Pathways / Subclass 482
Not permanent residencySkills in Demand visa
The employer-sponsored temporary visa that feeds the 186 permanent pathway.
The Skills in Demand visa replaced the old TSS visa and is now the main employer-sponsored temporary route. It is not permanent residency, but its Core Skills stream is the most-used on-ramp to the 186. You need a sponsoring employer, an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, and a salary at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold.
Watch for thisThe Core Skills Income Threshold is indexed every 1 July. A salary that qualified last year may not qualify for a new nomination this year.
- Grants
- Up to 4 years temporary
- Path to PR
- Subclass 186 TRT after 2 years
- Occupation list
- Core Skills Occupation List - around 456 occupations
- Income threshold
- CSIT rose to about $79,500 from 1 July 2026
- Streams
- Core Skills, Specialist Skills, Essential Skills
What you need
- A sponsoring employer approved by the Department.
- An occupation on the relevant occupation list for your stream.
- At least one year of relevant work experience.
- A salary meeting both the income threshold and the annual market salary rate.
- English at the level required for your stream.
How it works, step by step
- Find an employer willing to sponsor - this is the hard part, not the paperwork.
- Check your occupation against the Core Skills Occupation List.
- Confirm the offered salary clears the current income threshold.
- Once granted, start counting your two years toward the 186.
Strengths
- No points test
- Renewable
- Clear two-year path to PR
- Family can accompany you
Trade-offs
- Not permanent
- Tied to a sponsoring employer
- Income thresholds rise every July
- Job loss puts your status at risk
Where this leadsThis visa is a step, not the destination. The usual next move is the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186).
Registered migration agents
We are building a directory of MARN-registered agents and immigration lawyers. Listings are checked against the public register before they appear.
How the directory worksPlacement shown on the subclass 482 page.
General information, not migration advice. myPRJourney summarises publicly available information about Australian visas so you can understand your options. It does not assess your case, and it is not a substitute for advice from a registered migration agent (MARN) or Australian legal practitioner. Migration rules, occupation lists, income thresholds and state nomination criteria change frequently and sometimes without notice. This page was last reviewed on 21 July 2026. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.