Skills in Demand Visa

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) — formerly known as the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa — allows Australian employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers to fill genuine vacancies where suitably qualified Australians are not available. It replaced the TSS visa from late 2024 and introduced a three-stream structure to better match visa pathways to skill levels and salary thresholds.

OVEC provides Skills in Demand visa advice and assistance in Canberra and nationally — for both employers seeking to sponsor workers and for sponsored employees navigating the process. As a registered migration agent with over 15 years of experience (MARN 1170438), Sohail Cheema has assisted employers and workers across a wide range of industries and occupation types.

The Three Streams of the Subclass 482

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) has three streams. Understanding which stream applies to your situation is the first critical step.

1. Specialist Skills Stream

This stream is designed for highly paid skilled workers. To be eligible, the nominated occupation must attract a base salary of at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT), which is currently $141,210 per year. Crucially, there is no occupational list restriction — almost any occupation qualifies, provided the salary threshold is met. This makes the Specialist Skills Stream particularly flexible for high-income professional roles, senior executives, and specialist technical positions. The employer must still demonstrate the position is genuine and that the worker has the relevant skills and experience.

2. Core Skills Stream

This is the most commonly used stream. It is for skilled workers in occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The nominated worker must be paid at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) — currently $79,499 per year — or the annual market salary rate for the position, whichever is higher. This stream replaced the Short-term and Medium-term streams under the former TSS visa. If your occupation is on the CSOL and the salary threshold is met, the Core Skills Stream is generally the appropriate pathway.

3. Essential Skills Stream

This stream is not yet operational. It is intended for lower-paid essential workers in specific sectors and regions where workforce shortages are acute. The Department has indicated it will open the Essential Skills Stream in stages. OVEC will provide updates as this stream becomes available.

Employer Sponsorship — Standard Business Sponsor (SBS)

To sponsor a worker on a Skills in Demand visa, an employer must first be approved as a Standard Business Sponsor (SBS). The business must be lawfully operating in Australia, have no adverse information on record (or satisfy the Department that a refusal is not warranted), and meet training benchmark requirements.

Sponsorship approval is a separate step from the nomination and the visa application. The process flows as: Sponsor approval → Nomination → Visa application. Each stage has its own requirements, fees, and processing timeframe. Sponsorship approval is typically valid for five years and can be used to nominate multiple workers across different occupations during that period.

OVEC assists employers in Canberra and nationally with sponsorship applications, advising on the documentation required and ensuring the application accurately reflects the business’s operations and training practices.

Labour Market Testing (LMT)

For most Core Skills Stream nominations, and some Specialist Skills Stream nominations, the employer must demonstrate that they have genuinely attempted to recruit an Australian citizen or permanent resident for the position before sponsoring an overseas worker. This is known as Labour Market Testing (LMT).

LMT must typically be conducted in the four months immediately before the nomination is lodged. The advertising must meet specific requirements regarding duration, content, and the platforms used. Evidence of LMT must be retained and provided with the nomination application. Exemptions apply in certain circumstances — for example, under international trade obligations, or where the position is covered by an LMT exemption under the relevant legislation. OVEC advises employers on whether LMT is required and what evidence must be gathered.

Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)

The CSOL sets out the occupations eligible under the Core Skills Stream. It is reviewed and updated periodically based on labour market conditions, and occupations can be added or removed. Checking the current CSOL — and identifying the correct ANZSCO occupation code — is a critical step before lodging any nomination. A nomination lodged for an occupation that is not on the current CSOL will be refused.

OVEC monitors occupation list changes and can advise whether a specific role qualifies under the current CSOL, which ANZSCO code is most appropriate, and whether a skills assessment is required for that occupation.

Skills Assessment

Some occupations under the Skills in Demand visa require the nominated worker to hold a positive skills assessment from the appropriate assessing authority. Skills assessment is not a universal requirement — whether it applies depends on the specific occupation and the relevant assessing authority — for example, Engineers Australia, Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), VETASSESS, CPA Australia, or AHPRA. The assessment must be current and must be for the specific ANZSCO occupation code being nominated. An incorrect or expired assessment is one of the most common reasons for nomination refusals.

OVEC can advise on which assessing authority is relevant to a particular occupation, what documentation the authority requires, and how long the assessment process is likely to take — which is important for planning the overall timeline of the visa process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants for the Skills in Demand visa must generally demonstrate a minimum level of English proficiency. For most occupations, this means achieving at least a score of 5.0 in each band of IELTS (or equivalent scores in PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English, or OET). Exemptions apply for passport holders from certain English-speaking countries (the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland) and in some other specific circumstances. English requirements vary between streams and should be confirmed for each occupation.

