Core Skills stream
For workers in occupations on the CSOL. Salary must be at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), currently $76,515 and updated annually. The most commonly used SID stream.
Replaced 482 TSS · 2-Year Path to PR
Skills in Demand (SID), the new employer sponsored visa.
The Skills in Demand visa replaced the Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage visa in 2025-2026. If you were planning around the old 482, the rules have changed. Three streams. Different income thresholds. A shorter pathway to permanent residency. This page shows you how the SID actually works.
The three SID streams
One visa. Three ways in.
Most employer sponsored workers end up in the Core Skills stream. Specialist Skills is for senior high-earning roles. Essential Skills is limited to specific Government arrangements like DAMAs.
Specialist Skills stream
For senior high-earning roles regardless of the CSOL. Salary must be at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, which is significantly higher than the CSIT. Priority processing applies.
Essential Skills stream
Access limited to specific Government arrangements: labour agreements, industry partnerships, or DAMAs. Covers lower-wage essential occupations not open to general employer sponsorship.
Requirements across all SID streams
What the employer and the worker both need.
Every SID nomination has two sides. The employer's sponsorship and nomination eligibility. The worker's personal eligibility. Both must be satisfied.
Employer: Approved sponsor
Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) approval or equivalent. Required before any worker can be nominated.
Employer: Genuine position
Nominated position must be genuine and ongoing. Duties must align with the ANZSCO occupation code. Department assesses position genuineness carefully.
Employer: Meets salary threshold
The salary offered must meet the applicable income threshold for the chosen stream. Cannot pay below the threshold even if the award allows it for Australian workers.
Employer: Labour Market Testing
Most nominations require LMT. Employer must show they tried to find an Australian worker for the role before nominating overseas.
Worker: Occupation & qualifications
Skills assessment where required for the occupation. Qualifications that match the role. Occupation match between assessment, nomination, and actual duties.
Worker: English & character
English ability, typically IELTS 5 across all four components. Health and character requirements. No upper age limit on the SID itself, but 186 pathway has age 45 limit.
Pathway from SID to permanent residency
Two years, not three. Plan from day one.
The SID is a 4-year visa. Permanent residency via the 186 becomes available after 2 years of sponsored work. Planning the transition from the day the SID is granted is what makes the permanent pathway smooth when the time comes.
Subclass 186 Temporary Residence TransitionAfter 2 years on the SID (reduced from 3), the same sponsor can nominate the worker for permanent residency through the 186 TRT stream.
2-year trigger, not strict requirementThe 2-year rule is about eligibility, not best timing. Many workers wait longer if their sponsor is not yet ready for a permanent nomination, or if the worker wants more Australian work history.
Direct Entry 186 as alternativeWorkers who do not want to go through the SID first can apply directly for the 186 Direct Entry, provided the occupation is on the CSOL and the 3 years of work experience requirement is met.
Workers over 45The SID has no upper age limit, but the 186 requires the applicant to be under 45. Workers over 45 need careful planning, often through age-exempt pathways like Labour Agreements.
The SID visa itself has no upper age limit.
A 60-year-old can hold a SID visa. However, the pathway to permanent residency through the 186 requires the applicant to be under 45. Workers over 45 who want to stay in Australia permanently need to plan this carefully, often through age-exempt pathways like Labour Agreements.
Labour Market Testing (LMT)
The employer's burden before nomination.
Most SID nominations require the employer to prove they tried to find an Australian worker first. Getting LMT wrong is one of the most common reasons nominations are refused.
What LMT requires
Employer must advertise the position in recognised Australian job platforms for a specified period, showing they could not find a suitable Australian worker.
Exemptions
Some nominations are exempt: intra-company transfers under international agreements, highly specialised roles, and certain Specialist Skills stream positions with streamlined LMT.
Why it matters for the worker
A nomination failure due to weak LMT evidence can sink the entire application. We advise employers on structuring LMT before the nomination is lodged.
Common SID application problems
Four traps that sink nominations.
These are the patterns we see most often in refused nominations. All four are avoidable with proper preparation.
Position genuineness concerns
Department questions whether the nominated role is genuine. Often triggered by new businesses, roles created specifically for the nomination, or duties that do not match the business's actual operations.
Salary below threshold
The salary offered is below the CSIT or Specialist Skills Income Threshold. The nomination cannot proceed until the salary is corrected.
Occupation code mismatch
The duties of the role do not match the nominated ANZSCO code. Department asks for clarification, and sometimes refuses.
Skills assessment mismatch
Worker's skills assessment was obtained for a different occupation. Nomination is ANZSCO 261311 but the assessment is 261313. The mismatch triggers refusal.
Common SID questions
The questions we hear most.
For anything specific to your position, salary, or sponsor situation, book a consultation.
Can I change employers on a SID visa?
Yes, but the new employer must be approved as a sponsor and nominate you under the SID. You cannot simply switch employers without going through the nomination process again.
What happens if my employer business closes during my SID?
You have a 60-day window to find a new sponsor or depart Australia. Finding a new sponsor within 60 days is possible but tight. We can help with both pathways.
Can my family come with me on a SID?
Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included. Family members have work and study rights while the primary holder remains on the SID.
Does SID time count towards Australian citizenship?
Only time as a permanent resident counts for citizenship eligibility. Time on the SID (or any temporary visa) does not count towards the 4-year residence requirement for citizenship. The clock starts when the permanent visa (usually the 186) is granted.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.