Skills in Demand (SID) Visa Subclass 482: Your Complete 2025 Guide

The Skills in Demand (SID) Subclass 482 visa (which replaced the TSS 482 visa) is one of the top choices for skilled workers who want to work and live in Australia. From addressing skill shortages for Australian employers to easing the way toward Permanent Residency (PR) for skilled immigrants, this updated SID visa framework is helping in numerous ways. Read this guide to know everything about the Skills in Demand Visa Australia Subclass 482.

What is the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa Subclass 482?

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa Subclass 482 is an Australian employer-sponsored visa that provides a four-year temporary work permit for skilled overseas workers. This visa option was introduced as a complete replacement of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) 482 visa on December 7, 2024.

The Australian Government designed this visa as an improvement from the older TSS visa regime to align the visa program with diverse skill levels and salary thresholds. It creates a more adaptable system for addressing labor shortages in a wider range of occupations.

Different Streams of the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) Visa

Here’s the three-tiered structure of the Subclass 482 Visa, which includes the following visa streams:

Core Skills Stream

This stream covers all the occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), issued by the Australian Government. It was created after thorough analysis and consultation by Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) to target the roles in demand in Australia.

Key features of the Subclass 482 visa under this stream include:

• Visa valid for up to four years.
• Minimum annual salary requirement is AUD 76,515 (indexed annually).
• At least 12 months of relevant work experience within the previous five years.
• Applicants must meet the English language, health, and character requirements.
• Clear PR pathway for most skilled professionals.

Specialist Skills Stream

This visa stream applies to highly paid professionals. It primarily focuses on highly specialised roles, including those in emerging markets that require advanced skills.

Key features of the Skills in Demand Visa Australia under this stream include:

• Visa valid for up to four years.
• Minimum annual salary requirement is AUD 141,210 (indexed annually).
• Valid for applicants with occupations under senior- or expert-level categories
• Clear PR pathway for most specialists and high-earning professionals

Labour Agreement Stream

This visa stream covers the needs that weren’t fulfilled by standard visa programs. Australian employers enter into a formal labor agreement with the Commonwealth Government to sponsor overseas workers for roles that fall outside the usual occupation lists or standard eligibility criteria.

Key features of the Subclass 482 visa under this stream include:

• Designed to support industries experiencing acute or ongoing skill shortages.
• Cover tailored occupation and salary requirements
• Frequently utilised in agricultural, hospitality, and regional roles.
• The agreement establishes the terms and duration of the visa.

Basic Eligibility Requirements for the Skills in Demand Visa Australia

Although the visa requirement varies depending on the type of visa stream, here are some of the basic eligibility requirements for the Subclass 482 Visa:

• The applicant must be sponsored by an employer who is either a Standard Business Sponsor or works under an approved labor agreement.
• The applicant must have 12 months of relevant experience in the past five years.
• The salary offered by the employer must meet or exceed the relevant stream’s threshold.
• Not all, but some of the occupations need formal skills assessments by the relevant authorities.
• Applicants must meet minimum English language standards (with exceptions in some cases).
• Applicants are required to fulfil basic health and character requirements and provide the necessary documentation to demonstrate compliance.
• The applicant must agree to respect Australian laws and values.
• Subclass 482 Visa holders have 180 days to find a new job if their current job ends. Additionally, they have 365 days during the active visa period to find new sponsors.

Benefits of the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa Subclass 482

The Skills in Demand Visa Australia is regarded as an upgrade over its predecessor due to the following advantages:

• Multiple visa streams enable employers to address different types of skill shortages more efficiently in the Australian market.
• The Core skill stream features the new Core Skills Occupation List, replacing several older lists. This helps clarify any confusion and makes eligibility easier for sponsors, applicants, and the government.
• The minimum work requirement is now 12 months instead of the previous two-year requirement under the TSS visa.
• Salary thresholds are updated annually as per the wage indexes to align with labor market conditions and prevent wage undercutting.
• The visa provides long-term convenience by being valid for four years.
• After two years, a visa holder may be granted permanent residency under the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186).

Application Process For the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa

Here’s the step-by-step process to follow when applying for a Skills in Demand (SID) Visa in Australia:

Pre-eligibility assessment

Before filling out the application, conduct a pre-eligibility assessment to avoid disapproval or visa delays. Verify your occupation, salary threshold, work experience, English language proficiency, health, and character standards, among other major Subclass 482 visa requirements.

Documentation preparation

Although you may need specific documents depending on the visa stream, here are some must-haves:

• A valid passport.
• Evidence of work experience, such as pay stubs, employment contracts, or reference letters
• A letter of sponsorship or nomination from the authorised employer
• Copies of any professional certifications and educational credentials
• English language test results
• A skills assessment (only for occupations where it is mandatory)
• Police clearance certificates
• Health examination results

Processing times

Visa processing times can vary depending on the visa stream. Here’s a general overview:

• Core Skills Stream: 50% of applications are processed within three months, while 90% can take up to six months.
• Specialist Skills Stream: 50% of applications are processed within 16 days, while 90% of cases can take up to 66 days.
• Labor Agreement Stream: 50% of applications are processed in about 4 months, while 90% of cases take up to 5 months.

It’s important to note that these are approximate timeframes. Actual processing times can vary based on several factors, including how complete your application is or the current workload of the Department of Home Affairs.

There are numerous visa streams and eligibility requirements, so rather than getting bogged down in the complexities, it is best to seek advice from reputable MARA agents such as Ozee Migration.

Begin Your Migration Journey Today With Ozee Migration!

Ozee Migration is here to guide you at every step of your migration journey to Australia. We simplify the complex visa frameworks of the Subclass 482 Visa and assist with the following to improve your chances of visa approval:

• Assessing your eligibility for the Subclass 482 Visa
• Supporting you throughout the entire application process
• Collecting required documents and preparing your visa application
• Assisting with employer sponsorship requirements

Book a consultation with our registered MARA agents today!

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