Australia's Skills in Demand (482) Visa: Streams, Sponsorship and Requirements

Llandora·Updated 2026-10-14

⚠️ Disclaimer: For general information only — not tax, financial, legal, or medical advice. Figures may be outdated or incorrect; tax rules change frequently. Verify important decisions with the CRA/IRS or a qualified professional (for health topics, a licensed healthcare provider). You use this information at your own risk.

The short answer

The Subclass 482 visa — rebranded as the Skills in Demand (SID) visa in December 2024 — is Australia's main employer-sponsored temporary work visa. An approved Australian employer nominates you for a specific role, and you get the right to live and work in Australia for up to four years. From 1 July 2026 the salary thresholds rose again (indexed to average earnings), so the numbers below are the current 2026–27 figures.

The three streams

The visa has three streams, and which one you use depends on your occupation and salary:

Specialist Skills stream — for any occupation (no occupation list) where the guaranteed annual earnings are at least the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT): AUD 146,576 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. This is the fast lane for high earners.
Core Skills stream — the main stream for most applicants. Your occupation must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and your salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026.
Labour Agreement stream — for employers with a formal labour agreement with the Australian Government (used where standard streams don't fit, e.g., specific industries or regional needs).

The two salary tests: threshold AND market rate

Clearing the income threshold is necessary but not sufficient. Every nomination must pass two tests at the same time:

The fixed income threshold — CSIT (AUD 79,423) or SSIT (AUD 146,576), depending on stream, for nominations lodged 1 July 2026–30 June 2027.
The Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) — what an Australian worker would earn for equivalent full-time work in the same role and location.

Whichever figure is higher becomes your salary floor. If the market rate for your role in Sydney is AUD 95,000, the employer must pay at least AUD 95,000 even though the CSIT is only AUD 79,423. Only guaranteed cash earnings count toward the threshold — superannuation, overtime, discretionary bonuses, and non-cash benefits (company car, housing) do not count.

The date that matters is the nomination lodgement date, not the visa grant date. A nomination lodged before 1 July 2026 is assessed against the old thresholds (AUD 76,515 / AUD 141,210) even if decided later.

What the employer must do

The process has three stages, and the employer drives the first two:

Sponsorship — the employer becomes an approved sponsor (demonstrating lawful operation and, where required, workforce planning).
Nomination — the employer nominates you for the specific position, proving the role is genuine, on the right occupation list, and meets both salary tests.
Visa application — you apply, providing identity documents, health examinations, character clearances, and evidence of your skills and experience.

What you must bring

Work experience: at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field, gained within the last 5 years (full-time, part-time, or casual).
Skills assessment: some occupations require a formal skills assessment, which must have been undertaken or commenced within 3 years before the visa application.
Health and character: medical examinations and police clearances as requested.
Health insurance: most 482 holders have visa condition 8501, which requires maintaining adequate health insurance (Overseas Visitors Health Cover, OVHC) for the entire stay.

How long it lasts and the path to permanent residence

The SID visa can be granted for up to 4 years (Core and Specialist streams). Importantly, time on the 482 counts toward permanent residence: after 2 years with the sponsoring employer, you may be eligible for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) permanent visa through the Temporary Residence Transition stream. This two-year pathway is one of the visa's biggest attractions compared with its predecessor.

Where applications fail

Salary set to the threshold, not the market rate. Employers who offer exactly AUD 79,423 for a role whose market rate is higher get the nomination refused.
Non-guaranteed pay counted. Overtime and discretionary bonuses stripped out of the calculation drop the salary below the threshold.
Wrong occupation code. The nominated ANZSCO occupation must match the actual duties — and for Core Skills it must be on the CSOL.
Thin experience evidence. One year of relevant experience needs payslips, references, or tax records, not just a CV claim.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change employers on a 482?

Not freely. A new employer must lodge a fresh nomination and you need a new visa (or apply with the new nomination). You cannot simply start working elsewhere on the existing visa.

Does my family come with me?

Yes — partners and dependent children can be included as secondary applicants. They are subject to condition 8501 (health insurance) too.

Is there an English language requirement?

Requirements vary by stream and occupation — check the current rules on the Department of Home Affairs site before assuming. Some occupations and pathways have English thresholds; others do not.

Can the 482 lead to citizenship?

Indirectly: 482 → 186 permanent residence → after meeting residence requirements, citizenship eligibility. The 482 itself is temporary and never converts automatically.

What happens if I lose my job?

You have a limited period (check current settings on the Home Affairs site) to find a new sponsor, apply for another visa, or leave Australia. Do not work for a different employer without a new nomination.

Sources

Department of Home Affairs, Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) — Core Skills stream: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482/core-skills-stream
Department of Home Affairs, Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482
Department of Home Affairs, Salary requirements to nominate a worker: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/temporary-skill-shortage-482/salary-requirements
Department of Home Affairs, Annual indexation of skilled visa income thresholds: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1416

This article is general information about Australian immigration categories, not legal or migration advice. Thresholds are indexed annually on 1 July — confirm current figures on the Department of Home Affairs site and consult a registered migration agent before applying.

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