What is the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa?
By the SponsorMap team · Last updated 30 October 2026
The Skills in Demand (SID) visa is Australia's main employer-sponsored work visa. It replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024, and keeps the subclass number 482. If an Australian company wants to hire you from overseas, this is usually the visa they sponsor you on.
Official source: Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) — Department of Home Affairs ↗
How it works
You can't apply for this visa alone — an approved Australian employer has to sponsor you for a specific role. There are three steps: the employer becomes an approved sponsor, they nominate a position for you, and then you apply for the visa. The whole arrangement is tied to that employer and that job.
The three streams
The visa has three streams. Core Skills is the main one — for occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), with a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (AUD 76,515). Specialist Skills is for high earners (at or above AUD 141,210) and has no occupation-list restriction and much faster processing. Essential Skills (a Labour Agreement based stream) covers specific critical sectors like aged care.
How long it lasts and the PR pathway
The visa can be granted for up to four years (up to five for Specialist Skills). Importantly, all streams now have a pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) after two years with your sponsoring employer.
What changed from the old TSS visa
The old TSS visa had two streams (Short-term and Medium-term); these became Core Skills and Specialist Skills. The biggest improvements: every Core Skills holder now has a PR pathway (under TSS, short-term holders didn't), the work experience requirement dropped to one year, and the maximum stay is now four years for everyone. If you already hold a TSS 482 visa, it stays valid until it expires — you don't need to switch.
Frequently asked questions
- What replaced the TSS 482 visa?
- The Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the TSS 482 on 7 December 2024. It keeps the subclass number 482 but introduces three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Essential Skills.
- Can I apply for a 482 visa without a job offer?
- No. An approved Australian employer must sponsor you for a specific role. Sponsorship, nomination, and the visa application are all tied to a particular employer and job.
- Does the 482 visa lead to permanent residence?
- Yes. All three streams of the Skills in Demand visa now have a pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) after at least two years with your sponsoring employer.
- What happened to existing TSS 482 visas when SID launched?
- Existing TSS 482 visas remain valid until they expire — you do not need to switch. When they expire, you can apply under the new Skills in Demand framework.
Related resources
About this guide
This guide is maintained by the SponsorMap team and reviewed against official Australian government sources. SponsorMap's company data comes from the Department of Home Affairs list of approved sponsors. Visa rules and figures are based on the Department of Home Affairs and are updated as they change. Always confirm your situation with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
Rules change — always verify with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent (MARA).