482 visa changes (2024/2025) - TSS to SID

The SC 482 Temporary Skills Shortage visa was replaced by the new ‘Skills in Demand’ visa SC 482 on the 7th of December 2024. This is also a temporary visa granted for up to a maximum of four years.

The new Skills in Demand visa will have three streams

1. Specialist Skills stream

2. Core Skills stream

3. Labour agreement stream

a. Specialist Skills stream

This stream is for highly skilled specialists who meet Australia’s needs for productivity and the development of expertise of the local work force. The aim is to attract such skilled professionals to drive significant economic benefits in Australia by increasing the knowledge of the domestic labour force and creating jobs for them.

This stream is only applicable to professionals, not trade workers, machinery operators, drivers or labourers. Accordingly, Australia aims to attract an expert workforce consisting for example Engineering Managers who spearhead innovations to transition to a net zero economy, and Software Engineers who drive technological advancements for Australia.

To be eligible under this stream, the skilled worker must meet general eligibility requirements such as nomination by the employer.

Additionally, the skilled worker must earn the Specialist Skills Threshold amount of at least A$135,000 per year. This income must not be less than what an Australian worker in the same occupation would earn.

b. Core Skills Stream

This stream will provide an avenue for employers to hire most skilled employees to meet Australia’s labour shortages now and in the future. For instance, school teachers, nurses, chefs, and other trade workers will be able to apply for the skills in demand visa under this pathway.

To be eligible under this pathway, applicants must among other general eligibility requirements:

• Have an occupation on the Core Skills Occupations list (CSOL)

• Be paid a salary at or above the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) or the market salary rate if it is above TSMIT. The current TSMIT stands at AUD 73,150.

c. Labour agreement stream

This stream is for skilled workers nominated by employers who have a Labour Agreement. It lets you live and work in Australia temporarily. Labour agreements are developed between the Australian Government (represented by the Department) and employers. The requirements of this stream will depend on the Labour Agreement itself.

To be eligible for the 482 visa, your nominating employer must pay you at or above the TSMIT value or the average annual market salary rate if it is above TSMIT.

On 28 May 2024, the government announced that it would be increasing the TSMIT value from $70,000 to $73,150. This increase took effect from 1 July 2024. Moving forward, the government has announced that the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will be reviewed and adjusted annually, resulting in yearly changes.

Accordingly, if your employer is planning to lodge your nominations for the new Skills in Demand visa SC 482 visa, you should ensure that your annual salary would meet the new TSMIT value of $73,150.

Previously the work experience requirement for the SC 482 visa mandated that the nominee must have a minimum of 2 years of work experience to be eligible for the SC 482 visa. Effective from 23 November 2024 the government has reduced this work experience requirement to 1 year. Accordingly, to be eligible for the 482 visa under all streams, you will need to only have one-year of work experience. This work experience must be full-time at 38 hours per week or part-time prorated.

If you are planning to cease your employment with your sponsor or have already ceased your employment with your sponsor, previously you had 60 days to find a solution to your circumstances in order to extend your stay in Australia. With the new regulations, you have up to 180 days to find a solution to your circumstances. During this time frame you can:

• Find a new employer to sponsor

• Be granted a different visa

• Leave Australia.

This is an employer sponsored temporary visa which places you on a PR pathway. While you are on this visa you can prepare yourself for permanent residency visas by obtaining the relevant work experience. The next visa that you can explore after your SC 482 visa is the SC 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Visa, which is an employer sponsored permanent residency visa. You can also try for skilled migration if you want to explore other avenues which doesn't rely on employer sponsorships.