Visa Grant Period and Conditions

The Skills in Demand visa is generally granted for up to four years, or for the period of the sponsorship approval — whichever is less. The visa holder must work for the approved sponsor in the nominated occupation, must notify the Department if they cease employment or change employer, and may include family members as secondary applicants on the same application. It is possible to change employers while on the visa, but a new sponsorship and nomination must be in place before the worker commences employment with the new employer.

Pathway to Permanent Residence

The Skills in Demand visa is a well-established pathway to permanent residence in Australia. Workers in the Core Skills Stream or Specialist Skills Stream who have worked for their sponsor for at least two or three years (depending on the stream and occupation) may be eligible to apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa (subclass 186) — specifically the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream.

Planning the pathway to permanent residence from the outset — including understanding which occupation codes, salary levels, and periods of employment will apply — can significantly affect the long-term migration outcome. OVEC advises both employers and workers on permanent residence pathways as part of the overall sponsorship strategy.

Sponsorship Obligations

Becoming a Standard Business Sponsor is not just a one-time approval. Sponsors take on significant ongoing obligations that apply for the duration of the sponsorship. These include:

• Paying the sponsored worker no less than the market salary rate for the nominated occupation
• Ensuring the worker works only in the nominated occupation
• Notifying the Department of certain events, such as if the worker’s employment ceases or if the business undergoes a significant change (such as a merger, acquisition, or insolvency event)
• Cooperating with Department inspectors and providing records on request
• Not recovering Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy costs from the sponsored worker
• Not taking actions that prevent a sponsored worker from leaving Australia

Breach of sponsorship obligations can result in formal warnings, infringement notices, civil penalties, and cancellation of sponsor status. OVEC advises employers on their obligations at the commencement of the sponsorship and can assist in reviewing internal HR practices to ensure ongoing compliance.

Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy

When lodging a nomination, the employer must pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy upfront for the full nomination period. For small businesses (annual turnover below $10 million), the rate is $1,200 per year of nomination. For other businesses, the rate is $1,800 per year. For a four-year nomination this amounts to $4,800 or $7,200 respectively. The SAF levy is a non-refundable government charge, separate from the visa application charge paid by the worker. OVEC informs employers of all government fees before the application process begins.

Processing Times

Processing times vary depending on the stream, application complexity, and current Departmental workloads. The Department aims to process 75% of standard business sponsor applications within 28 days and 75% of nominations within 42 days. Visa application processing can range from a few weeks to several months depending on the applicant’s circumstances, country of application, and whether health and character checks are required. OVEC ensures all applications are complete and well-documented to minimise delays and requests for further information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a worker change employers while on a subclass 482 visa?

Yes, but the new employer must first obtain Standard Business Sponsor approval and then lodge and have approved a nomination for the worker before the worker begins working for them. The worker cannot lawfully commence employment with the new employer until the new nomination is approved.

Does the Skills in Demand visa lead to permanent residence?

Yes. Workers in both the Core Skills Stream and Specialist Skills Stream can apply for the ENS visa (subclass 186) via the Temporary Residence Transition stream after working for their sponsor for the required period, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

What is the CSIT and why does it matter?

The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) is the minimum annual salary that must be paid to a worker nominated under the Core Skills Stream. The current CSIT is $79,499 per year. Nominations where the offered salary is below the CSIT will be refused, regardless of the occupation or the worker’s qualifications.

Does the employer need to advertise the position before sponsoring an overseas worker?

In most cases, yes. Labour Market Testing (LMT) is required for Core Skills Stream nominations and must be conducted in the four months before the nomination is lodged. There are limited exemptions. OVEC can advise on whether LMT applies to a particular nomination and what evidence is required.

Can a 482 visa holder include family members?

Yes. The primary applicant’s partner and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants. Partners are generally entitled to work in any occupation and dependent children may study. Family members not included in the initial application can apply to join the primary visa holder in Australia later, subject to health and character requirements.

What happens if a 482 visa holder’s employer closes down or makes them redundant?

If a sponsored worker’s employment ends for any reason, they are entitled to a 6-month grace period to find a new sponsor, depart Australia, or make another valid visa application. OVEC strongly recommends sponsored workers contact a registered migration agent promptly if their employment ends, to understand their options and avoid any breach of visa conditions.

How OVEC Can Help

OVEC assists both employers and skilled workers with the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) in Canberra and nationally. Our services include Standard Business Sponsor approval applications, occupation assessment and CSOL eligibility advice, labour market testing guidance, nomination lodgement, visa application preparation and lodgement, skills assessment pathway advice, and permanent residence planning.

Contact OVEC

Whether you are an employer looking to sponsor a skilled worker or a worker who has been offered sponsorship, contact OVEC to discuss your situation.

📞 0430 586 030
📅 Book a consultation online

OVEC — Oz Visa & Education Consultants. Registered Migration Agent MARN 1170438. General information only — not legal advice. Migration law changes frequently; always seek current professional advice before lodging any application.