482 Skills In Demand Visa (SID)

482 Skills In Demand Visa (SID)

The SID Visa (482) allows employers to recruit and sponsor suitably skilled workers to meet workforce needs.

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Skills in Demand Visa

(Subclass 482)

Note the Skills In Demand framework replaced the Temporary Skills Shortage program on 7 December 2024, though both are a Subclass 482 visa.

The 482 Visa allows businesses to meet workforce needs by sponsoring skilled workers for up to 4 years. The application process is split into three steps:

  1. Business becomes a Standard Business Sponsor or Labour Agreement holder (Overseas businesses can become Standard Business Sponsors in certain situations).
  2. Employer Nominates a position, setting out the tasks and duties of the role, salary, and candidate
  3. Candidate lodges a Visa application demonstrating they have the skills for the role.

A pathway to permanent residency is available to most 482 visa holders.

Requirements for a SID Visa – Sponsorship

Standard Business Sponsorship
The business must demonstrate that it is actively and lawfully operating. Overseas businesses must also demonstrate contractual arrangements for work in Australia or expansion plans to open an Australian branch of the business.

Labour Agreement
This is a negotiation with the Department of Home Affairs to bring in skilled and semi-skilled workers where it can be demonstrated that worker shortages exist. Templated (pre-negotiated) agreements for the Aged Care, Fishing, Horticulture, Dairy, and Meat industries are available. The Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is also a type of Labour Agreement.

Requirements for a SID Visa – Nomination

Nomination

The employer is required to identify an occupation that aligns with the role on offer. This will determine the application stream:

  • Core Skills Stream – occupation appears on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), and the salary is above the Core Skills Income Threshold of $73,150 per annum
  • Specialist Skills Stream – occupation not on the CSOL, but appears in ANZSCO (2022 version) and salary is above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold of $135,000 per annum
Regardless of the application stream, the role must also attract a ‘market rate’ salary. This means that the nominee must be offered a salary that is no less than what is offered to an equivalent Australian worker.
Labour Market Testing (LMT) is mandatory unless an exemption applies. If LMT advertising is needed, it must meet Immigration’s strict requirements in order to be accepted for Nomination purposes.

Requirements for a SID Visa – Visa Application

To qualify for the 482 Skills In Demand Visa, candidates must:

  • Meet the skill requirement for their nominated occupation as set out in the ANZSCO. Note that certain occupations require a formal skill assessment.
  • Evidence at least 12 months of full-time (or part-time/casual equivalent) work experience in their occupation, completed within the 5 years immediately before applying
  • Demonstrate Vocational level English ability
  • Meet health and character requirements
482 visa holders can include family members in their application, and most have a pathway to permanent residency after certain requirements are met.

FAQs

I hold a 482 Temporary Skills Shortage visa and my occupation is not on the CSOL. Can I change employer?

If your occupation is not on the CSOL, then you will not be able to move an existing 482 TSS visa to a new employer sponsor. You would need to consider a new occupation and an entirely new SID visa. Please contact an AVIE agent for advice.

Can 482 TSS holders still get PR?

Yes, provided you meet the requirements for a Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa through the Temporary Residence Transitional stream.

Note that this stream does not have an occupation list, so any occupation in ANZSCO is acceptable.

The two years of work experience can be with any approved sponsor, provided it is in your nominated occupation and undertaken while you hold a 482 TSS and/or SID visa (or Bridging Visa between applications).

What happened to the Short Term and Medium-Long Term Streams and occupation lists?

All SID visas can be granted for periods up to 4 years.

The STSOL, MLTSSL, and ROL no longer apply to the Subclass 482 program.

These alternate lists continue to be used for General Skilled Migration and the Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa.