Australia's Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) visa on 7 December 2024. The subclass number remained the same, so Australia's main temporary employer-sponsored skilled visa is still subclass 482.
The change was more than a new name. The old Short-term and Medium-term streams were replaced, a new Core Skills Occupation List was introduced, the work experience requirement was reduced, and new salary thresholds became part of the system. Those income thresholds have since been indexed, including another increase from 1 July 2026.
This article explains the subclass 482 rules that apply as of September 2026 and how the earlier TSS changes fit into the current Skills in Demand visa.
What Changed From the Old TSS 482 Visa?
The current Skills in Demand visa operates differently from the former TSS visa in several important areas. The Short-term and Medium-term streams no longer apply to new SID applications. They have been replaced by the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams, while the Labour Agreement stream continues under the new system.
The Core Skills stream now uses the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), while the Specialist Skills stream can cover eligible occupations in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 where the salary requirements are met. The general work experience requirement was also reduced from two years under the former TSS framework to at least 12 months under the SID visa.
Salary settings have also changed. The SID framework introduced the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT), with both amounts indexed annually on 1 July. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, the thresholds are AUD 79,423 and AUD 146,576 respectively.
What Is the Skills in Demand Visa?
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) allows an approved Australian employer to sponsor a suitably skilled overseas worker for a position where they cannot find an appropriately skilled Australian worker. The visa can generally be granted for up to four years, with different arrangements applying in some circumstances, including for certain Hong Kong passport holders.
For a broader overview of the visa and its requirements, see Knowbal's Skills in Demand subclass 482 service page.
There are three main SID streams:
The Core Skills stream relies on the CSOL, while the Specialist Skills stream is not limited to that list. An occupation nominated through the Specialist Skills stream must instead fall within one of the eligible ANZSCO major groups and satisfy the higher salary requirement.
Eligible family members can also apply for a subclass 482 visa, including separately as subsequent entrants where the requirements are met. A subsequent entrant is a family-member application rather than one of the three main SID streams.
Current 482 Work Experience Requirement
Primary applicants generally need at least 12 months of relevant work experience in their nominated occupation or a related field. The experience must have been gained during the five years immediately before the visa application.
The 12 months does not have to be one continuous period of full-time employment. Relevant full-time, part-time or casual work can be considered, provided the combined experience is equivalent to at least 12 months of full-time work. Work in a related field must involve tasks at the same skill level and be closely connected to the nominated occupation.
This 12-month requirement applies across the Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams. Labour Agreement applicants can also have additional skills, qualification or experience requirements under the particular agreement covering their occupation.
Current 482 Salary Thresholds
The subclass 482 income thresholds increased again on 1 July 2026. For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423, while the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD 146,576.
Meeting one of these figures does not mean the salary requirement is automatically satisfied. For the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams, the employer also needs to meet the Annual Market Salary Rate requirements. In practical terms, the sponsored worker should not be paid below the applicable salary threshold or below what an equivalent Australian worker would receive for the same role under the relevant market salary rules.
The thresholds are indexed annually, so figures from an older 482 article or previous nomination should not be reused without checking them. The salary that was sufficient for an earlier nomination may not be enough for a new nomination lodged after an indexation date.
Which Occupations Can Be Sponsored Under the 482 Visa?
For the Core Skills stream, the nominated occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List. Home Affairs currently uses the 2022 version of ANZSCO for the subclass 482 program, and some listed occupations also have caveats that restrict when they can be used.
The Specialist Skills stream works differently. The occupation does not have to appear on the CSOL, but it must fall within ANZSCO Major Group 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 and meet the Specialist Skills salary requirements. This means occupations in Major Groups 3, 7 and 8 are not eligible for the Specialist Skills stream under the standard SID settings.
Applicants and employers can check the current occupation settings using the official Home Affairs skilled occupation list before preparing a nomination.
Can a 482 Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?
A subclass 482 visa can provide a pathway to permanent residency, but holding the visa does not automatically make someone eligible for PR. One of the main pathways is the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) through the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.
For the subclass 186 TRT stream, an applicant generally needs two years of eligible full-time sponsored employment in Australia during the three years immediately before applying. Eligible employment can include work undertaken while holding a subclass 457 or 482 visa, and employment with more than one approved sponsor may count where the requirements are met.
The applicant must also meet the other subclass 186 requirements, including an approved employer nomination and the applicable age, English, visa and other criteria. For a more detailed explanation, see Knowbal's 482 visa to permanent residency guide.
What Happens If You Leave Your Sponsored Job?
Subclass 482 visa holders have more time to make new arrangements after leaving a sponsoring employer than was available under the earlier rules. Under visa condition 8607, a holder can generally stop working in accordance with their sponsorship arrangements for up to 180 consecutive days at a time, with a maximum of 365 days in total during the visa period.
