Australia has taken a significant step in modernizing its skilled migration system with the introduction of the Skills in Demand (SID) visa – Subclass 482. This visa replaces the previous Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa, offering a streamlined process for skilled professionals and employers. If you are a skilled worker dreaming of Australia or an employer seeking critical talent, you must read this.
What is the Skills in Demand (SID) Visa?
The SID visa is a temporary skilled work visa tailored to address Australia’s critical workforce shortages. It enables skilled professionals to work in Australia for up to four years and provides a clearer pathway to permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186). The visa aligns closely with Australia’s labour market needs as analysed by Jobs and Skills Australia.
Key Features of the SID Visa
1. Three Streams Tailored to Skilled Workers
The SID visa introduces three targeted streams to meet varying workforce requirements:
- Specialist Skills Stream
- Designed for highly skilled migrants with a job offer of AUD $135,000 or more annually.
- Applies to a broad range of occupations (excluding machinery operators, drivers, and laborers). No occupation lists apply here.
- Core Skills Stream
- For professionals working in occupations listed on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL).
- Requires a minimum salary of AUD $73,150.
- Occupations include healthcare, construction, cyber security, agriculture, and more.
- Streamlined process ensures access to workers in critical shortage areas.
- Labour Agreement Stream
- For occupations and roles negotiated between employers and the government under specific agreements.
2. Longer visas, regardless of occupation
No more 2 year visas only, now under the SID all occupations can be nominated for 1 year to 4 years.