Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) Australia
Check the Core Skills, Specialist Skills or Labour Agreement pathway against the employer, occupation, salary and worker evidence—and plan any later subclass 186 step without treating permanent residence as automatic.
MARN 2519006 Reviewed 22 July 2026 Current 2026–27 thresholds
482 work visa Australia
What the Skills in Demand visa does
The subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa lets an employer sponsor a suitably skilled worker for a nominated position when an appropriately skilled Australian worker cannot be sourced. It is a temporary employer-sponsored visa with three streams. The SID visa replaced the former Temporary Skill Shortage visa for new applications on 7 December 2024.
Salary figures apply to relevant nomination applications lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Hong Kong passport holders may be eligible for up to five years. Check the current Home Affairs criteria at the intended lodgement date.
Three connected checks: the employer’s sponsorship position, the nominated job and salary, and the worker’s visa criteria must all align. A job offer by itself is not a visa approval.
Choose the correct stream
Core, Specialist and Labour Agreement pathways
The stream is not chosen from salary alone. Start with the occupation rule, then test the salary, employer arrangement and worker requirements together.
| 482 stream | Occupation gate | Salary gate | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Skills | The nominated occupation must be on the current Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). | AMSR and pay must be no less than the applicable CSIT: AUD 79,423 for relevant nominations lodged 1 July 2026–30 June 2027. | Uses the CSOL and requires at least one year of relevant work experience in the occupation or a related field. |
| Specialist Skills | An ANZSCO occupation in Major Group 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6. Major Groups 3, 7 and 8 are excluded. | The nominated salary must meet the applicable SSIT: AUD 146,576 for relevant nominations lodged 1 July 2026–30 June 2027. AMSR rules also need review. | This is a salary-and-occupation pathway; it is not simply a faster version of Core Skills and it does not remove the worker criteria. |
| Labour Agreement | The occupation must be specified under a labour agreement between the employer and the Australian Government. | Salary settings and any concessions depend on the agreement and applicable migration law. | The agreement must cover the position. Experience, English and other terms may differ from the standard streams. |
Eligibility and evidence
482 visa Australia requirements checklist
A decision-ready strategy starts by separating the employer nomination evidence from the worker visa evidence, then checking that both describe the same role.
Employer, sponsor and nomination
- Confirm the employer’s standard business sponsorship status or the correct labour agreement pathway.
- Define the nominated occupation, genuine duties, reporting line, work location and employment terms.
- Complete labour market testing and retain recruitment evidence where the requirement applies.
- Document the annual market salary rate, proposed pay, guaranteed earnings and the threshold that applies on the nomination date.
- Review sponsor obligations, workplace-law compliance, business records and any adverse information.
Application sequence
Sponsorship, nomination and visa are separate stages
The applications can be prepared together, but each has its own evidence and decision. An approval at one stage does not guarantee the next.
1. Sponsor
Confirm an approved standard business sponsor, a lodged sponsorship application, or an applicable labour agreement.
2. Nominate the position
Set the correct stream, occupation, duties, salary, market rate, work location and labour market testing position.
3. Apply for the visa
Show the worker meets the skills, experience, English, health, character and other stream-specific criteria.
4. Maintain compliance
After grant, follow the visa conditions and sponsor obligations, and keep employment and payroll records current.
Nomination salary test
Work visa salary requirements for 2026–27
The income threshold is only one part of the salary test. The applicable figure depends on the stream and when the nomination is lodged.
| Salary check | Current setting | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Core Skills Income Threshold | AUD 79,423 | Applies to relevant Core Skills nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. |
| Specialist Skills Income Threshold | AUD 146,576 | Applies to relevant Specialist Skills nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. |
| Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) | Role-specific evidence | The proposed overseas worker cannot be paid less than the equivalent Australian worker. A higher market rate cannot be reduced to the threshold. |
| Pay counted for the threshold | Excludes non-monetary benefits | Where the annual salary is below AUD 250,000, Home Affairs requires evidence that the AMSR was determined correctly and that both the AMSR and the worker’s pay, excluding non-monetary benefits, are no less than the relevant threshold. |
Do not use the threshold as a universal salary. Awards, enterprise agreements, market evidence, hours, allowances, location and the actual role can produce a higher lawful or market rate. The thresholds are indexed, so recheck them if the nomination will be lodged after 30 June 2027.