This period can give the visa holder time to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa or prepare to leave Australia. The rules also provide greater flexibility to work during this period, but this should not be treated as unrestricted work rights. The person's visa conditions and the requirements for any new sponsorship or nomination still need to be considered.
If your employment changes, check the conditions attached to your own visa through Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) rather than relying only on general information about subclass 482 holders.
Do You Need a Skills Assessment for a 482 Visa?
A skills assessment is not mandatory for every subclass 482 applicant. For some Core Skills and Specialist Skills applicants, whether a mandatory assessment applies depends on factors including the nominated occupation, passport held and available exemptions under the relevant legislative instrument.
Where a mandatory assessment is required, the assessment process must be started before the visa application is lodged. Home Affairs can also request a skills assessment during processing even where one was not mandatory at the time of application.
Applicants should therefore check the requirements for their specific occupation and circumstances rather than assuming that a 482 visa either always requires or never requires a skills assessment.
English Requirements for the 482 Visa
Primary applicants in the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams generally need to meet the applicable English language requirement unless an exemption applies. Labour Agreement applicants must meet the English requirements that apply under the relevant agreement and migration rules.
The accepted tests, required scores and available exemptions can change, so check the requirements that apply when you are preparing the application. Knowbal's 482 visa English language requirements guide covers the current test options and exemptions in more detail.
Current 482 Visa Cost
As of September 2026, the base visa application charge for a primary Skills in Demand visa applicant starts from AUD 4,015. The amount increased from 1 July 2026 as part of changes to Australian visa application charges.
Additional applicant charges can apply to family members, and some applicants from eligible Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste can access lower visa application charges from 1 July 2026. Employers can also have separate costs associated with sponsorship, nomination and the Skilling Australians Fund levy.
Visa charges can change, so use the official Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator to check the amount that applies when the application is lodged.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
The current subclass 482 system is quite different from the former TSS framework, particularly around streams, occupations, work experience and salary settings. Before applying, confirm which SID stream applies, whether the occupation is eligible, whether the proposed salary meets both the income threshold and market salary requirements, and whether a skills assessment or English test is required.
If permanent residency is part of the longer-term plan, check the subclass 186 requirements separately rather than assuming that time spent on a 482 visa will automatically lead to PR. The occupation, employer, employment history and personal eligibility still need to meet the rules that apply when the permanent visa application is made.
Final Thoughts
The biggest 482 visa changes are now fully built into the Skills in Demand system. The old Short-term and Medium-term TSS streams have been replaced, the Core Skills Occupation List is now central to the Core Skills stream, the standard work experience requirement is 12 months, and the salary thresholds are indexed each year.
For applications being prepared in 2026, the date of the nomination matters because salary thresholds and other settings can change over time. Employers and visa applicants should check the current occupation, salary and visa requirements before lodging rather than relying on the rules that applied to an earlier TSS or 482 application.
If you are considering employer sponsorship or want to understand how the current subclass 482 rules apply to your circumstances, Knowbal's Registered Migration Agents can help you review the available pathway.
FAQs
Can a 482 visa holder change employers without applying for a completely new visa?
Changing employers does not necessarily mean starting the entire visa process again, but a new sponsorship and nomination arrangement may be required. The existing 482 visa also remains subject to its conditions while the change is being organised. Check your VEVO details and the requirements that apply to the new employer before starting the new sponsored position.
What if my employer changes my job title while I am on a 482 visa?
A job title change does not automatically mean there is a problem. What matters is whether the position, duties and employment arrangements still match the occupation and nomination supporting your visa. If the role changes substantially, the employer should check whether a new nomination or other action is required before the change takes effect.
Can I rely on a 482 eligibility check that was completed before the latest salary increase?
Do not rely on an older eligibility check without reviewing it again. The Core Skills and Specialist Skills income thresholds are indexed, and the relevant figures depend on when the nomination is lodged. The employer should also recheck the market salary requirements rather than looking only at the minimum threshold.
What if my occupation could potentially qualify under both the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams?
The employer and applicant should compare the requirements of both streams rather than assuming the higher-paying stream is automatically the better option. Occupation eligibility, ANZSCO classification, proposed salary, market salary requirements and other visa criteria can affect which stream is appropriate.
What employment records should I keep if I plan to move from a 482 visa to permanent residency later?
Keep records showing your sponsored employment history, including contracts, payslips, employment dates and details of the employers that sponsored you. These records can be useful when checking whether your employment meets the requirements of a future subclass 186 application, particularly if you change sponsors during your time on a 482 visa.
