Skills in Demand 482 Made Simple: The New Australian Work Visa Explained

Australia’s new Skills in Demand visa, now officially subclass 482, has replaced the old Temporary Skill Shortage program. The change took effect on 7 December 2024 and reshaped how employers sponsor overseas workers to fill shortages when a suitably skilled Australian isn’t available.

What actually changed

At its core, the policy still lets approved employers sponsor overseas skilled workers, but the framework is cleaner and more targeted. The Skills in Demand visa sits across three pathways:

• Specialist Skills,
• Core Skills and
• Essential Skills

Government material and the advisory work led by Jobs and Skills Australia confirm that the Core Skills Pathway relies on a dedicated Core Skills Occupations List, which is being developed and updated as evidence shifts.

From 1 July 2025, the income thresholds were indexed. The Specialist Skills threshold lifted to AUD 141,210 and the Core Skills threshold to AUD 76,515. These thresholds set the floor for pay; they align to broader salary settings such as the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold.

The three pathways at a glance

1. Specialist Skills Pathway:

   Tailored for high earners meeting the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, this stream has priority processing and fewer occupation constraints, though it excludes some ANZSCO major groups such as trades workers, machinery operators, drivers and labourers. It is designed to secure scarce, high-impact capability quickly.

2. Core Skills Pathway.

   Suited to mainstream skilled roles on the Core Skills Occupations List, with salary at or above the Core Skills threshold. It keeps the focus on occupations Australia demonstrably needs, rather than sweeping lists that date quickly.

3. Essential Skills Pathway.

   This stream targets lower-paid but essential roles and is expected to rely heavily on sector agreements and tight safeguards. Official detail is evolving, yet its purpose is clear: address persistent shortages while protecting workers.

NOTE: while awaiting the essential skills pathway to kick in, employer can use the Labour Agreement Pathway which is currently under the Skills in Demand visa subclass 482. Employer can nominate a specified occupation under the terms of a Labour Agreement. The skills, qualifications, work experience and English language requirements are much lower than the Core and Specialist stream.

Also Read: Skilled Migration Pathways: Opportunities and Challenges in Sydney

Length of stay and where PR fits

The visa is temporary, but it’s designed as a bridge, not a cul-de-sac. Government channels note a stay period of up to four years, with routes to permanent residence via employer nomination once you meet the usual criteria under the ENS subclass 186 program. The exact route depends on your 7 December 2024 you secure.

If you’re trying to sanity-check your own position, it’s wise to talk with a registered agent rather than rely on hearsay or generic forum guidance. For many readers that starts with a quick search like migration lawyer near me, then a conversation about your occupation, salary, English, and age settings.

Worker mobility and safeguards

A key fix is mobility. If sponsorship ends, Skills in Demand visa holders generally have up to 180 days at a time, capped at 365 days in total across the visa period, to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa, or depart.

During that time you can work for other employers, including outside the originally nominated occupation, subject to conditions. That flexibility reduces the power imbalance that dogged earlier settings.

Labour market testing still applies in most cases, and planned changes remain on hold. Employers should expect to demonstrate genuine recruitment efforts in Australia before sponsoring from overseas.

Eligibility snapshot for applicants

• A confirmed job offer from a Standard Business Sponsor or via an approved agreement
• Occupation and salary aligned to your pathway settings (and CSOL for Core Skills)
• Skills, qualifications, and licensing that meet Australian standards
• English language results that meet the relevant stream and nomination requirements
• Health and character requirements typical of temporary work visas

Because the program now ties closely to live labour market evidence, roles can move on and off lists. It’s smart to keep an eye on government pages when timing your application and to compare advice across reputable sources rather than relying solely on marketing blurbs.

If you’re an employer weighing options, a conversation with a migration agency in Sydney that understands your industry can save weeks of back-and-forth.

Practical tips for employers

1. Map the pathway early. Confirm whether your vacancy fits Specialist, Core or Essential, and document how you meet salary floors and market salary rate requirements.
2. Budget correctly. Salary floors index each July, so build contingencies into offers and sponsorship approvals to avoid last-minute rewrites.
3. Plan for mobility. Expect that sponsored staff can move and that their time with you still counts toward many PR pathways. Treat retention as a people strategy, not a paperwork constraint.
4. Track occupation advice. The CSOL and related instruments may update as Jobs and Skills Australia publishes new evidence. Pin your internal checklist to those updates.

If you’re comparing firms, a shortlist that includes the best migration agent Sydney candidates will usually blend legal accuracy with real-world hiring experience.

Common pain points to avoid

• Using the wrong salary floor: Double-check the indexed amounts for your lodgement window. Mis-keying a figure can sink a nomination.
• Assuming your occupation is eligible because it used to be: The point of the Skills in Demand model is responsiveness, not permanence. Cross-check before advertising.
• Leaving compliance to the eleventh hour: Recordkeeping, fair pay, and duty of care sit under sharper scrutiny. Treat them as part of your EVP, not just red tape.

Applicants often ask whether they need a lawyer or an agent. Complex cases do. Even straightforward cases benefit from an initial consult with a Sydney migration international agency.

Keep an eye on official updates, and when in doubt, seek tailored advice from the best migration lawyer in Sydney or a MARA-registered agent before you press submit.

Tags: best migration agent Sydney, Core Skills Occupations List, migration agency in Sydney, migration lawyer near me

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