Plan backwards from the permanent stage
Can the Skills in Demand visa lead to permanent residency?
Possibly, but not automatically. Subclass 482 is temporary. Subclass 186 is a separate permanent visa with a new employer nomination and criteria assessed at the later application date.
Employment
Two years within three
For the current 186 Temporary Residence Transition stream, Home Affairs says an applicant usually needs at least two years of eligible sponsored full-time employment in Australia during the three years immediately before applying.
Employer
A fresh 186 nomination
The employer and permanent position must meet the 186 nomination requirements. Employer support for the 482 does not by itself approve or guarantee the later nomination.
Applicant
Age and other criteria
The 186 TRT stream usually requires the applicant to be under 45 unless an exemption applies. Skills, English, health, character, visa history and current salary requirements also need review.
Keep evidence from day one. Retain visa grants, nominations, contracts, payslips, tax and superannuation records, leave and travel records, and written duty or employer changes. Two years since visa grant is not necessarily two years of eligible sponsored employment.
Avoid preventable mismatches
Common 482 planning mistakes
Strong preparation tests the occupation, role, salary, employer and worker evidence together. These common shortcuts can create avoidable nomination or visa risks.
Occupation
Choosing by job title
The actual duties and skill level must support the nominated occupation. A familiar title alone does not establish the correct ANZSCO match.
Salary
Treating salary as the whole test
Pay above the threshold does not cure an ineligible occupation, weak market-rate evidence, a nomination mismatch or an applicant who does not meet the visa criteria.
Planning
Assuming 482 means permanent residence
A later permanent visa is a separate application. Employer nomination, eligible employment, age and every other subclass 186 criterion must be checked against the rules at that later time.
Common questions
Skills in Demand visa 482 FAQs
What are the main 482 visa Australia requirements?
An employer must satisfy sponsorship and nomination requirements. For the Core and Specialist Skills streams, the worker must be nominated for an eligible occupation, have the skills for the role and at least one year of relevant work experience, meet English requirements unless exempt, and meet health, character and any skills-assessment requirements. Labour Agreement criteria can differ under the agreement.
What are the 482 income thresholds for 2026–27?
For relevant nomination applications lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD 146,576. Annual market salary rate requirements also apply.
What is the Specialist Skills pathway?
The Specialist Skills stream is for an ANZSCO occupation in Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 where the nominated salary meets the Specialist Skills Income Threshold. Occupations in Major Groups 3, 7 and 8 are excluded. The worker and nomination must still meet the other subclass 482 requirements.
Is every occupation available for subclass 482?
No. Core Skills requires an occupation on the current Core Skills Occupation List. Specialist Skills uses specified ANZSCO major groups, and Labour Agreement occupations depend on the agreement. The actual duties must support the nominated occupation.
Can an employer pay exactly the income threshold?
Only if that amount also meets the annual market salary rate and every other salary and nomination requirement. The threshold is not a default salary and cannot be used to reduce a higher market rate.
Does a 482 Skills in Demand visa lead to permanent residency?
Not automatically. A 482 holder may later qualify for a separate subclass 186 application. For the Temporary Residence Transition stream, Home Affairs currently states that the applicant usually needs at least two years of eligible sponsored full-time employment during the three years before applying, plus an approved employer nomination and all other 186 requirements.
Is there an age limit for the 482 visa?
Home Affairs states that there is no age requirement for the subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa. A later subclass 186 application usually has an under-45 requirement unless an exemption applies, so permanent-residence planning should consider age separately.
How much work experience is required for a 482 visa?
For the Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams, the primary applicant generally needs at least one year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field. Equivalent part-time or casual experience can be considered and the experience is generally expected to have been gained within the previous five years. Labour Agreement settings can differ.
Do 482 visa applicants need an English test?
A primary Core Skills or Specialist Skills applicant must meet the applicable minimum English standard unless an exemption applies. Accepted tests, scores, validity periods and Labour Agreement settings should be checked for the intended application date.
Can 482 employment count toward the subclass 186 TRT stream?
It may count. Home Affairs currently requires a total of at least two years of eligible sponsored full-time employment in Australia during the three years before a subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition application, while holding an eligible visa and working in the approved occupation. A new employer nomination and all other subclass 186 criteria still apply.
Need a 482 sponsorship, nomination or visa review?
Send the employer, position, occupation, work location, proposed salary and worker background for a structured assessment. No outcome can be guaranteed.