles are handled through labour agreements between an employer and the Australian Government.
What Changed From TSS
The SID visa keeps the subclass number 482 and replaces the old Short-term and Medium-term streams. The Core Skills stream still depends on an occupation list, the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The Specialist Skills stream has no occupation list, but it excludes occupations in ANZSCO Major Groups 3, 7 and 8, which cover technicians and trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers. Both streams are tested against salary thresholds that are indexed every 1 July.
The Three Streams Explained
The SID visa has three streams. The two main streams are summarised below with the income thresholds for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. Understanding which stream suits your profile is the first step in a successful application.
Specialist Skills Stream
- No occupation list required
- Occupation in ANZSCO Major Group 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6
- At least 1 year of relevant experience
- Stay of up to 4 years
- Family members can be included
Core Skills Stream
- Occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List
- Skills assessment if required for the occupation
- At least 1 year of relevant experience
- Stay of up to 4 years
- Salary at or above the market rate for the role
Labour Agreement Stream
- Employer needs a labour agreement with the Australian Government
- Occupation and salary terms are set in the agreement
- Lower-paid roles are handled through this stream
- Check Home Affairs for the current terms
Key Numbers at a Glance
The thresholds apply to nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. The 2 years refers to the usual full-time sponsored employment needed for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition stream.
Who Should Apply for Each Stream?
Specialist Skills Stream: Higher Salaries Without an Occupation List
If you are a senior software engineer, medical specialist, mining engineer or another professional offered a salary of at least AUD 146,576, this stream does not require your occupation to be on a list. Your occupation must fall within ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6, and you need at least 1 year of relevant work experience. Occupations in Major Groups 3, 7 and 8 cannot use this stream. Caveats apply to some occupations, for example on company turnover or salary, so check the occupation entry on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list before your employer nominates you.
The threshold is tested against your guaranteed annual earnings, and non-monetary benefits such as accommodation or a car do not count towards it. Your employer must also pay at least the annual market salary rate for the role. Make sure your employment contract states a salary that meets both.
Core Skills Stream: Occupations on the CSOL
The Core Skills stream is for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), which includes occupations such as accountants, engineers, nurses and chefs. The salary must be at least AUD 79,423 and no less than the annual market salary rate for the occupation, and you need at least 1 year of relevant work experience. A skills assessment is needed only where it is required for your occupation. Home Affairs can change the list, so check the current CSOL before you plan around an occupation.
| Occupation Category | Example Occupations | Assessing Authority |
|---|---|---|
| ICT Professionals | Software Engineers, Data Scientists, Cyber Security Analysts | ACS |
| Healthcare | Registered Nurses, Physiotherapists | ANMAC (nurses), APC (physiotherapists) |
| Engineering | Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers | Engineers Australia |
| Trades | Electricians, Plumbers, Motor Mechanics | TRA |
| Accounting & Finance | Accountants, Taxation Accountants, External Auditors | CPA Australia / CA ANZ / IPA |
The assessing authority for each occupation is shown on the Home Affairs skilled occupation list. Trades occupations sit in ANZSCO Major Group 3, so they can be nominated through the Core Skills stream but not the Specialist Skills stream.
Labour Agreement Stream: Roles Outside the Two Main Streams
There is no Essential Skills stream. Lower-paid roles are handled through labour agreements between an employer and the Australian Government, not through a separate stream with its own salary threshold. The terms depend on the individual agreement, so ask your employer which agreement applies and check the Home Affairs labour agreement pages.
Application Steps
Employer Sponsorship Approval
Your employer applies to become an approved standard business sponsor, if it is not one already. This involves demonstrating genuine business operations. Accredited sponsors receive priority processing of nomination and visa applications.
Nomination Submission
Your employer nominates you for the specific position and shows that the salary meets the income threshold for the stream and the annual market salary rate for the occupation.
Visa Application
Submit your visa application with all supporting documents, including a skills assessment (if required), English test results (unless you are exempt), health examinations and police clearances. The visa application charge for the main applicant is AUD 4,015 from 1 July 2026.
Processing and Decision
Home Affairs assesses your application. Processing times change, so use the visa processing time guide on the Home Affairs website for a current indication. If the visa is granted, you can stay for the period your employer nominated you for, up to 4 years, or up to 5 years for Hong Kong passport holders.
Document Checklist
Essential Documents Required
Comparing the Old and Current 482 Visa
| Feature | Old TSS 482 Visa | SID Visa (Subclass 482) |
|---|---|---|
| Streams | Short-term, Medium-term and Labour Agreement | Specialist Skills, Core Skills and Labour Agreement |
| Occupation Lists | MLTSSL, STSOL and ROL | CSOL for Core Skills. No list for Specialist Skills, which excludes Major Groups 3, 7 and 8 |
| Salary Threshold | TSMIT of AUD 73,150 for nominations lodged in 2024-25 | CSIT AUD 79,423 and SSIT AUD 146,576 for nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 |
| Pathway to Permanent Residence | Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | Same pathway. The 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream usually requires 2 years of full-time sponsored employment |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a Fixed Processing Time: Processing times change and differ between applications. Use the Home Affairs visa processing time guide for a current indication rather than relying on a fixed estimate.
- Incorrect Salary Documentation: The salary must be in your formal employment contract, not just a verbal offer or email confirmation.
- Outdated Skills Assessment: Validity differs by authority. Check the validity date on your outcome letter before you apply.
- Missing English Requirements: A high salary does not remove the English requirement unless one of the Home Affairs exemptions applies. Check that your test result meets the minimum score for each skill.
- Incomplete Work History: Gaps in employment need explanation. Prepare documentation for any career breaks.
- No Plan for a Change of Employer: If you lose your job, you have up to 180 days to find a new employer or make arrangements to leave Australia.
Salary Thresholds Change Every 1 July
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) are indexed every 1 July. For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the CSIT is AUD 79,423 and the SSIT is AUD 146,576. In the previous year they were AUD 76,515 and AUD 141,210. The threshold that applies is the one in force on the date your employer lodges the nomination, so timing around 1 July matters.
Your Next Steps
- Determine Your Stream: Compare your expected Australian salary with the SSIT (AUD 146,576) and the CSIT (AUD 79,423), and check which ANZSCO major group your occupation belongs to.
- Check Occupation Eligibility: For the Core Skills stream, verify your occupation is on the current CSOL. For the Specialist Skills stream, confirm it is not in Major Group 3, 7 or 8.
- Gather Documents Early: Skills assessments, English tests and police clearances take time to obtain, so start early.
- Find an Approved Sponsor: Connect with Australian employers already approved as sponsors, or help your employer through the approval process.
- Seek Professional Advice: Immigration rules change frequently. A registered migration agent can review your application before it is lodged.
The Skills in Demand visa gives skilled workers a route to Australia through an employer, with a possible pathway to permanent residence through the 186 visa. Check your occupation, salary and English results against the Home Affairs requirements before you apply, because the thresholds and occupation lists change.
