Skills in Demand Visa

Who this suits

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa, giving Australia a clearer, demand-driven framework for employer-sponsored skilled workers. It's built around three distinct pathways rather than a single occupation list, aiming to better match visa access to genuine labour market need.

The three pathways

• Core Skills pathway — for occupations on the core skills occupation list, sponsored by an approved employer, subject to the income threshold.
• Specialist Skills pathway — for highly specialised roles above a higher salary threshold, with faster processing and a broader range of eligible occupations.
• Labour Agreement pathway — for employers with a negotiated labour agreement with the Australian government, covering roles outside the standard occupation lists.

How the process works

1. Employer sponsorship — a job offer from an Australian employer approved to sponsor under the relevant pathway.
2. Nomination — the employer nominates the position, confirming it meets the pathway's requirements.
3. Visa application — including skills assessment where required, English language evidence, and health and character checks.

A route to permanent residence

SID is a temporary visa, but it commonly leads to permanent residence — most directly through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) after time in the sponsored role, or through a points-tested pathway if your circumstances qualify.