From September 2025, the Temporary Skill Shortage (482) visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand (SID) visa. Employers can now sponsor workers under three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Essential Skills — each with different salary and occupation rules. The goal is to make sponsorship simpler and faster while focusing on skills Australia needs most.
For years, many employers found the 482 visa too confusing or slow. The new Skills in Demand framework aims to fix that by grouping occupations and requirements more clearly.
If your business needs qualified staff from overseas, understanding which stream applies is now essential.
The Core Skills Stream covers most qualified trades and professional occupations. The minimum salary is the Core Skills Income Threshold currently set at AU$76,515 for the 2025-26 FY or the market rate, whichever is higher. This stream suits roles like chefs, nurses and carpenters.
The Specialist Skills Stream is for highly paid experts in professional fields such as engineering, finance and IT. The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) is currently set at AU$141,210 for the 2025-26 FY. This stream offers faster processing for businesses needing top-tier talent.
The Essential Skills Stream is still being finalised but will focus on care and entry-level roles that support Australia’s critical services, for example, aged care and disability support.
If you sponsor staff through the 482 visa, your business automatically moves to the new SID framework. This means you must check that the occupation you nominate is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and that the salary meets the new threshold. Sponsorship approvals and visa lodgements will now follow these three streams.
Imagine a hospital in regional WA that needs registered nurses. Under the new rules, it can use the Core Skills stream and still offer a pathway to permanent residency later through the 186 visa. A Perth tech firm hiring a cybersecurity manager, on the other hand, would use the Specialist stream because of the higher salary and advanced skills required.
The SID visa gives employers more options, but also new responsibilities. Checking the right stream, English level and salary is key to avoiding refusals.
Need help selecting the right stream for your business?
Seven Corp can assess your role and guide you step by step.