My employer wants to sponsor me on a Skills in Demand visa. What are the steps?

The process has three stages: your employer must be approved as a standard business sponsor (or already be one), your employer nominates you for a specific occupation, and you lodge the visa application. I can guide both you and your employer through each stage to ensure the application is prepared correctly.

Can I change employers on a Skills in Demand visa?

Yes, but you must have a new nomination approved before you start working for the new employer. If your current employer withdraws their sponsorship, you have a 60-day period to find a new sponsor. I can advise you on the process and help you navigate the transition.

What is the pathway from a Skills in Demand visa to permanent residence?

The main pathway is the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) via the Temporary Residence Transition stream. After holding a Skills in Demand visa for a specified period (currently 2 years for most occupations), your employer can nominate you for permanent residence. I can advise you on the specific requirements and timeline for your occupation.

Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482): The Complete 2026 Guide

What Is the Skills in Demand Visa?

The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) is Australia's primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa. It replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa on 7 December 2024 as part of the Australian Government's Migration Strategy reforms. Despite inheriting the same subclass number (482), the Skills in Demand visa operates under a substantially different framework.

I have been advising employers and sponsored workers on employer-sponsored visas for 27 years. The transition from TSS to Skills in Demand is one of the most significant structural changes to the temporary work visa program in a decade. This guide explains how the new visa works, who qualifies, what it costs, and the pathway to permanent residence.

The Three Streams

The Skills in Demand visa has three streams. The correct stream depends on the occupation and the salary being offered.

Core Skills Stream

The Core Skills Stream is the most commonly used pathway. It is designed for skilled workers in occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) — a list maintained by the Department of Home Affairs that reflects Australia's current labour market needs.

To qualify for the Core Skills Stream, the sponsored worker must:

Be nominated for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
Be paid the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) for the role and no less than the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)
Have at least one year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field
Hold a relevant skills assessment if required for the occupation
Meet minimum English language proficiency requirements (IELTS 5.0 overall, or equivalent)

The CSIT is indexed annually. From 1 July 2026, the CSIT is AUD $79,423 per year (up from $76,515 in 2025–26). This figure excludes non-monetary benefits such as accommodation or vehicles.

The Core Skills Stream allows a stay of up to four years (five years for Hong Kong passport holders). Holders can apply for permanent residence through the Subclass 186 Employer Nominated Scheme after three years of continuous employment with their sponsor.

Specialist Skills Stream

The Specialist Skills Stream is for highly paid workers in management, professional, technical, and community and personal service occupations (ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6). There is no occupation list restriction — any occupation in those ANZSCO Major Groups qualifies, provided the salary meets the income threshold for the Specialist Skills stream.

All immigration guides